Battle of Wagram
1809 · Wagram, northeast of Vienna (modern Austria) · World · Modern
In two days of fierce fighting, the French broke through the Austrian center with Macdonald's massed column. The Austrians fought a retreat and finally withdrew in good order, but the field was left to the French.
Belligerents
First French Empire and allies
- Commanders
- Napoleon I
- Strength
- About 170,000
Austrian Empire
- Commanders
- Archduke Charles
- Strength
- About 135,000
Background
In the War of the Fifth Coalition, Austria had inflicted heavy losses on Napoleon at the Battle of Aspern-Essling, and the two sides then met again for a decisive battle near Vienna.
Course of the battle
- Forcing the Danube crossingUnder cover of night, the French army mustered on Lobau Island, forced a crossing of the main channel of the Danube and closed in on the Austrian positions.
- Two days of hard fightingThe two sides fought back and forth over the village of Wagram, with casualties steadily mounting.
- Massed column breakthroughAfter a concentrated French artillery bombardment, Macdonald led a massed column that broke through the Austrian center.
Outcome at a glance
| Date | 1809 |
|---|---|
| Place | Wagram, northeast of Vienna (present-day Austria) |
| Result | In two days of fierce fighting, the French broke through the Austrian center with Macdonald's massed column. The Austrians fought a retreat and finally withdrew in good order, but the field was left to the French. |
| Winner | First French Empire and allies |
| Casualties | Combined casualties exceeded 60,000, making it one of the bloodiest battles of the Napoleonic Wars. |
| Territorial change | Austria was forced to sue for peace and signed the Treaty of Schönbrunn, ceding territory and paying a huge indemnity. |
Impact
Although the Battle of Wagram ended in a narrow French victory, its unprecedented casualties showed that the fighting power of the coalition armies had greatly improved, foreshadowing ever harder campaigns for Napoleon.
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