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Battle of La Rothière

January 31, 2023

The Battle of La Rothière was fought on the 1st of February 1814 between the French Empire and allied army of Austria, Prussia, Russia, and German States previously allied with France. The French were led by Emperor Napoleon and the coalition army was under the command of Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher. The battle took place in severe weather conditions (wet snowstorm). The French were defeated but managed to hold until they could retreat under cover of darkness.

Battle of La Rothière
Part of the Campaign of France of the Sixth Coalition

Württemberg dragoons charging French infantry
Date1 February 1814[1]
Location
La Rothière, French Empire
48°20′45″N 4°33′30″E / 48.3458°N 4.5583°E / 48.3458; 4.5583
Result Coalition victory
Belligerents
France
Commanders and leaders
Napoleon Bonaparte Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher
Strength
41,000[1]-45,000
128 guns		 110,000-123,000[1]
Casualties and losses
3,000[1]-4,600 killed or wounded
1,000[2] captured
73 guns lost[3]		 6,000[1]–7,000 killed or wounded[3]
class=notpageimage|
Location within France
War of the Sixth Coalition:
Campaign in north-east France
[Interactive fullscreen map]
  current battle
  Napoleon in command
  Napoleon not in command

Prelude

Further information: Campaign in north-east France (1814)

On the 25 January 1814, Blücher entered Nancy, and, moving rapidly up the valley of the Moselle, was in communication with the Austrian advanced guard near La Rothière on the afternoon of the 28 January.[4]

On 29 January Napoleon attacked the Prussians. Blücher's headquarters were surprised and he himself nearly captured by a sudden rush of French troops (Battle of Brienne). Learning at the same time that the French Emperor in person was at hand, Blücher accordingly fell back a few miles next morning to a strong position covering the exits from the Bar-sur-Aube defile.[4]

The Austrian advance guard joined the Prussians and together they decided to accept battle—indeed they had no alternative, as the roads in rear were so choked with traffic that retreat was out of the question.[4]

Order of battle

The French army counted about 45,000 men in 57 battalions and 62 squadrons, supported by 128 artillery pieces. The Imperial Guard was commanded by General of Division Philibert Jean-Baptiste Curial. Marshal Claude Victor-Perrin led the II Corps with three infantry divisions under Generals of Division François Antoine Teste, Jean Corbineau, and Georges Mouton. General of Division Emmanuel Grouchy led the cavalry.[5]

On the Coalition side, Prince Scherbatov led the Russian 6th Corps, General-Leutnant Zakhar Dmitrievich Olsufiev directed the Russian 9th Corps, Count Liewen III commanded the Russian 11th Corps, Feldzeugmeister Ignaz Gyulai led the Austrian 3rd Corps, Crown Prince Frederick William of Württemberg directed the 4th Corps, General der Kavallerie Karl Philipp von Wrede commanded the Austro-Bavarian 5th Corps, and there were several independent cavalry divisions.[5]

The multinational coalition forces used white shoulder bands to distinguish friends from foes during the battle.[citation needed]

Battle

About noon the 2 February Napoleon attacked, but the weather was terrible, and the ground so heavy that his favourite artillery, the mainstay of his whole system of warfare, was useless and in the drifts of snow which at intervals swept across the field, the columns lost their direction and many were severely handled by the Cossacks. At nightfall the fighting ceased and the French retired to Lesmont, leaving Marmont behind to observe Coalition movements.[4]

Historian Digby Smith stated that French losses numbered 4,600 killed and wounded. The Coalition captured an additional 1,000 soldiers and 73 guns. The large loss of artillery was due in part to the Coalition's cavalry superiority, and in part to the soggy condition of the ground which made it difficult to withdraw the pieces in time. The Coalition had between 6,000 and 7,000 casualties.[3]

Aftermath

See also: Six Days' Campaign

At the Battle of Lesmont a French force managed to destroy the town's bridge and the Coalition force lost contact while the French moved to Troyes. Owing to the state of the roads or to the lethargy within Schwarzenberg's headquarters, no pursuit was attempted, resulting in the subsequent Battle of Champaubert.[4]

Analysis

The result of this battle filled the allies with joy. They had captured 50 guns and 2,000 prisoners, and 4,000 dead or wounded Frenchmen littered the plain, but it was not these trophies or these hecatombs which raised their spirits to such a height: they themselves had had 6,000 men mown down by the grape shot; but they had overthrown Napoleon in fair fight on the soil of France; the charm which had been broken at Leipzig had not been restored, and it was again proved that the Emperor was not invincible. In face of the enormous forces which they had available, the Emperor was as good as beaten unless he were invincible.

— Henry Houssaye.[6]

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e Bodart 1908, p. 470.
  2. ^ Clodfelter 2008, p. 180.
  3. ^ a b c Smith 1998, p. 492.
  4. ^ a b c d e Maude 1911, p. 232.
  5. ^ a b Smith 1998, p. 491-492.
  6. ^ Houssaye 1914, pp. 50–51.

References

  • Bodart, Gaston (1908). Militär-historisches Kriegs-Lexikon (1618-1905). Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  • Smith, Digby (1998). The Napoleonic Wars Data Book. London: Greenhill. ISBN 1-85367-276-9.
  • Houssaye, Henry (1914). Napoleon and the campaign of 1814. Translated by McClintock, R.S. Hugh Rees. pp. 50–51.

Attribution:

  •   This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Maude, Frederic Natusch (1911). "Napoleonic Campaigns". In Chisholm, Hugh (ed.). Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 19 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 212–236.

Further reading

  • Chandler, David G. (1966). The Campaigns of Napoleon. New York, NY: Macmillan.
  • Chandler, David G. (1999). Dictionary of the Napoleonic Wars. New York, N.Y.: Wordsworth.
  • Clodfelter, M. (2008). Warfare and armed conflicts : a statistical encyclopedia of casualty and other figures, 1494-2007. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland. ISBN 978-0786433193.
  • Nafziger, George (1994). (PDF). United States Army Combined Arms Center. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
  • Petre, F. Loraine (1994) [1914]. Napoleon at Bay: 1814. London: Lionel Leventhal Ltd. ISBN 1-85367-163-0.

External links

  • Battle of La Rothiere 1814: map, diagrams, order of battle
  •   Media related to Battle of La Rothière at Wikimedia Commons
Preceded by
Battle of Brienne 		Napoleonic Wars
Battle of La Rothière 		Succeeded by
Battle of the Mincio River (1814)

January 31, 2023
battle, rothière, fought, february, 1814, between, french, empire, allied, army, austria, prussia, russia, german, states, previously, allied, with, france, french, were, emperor, napoleon, coalition, army, under, command, gebhard, leberecht, blücher, battle, . The Battle of La Rothiere was fought on the 1st of February 1814 between the French Empire and allied army of Austria Prussia Russia and German States previously allied with France The French were led by Emperor Napoleon and the coalition army was under the command of Gebhard Leberecht von Blucher The battle took place in severe weather conditions wet snowstorm The French were defeated but managed to hold until they could retreat under cover of darkness Battle of La RothierePart of the Campaign of France of the Sixth CoalitionWurttemberg dragoons charging French infantryDate1 February 1814 1 LocationLa Rothiere French Empire48 20 45 N 4 33 30 E 48 3458 N 4 5583 E 48 3458 4 5583ResultCoalition victoryBelligerentsFranceAustria Bavaria Prussia Russia WurttembergCommanders and leadersNapoleon BonaparteGebhard Leberecht von BlucherStrength41 000 1 45 000128 guns110 000 123 000 1 Casualties and losses3 000 1 4 600 killed or wounded1 000 2 captured73 guns lost 3 6 000 1 7 000 killed or wounded 3 class notpageimage Location within France War of the Sixth Coalition Campaign in north east France Interactive fullscreen map current battle Napoleon in command Napoleon not in command Contents 1 Prelude 2 Order of battle 3 Battle 4 Aftermath 5 Analysis 6 Notes 7 References 8 Further reading 9 External linksPrelude EditFurther information Campaign in north east France 1814 On the 25 January 1814 Blucher entered Nancy and moving rapidly up the valley of the Moselle was in communication with the Austrian advanced guard near La Rothiere on the afternoon of the 28 January 4 On 29 January Napoleon attacked the Prussians Blucher s headquarters were surprised and he himself nearly captured by a sudden rush of French troops Battle of Brienne Learning at the same time that the French Emperor in person was at hand Blucher accordingly fell back a few miles next morning to a strong position covering the exits from the Bar sur Aube defile 4 The Austrian advance guard joined the Prussians and together they decided to accept battle indeed they had no alternative as the roads in rear were so choked with traffic that retreat was out of the question 4 Order of battle EditThe French army counted about 45 000 men in 57 battalions and 62 squadrons supported by 128 artillery pieces The Imperial Guard was commanded by General of Division Philibert Jean Baptiste Curial Marshal Claude Victor Perrin led the II Corps with three infantry divisions under Generals of Division Francois Antoine Teste Jean Corbineau and Georges Mouton General of Division Emmanuel Grouchy led the cavalry 5 On the Coalition side Prince Scherbatov led the Russian 6th Corps General Leutnant Zakhar Dmitrievich Olsufiev directed the Russian 9th Corps Count Liewen III commanded the Russian 11th Corps Feldzeugmeister Ignaz Gyulai led the Austrian 3rd Corps Crown Prince Frederick William of Wurttemberg directed the 4th Corps General der Kavallerie Karl Philipp von Wrede commanded the Austro Bavarian 5th Corps and there were several independent cavalry divisions 5 The multinational coalition forces used white shoulder bands to distinguish friends from foes during the battle citation needed Battle EditAbout noon the 2 February Napoleon attacked but the weather was terrible and the ground so heavy that his favourite artillery the mainstay of his whole system of warfare was useless and in the drifts of snow which at intervals swept across the field the columns lost their direction and many were severely handled by the Cossacks At nightfall the fighting ceased and the French retired to Lesmont leaving Marmont behind to observe Coalition movements 4 Historian Digby Smith stated that French losses numbered 4 600 killed and wounded The Coalition captured an additional 1 000 soldiers and 73 guns The large loss of artillery was due in part to the Coalition s cavalry superiority and in part to the soggy condition of the ground which made it difficult to withdraw the pieces in time The Coalition had between 6 000 and 7 000 casualties 3 Aftermath EditSee also Six Days Campaign At the Battle of Lesmont a French force managed to destroy the town s bridge and the Coalition force lost contact while the French moved to Troyes Owing to the state of the roads or to the lethargy within Schwarzenberg s headquarters no pursuit was attempted resulting in the subsequent Battle of Champaubert 4 Analysis EditThe result of this battle filled the allies with joy They had captured 50 guns and 2 000 prisoners and 4 000 dead or wounded Frenchmen littered the plain but it was not these trophies or these hecatombs which raised their spirits to such a height they themselves had had 6 000 men mown down by the grape shot but they had overthrown Napoleon in fair fight on the soil of France the charm which had been broken at Leipzig had not been restored and it was again proved that the Emperor was not invincible In face of the enormous forces which they had available the Emperor was as good as beaten unless he were invincible Henry Houssaye 6 Notes Edit a b c d e Bodart 1908 p 470 Clodfelter 2008 p 180 a b c Smith 1998 p 492 a b c d e Maude 1911 p 232 a b Smith 1998 p 491 492 Houssaye 1914 pp 50 51 References EditBodart Gaston 1908 Militar historisches Kriegs Lexikon 1618 1905 Retrieved 6 June 2021 Smith Digby 1998 The Napoleonic Wars Data Book London Greenhill ISBN 1 85367 276 9 Houssaye Henry 1914 Napoleon and the campaign of 1814 Translated by McClintock R S Hugh Rees pp 50 51 Attribution This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Maude Frederic Natusch 1911 Napoleonic Campaigns In Chisholm Hugh ed Encyclopaedia Britannica Vol 19 11th ed Cambridge University Press pp 212 236 Further reading EditChandler David G 1966 The Campaigns of Napoleon New York NY Macmillan Chandler David G 1999 Dictionary of the Napoleonic Wars New York N Y Wordsworth Clodfelter M 2008 Warfare and armed conflicts a statistical encyclopedia of casualty and other figures 1494 2007 Jefferson North Carolina McFarland ISBN 978 0786433193 Nafziger George 1994 Allied Forces Battle of La Rothiere 1 February 1814 PDF United States Army Combined Arms Center Archived from the original PDF on 3 March 2016 Retrieved 21 February 2016 Petre F Loraine 1994 1914 Napoleon at Bay 1814 London Lionel Leventhal Ltd ISBN 1 85367 163 0 External links EditBattle of La Rothiere 1814 map diagrams order of battle Media related to Battle of La Rothiere at Wikimedia CommonsPreceded byBattle of Brienne Napoleonic WarsBattle of La Rothiere Succeeded byBattle of the Mincio River 1814 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Battle of La Rothiere amp oldid 1128068420, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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