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St Michael-Leoben

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Title
St Michael-Leoben
Description
Following the Austrian defeats in Bavaria and Northern Italy, Archduke Charles ordered Jellacic’s isolated division at Salzburg to join Archduke John’s retreating forces at Graz. At the same time, Eugene’s French army was marching northeast with the dual mission of …
Publisher
Date
1809-05-25
Scenario#
317
Scenario Description
Following the Austrian defeats in Bavaria and Northern Italy, Archduke Charles ordered Jellacic’s isolated division at Salzburg to join Archduke John’s retreating forces at Graz. At the same time, Eugene’s French army was marching northeast with the dual mission of pursuing Archduke John’s army and joining with Napoleon. Jellacic’s route intersected with Eugene’s. The race was on to see if Jellacic’s division could be trapped and destroyed. Grenier’s command was ordered to intercept Jellacic and his baggage train before it could reach St Michael and the river crossing. When the leading division of French under General Seras arrived on the field, the Austrians already held the key terrain. Jellacic knew his baggage train would take time to reach and cross the river. He now committed a fatal error. Instead of sacrificing his baggage train and escaping with his troops, he prepared to make a stand. His light troops had held off the French Advance Guard, but both French divisions were now on the field, so Jellacic deployed his outnumbered forces into a ragged line, taking advantage of the landscape. With numerical superiority, Grenier planned to attack the center and both flanks simultaneously. His plan worked, for when Jellacic weakened his center to shore up his right flank, the French broke through in the center. A rout ensued, with French cavalry pursuing Jellacic’s survivors for 20 miles and capturing thousands. The next day Jellacic joined John with but 2,000 disorganized survivors out of the 9,000 he had committed to battle.
Location
Obersteiermark, Austria
Battle Narrative
In the Battle of Sankt Michael on 25 May 1809, Paul Grenier's French corps crushed Franz Jellacic's Austrian division at Sankt Michael in Obersteiermark, Austria. The action occurred after the initial French victories during the War of the Fifth Coalition, part of the Napoleonic Wars. Sankt Michael is located approximately 140 kilometers southwest of Vienna.
Narrative Source
Combatants
French
Austrians
Additional Information
Fifth Coalition

Geolocation