The Battle of Erbach was a battle of the

French Revolutionary Wars The French Revolutionary Wars (french: Guerres de la Révolution française) were a series of sweeping military conflicts lasting from 1792 until 1802 and resulting from the French Revolution. They pitted French First Republic, France against Ki ...

fought on May 15, 1800. The forces of the

French Consulate The Consulate (french: Le Consulat) was the top-level Government of France from the fall of the Directory in the coup of 18 Brumaire on 10 November 1799 until the start of the Napoleonic Empire on 18 May 1804. By extension, the term ''The Con ...

, led by Sainte-Suzanne. The

Habsburg The House of Habsburg (), alternatively spelled Hapsburg in Englishgerman: Haus Habsburg, ; es, Casa de Habsburgo; hu, Habsburg család, it, Casa di Asburgo, nl, Huis van Habsburg, pl, dom Habsburgów, pt, Casa de Habsburgo, la, Domus Hab ...

forces were led by

Baron Pál Kray Baron Paul Kray of Krajova and Topolya (german: Paul Freiherr Kray von Krajova und Topola; hu, Krajovai és Topolyai báró Kray Pál; 5 February 1735 – 19 January 1804), was a soldier, and general in Habsburg service during the Seven Y ...

. The French had 15,000 soldiers, while the Austrians had 36,000 soldiers, including 12,000

cavalry Historically, cavalry (from the French word ''cavalerie'', itself derived from "cheval" meaning "horse") are soldiers or warriors who fight mounted on horseback. Cavalry were the most mobile of the combat arms, operating as light cavalry ...

. The Austrians attacked vigorously but could not rout the French forces. The French hold to their main positions for 12 hours, until the approach of St Cyr's corps forced the Austrians to retire. Both sides suffered heavy casualties.

References

*George Bruce. Harbottle's Dictionary of Battles. (Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1981) (). Conflicts in 1800 Battles involving Austria Battles involving France Battles of the French Revolutionary Wars 1800 in the Habsburg monarchy 1800 in France 1800 in the Holy Roman Empire {{Austria-battle-stub