The Battle of Rottofreddo was fought on 10 August 1746 during the
War of Austrian Succession between a French army and Austrian forces. The French were led by
Marshal Maillebois, and could repel the Austrian attack, but had to withdraw after the battle.
The battle
After the
defeat at Piacenza the French and Spanish army had to retreat across the
Po river
The Po ( , ; la, Padus or ; Ligurian language (ancient), Ancient Ligurian: or ) is the longest river in Italy. It flows eastward across northern Italy starting from the Cottian Alps. The river's length is either or , if the Maira (river), Mair ...
. The Austrian commander
Antoniotto Botta Adorno tried to prevent this and send Count Serbelloni with the vanguard to attack. The Bourbon Army defended the town of
Rottofreddo till their baggage train crossed the
Tidone
The Tidone is a river in the Region of Emilia Romagna in northern Italy. It is a right-bank tributary of the Po River. The stream rises in the Apennine Mountains near Monte Penice and flows in a northerly direction into the Po.
Geography
The Tidon ...
to the west, but were then overwhelmed by the Austrian mainforce. During the following attack against the main French army at
Castel San Giovanni Austrian field marshal Bärenklau tried a flank attack in the south, but was hit by a musket ball and died shortly after. The French and Spanish could hold their line but finally decided to retreat to Tortona. In the aftermath
Piacenza surrendered to Austrian General
Nádasdy, but the following invasion of the Provence should end in failure.
Nevertheless Italy was secured for the Austrians.
References
Sources
World History at KMLA* Janko, Wilhelm Edler von, "Bärenklau zu Schönreith, Johann Leopold Freiherr von" in: Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie 2 (1875), S. 59
nline-Version URL: https://www.deutsche-biographie.de/gnd135853958.html#adbcontent GERMAN
*Plan de la Battaille donnée de l'Armée Imperiale Royale d'Hongrie à l'Armée Espagnole Francaise le 10te. Aug. 1746 en Italie près de la Ville Piazenza au Torrent Didionne; URL: https://arcinsys.hessen.de/arcinsys/detailAction?detailid=v4085879 FRENCH
*Bodart, Gaston, Militär-historisches Kriegs-Lexikon (1618-1905), Wien 1908, p. 209. GERMAN
Battles involving France
Battles involving Austria
Conflicts in 1746
1746 in Austria
1746 in France
1746 in Italy
Rottofreddo
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