Napoleon Wins Marengo: France Reclaims Italy
Napoleon Bonaparte won the Battle of Marengo on June 14, 1800, but only barely. His forces were being routed by Austrian General Michael von Melas when General Louis Desaix arrived with reinforcements at 5 PM. Desaix launched a counterattack that turned defeat into victory but was killed leading the charge, shot through the heart. Napoleon later said "Why am I not allowed to weep?" The victory restored French control over northern Italy, which had been lost during Napoleon's Egyptian campaign. Politically, it cemented Napoleon's position as First Consul and silenced his domestic critics. Napoleon subsequently rewrote the official account of the battle several times, each version enhancing his own role and minimizing the near-disaster. The chicken dish "Chicken Marengo" is supposedly what his chef improvised from local ingredients after the battle.
June 14, 1800
226 years ago
Key Figures & Places
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