Nature of and reasons for military successes and failures after 1799 Flashcards
Why did Napoleon desire to expand?
Wanted to recreate success and recapture glory of Italian campaign.
What did the Austrians do on the 14th June?
Launch a surprise attack on main French army.
What did Bonaparte order at 11:00 am?
To recall the detachment under General Louis Desaix and moved his reserve forward.
What happened by 2:30?
French were withdrawing and Austrian dragoons seized the Marengo farm.
Bonaparte had by then arrived with the reserve.
Whose arrival stabilised the French position?
Desaix’s arrival around 5:30 pm.
Who made the Austrians flee?
Kellermann’s cavalry
What quote underlines motives for a soldier fighting?
“A soldier will fight long and hard for a bit of coloured ribbon.”
What did Napoleon’s leadership do?
He inspired them. Napoleon was wounded, in left leg.
What signs of enemy weakness was there?
They failed to press home their advantage, held at 2.30 p.m.
How did the Levee en masse help?
Significantly increased the number of men in the army, reaching a peak of about 1,500,000 in September 1794.
What does Napoleon travel without?
the slow food and baggage columns that the Austrians have and can therefor outmanoeuvre the enemy.
What did Napoleon often wear?
He blue uniform of a colonel of the Imperial Guard Foot Grenadiers - appearing to be a corporal.
What shows the importance of the Battle?
He named his horse after it.
What did Napoleon lie about?
Using a horse to cross the alps - it was a mule. Not skilled cavalry man.
What followed the Battle?
A propaganda campaign that sought to rewrite the story of the battle three times during Napoleon’s rule.
