Battle of Aspern-Essling

Battle of Aspern-Essling
Part of War of the Fifth Coalition
The Archduke Charles at Aspern by Johann Peter Krafft.
Date 21–22 May 1809[1] Location Lobau, Vienna 48°12′47″N 16°30′09″E / 48.21306°N 16.50250°E / 48.21306; 16.50250 Result Austrian victory
Belligerents
Austria	France
Commanders and leaders
Archduke Charles Johann von Hiller Heinrich von Bellegarde Friedrich von Hohenzollern-Hechingen Franz von Rosenberg Johann I of Liechtenstein	Napoleon I André Masséna Jean Lannes † Jean-Baptiste Bessières
Units involved
Hauptarmee	Army of Germany
Strength
98,260; 292 guns[2]	80,130; 154 guns[2]
Casualties and losses
22,285 to 22,900;[a][2] 2 guns[2]	19,980 to 24,001;[2][b] 3 guns[2]
class=notpageimage| Location within Europe

War of the Fifth Coalition

200km
125miles

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Wagram

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Aspern

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  current battle

  Napoleon in command

  Napoleon not in command

In the Battle of Aspern-Essling (21–22 May 1809), Napoleon crossed the Danube near Vienna, but the French and their allies were attacked and forced back across the river by the Austrians under Archduke Charles. It was the first time Napoleon had been personally defeated in a major battle, as well as his first battle defeat in 10 years since the Siege of Acre, and his first battle defeat as head of state. Archduke Charles drove out the French but fell short of destroying their army. The Austrian artillery dominated the battlefield, firing 53,000 rounds compared to 24,300 French. The French lost over 20,000 men including one of Napoleon's ablest field commanders and closest friends, Marshal Jean Lannes.

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