Battle of San Germano
| date | May 15, 1815 to May 17, 1815 |
|---|---|
| place | Piedimonte San Germano |
| output | Victory of the Austrians |
| Parties to the conflict | |
|---|---|
| Commander | |
| Troop strength | |
| 8,000 soldiers | 15,000 soldiers |
| losses | |
|
500 dead and wounded |
3,500 dead and wounded |
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The Battle of San Germano (also known as the Battle of Mignano ) was the final battle of the Austro-Neapolitan War between an Austrian force commanded by Laval Nugent of Westmeath and the Neapolitan army commanded by Joachim Murat . The battle began on May 15, 1815 and ended on May 17 when the remaining Neapolitan troops were overrun at Mignano.
course
After his defeat at the Battle of Tolentino , Murat went back to San Germano . There Murat reinforced his army with the Armée de l'Intérieur (Army for the Interior), which he had left behind as a reserve to defend Naples . But even with this reinforcement, Murat's army had already melted to around 15,000 men. General Nugent's forces had marched out of Florence and arrived in Rome on April 30th . From there he marched to Ceprano where he had a minor skirmish with a local militia. After receiving news of Murat's defeat at Tolentino, Nugent tried to cut off Murat's route of retreat to Naples.
On May 14th, he approached Murat's camp near San Germano. The following day Murat decided to attack and drove out the Austrian scouts before attacking the Austrian positions directly. However, the main Austrian force under General Bianchi Murat's army had followed from Tolentino and began to encircle the Neapolitan troops. Since the attack of the Neapolitans failed and they suffered substantial losses, Murat now withdrew to San Germano and went into defensive position. But as soon as Nugent's force approached, the Neapolitans panicked and they quickly withdrew. The army separated into a smaller part under Murat, who retreated on Capua and marched a larger part towards Mignano.
On May 17th the remaining approx. 6,000 Neapolitans were smashed by approx. 1,000 hussars, supported by hunters and border guards near Mignano. Most of the Neapolitans fled immediately after the battle began, and around 1,000 were captured by the Austrians.
consequences
Joachim Murat fled to Corsica on May 19, disguised as a seaman , the commander-in-chief of the Neapolitans, General Michele Carrascosa, whose army was in the process of dissolution, sought the armistice that quickly led to the Treaty of Casalanza . The cities of Pescara and Ancona , held by Neapolitan garrisons, capitulated after a brief siege. Only the fortress Gaeta under the artillery general Alessandro Begani, Maresciallo di Campo continued to offer resistance and could only be defeated after a long siege (May 28th - August 8th, 1815).
literature
- Johann Sporschil: Campaign of the Austrians against King Joachim Murat in 1815 , Verlag George Westermann, Braunschweig 1844, p. 61 f
- Ludwig von Welden : The war of the Austrians in Italy against the French in 1814 , Graz 1853