history-will-be-kind-to-me:21st May 1809: The Austrian Archduke Charles Engages (and then Beats) Nap
history-will-be-kind-to-me:21st May 1809: The Austrian Archduke Charles Engages (and then Beats) Napoleon at the Battle of Aspern-EsslingThe Battle of Aspern-Essling was fought between 21st and 22nd of May 1809.Napoleon had taken Vienna after a siege between the 10th and 13th of May 1809, but the Austrian army was still in the field on the opposite side of the Danube. They Austrians had also destroyed the bridges across the Danube as part of their retreat. Napoleon planned a crossing of the Danube near the villages of Aspern and Essling.On the 21st of May, Marshal Jean Lannes crossed the second leg of the Danube. Lannes received orders to march on Essling with Boudet, while Massena went to Aspern and Bessieres occupied the center. Once in position at Essling, Archduke Charles sent down Fray and Rosenberg with 11,000 Austrians with a cover of 42 cannons, leaving the French vastly outnumbered at Essling. During the first day of battle, Lannes lost two friends in De Albuquerque and Espagne.French casualties were around 23,000 (7,000 killed, 16,000 wounded) while the Austrians suffered around 23,300 casualties(6,200 killed/missing, 16,300 wounded, and 800 captured). Consolidating his position on Lobau, Napoleon awaited reinforcements. Aspern-Essling was Napoleon’s first major defeat in the field. Having allowed his army to recover, Napoleon again crossed the river in July and scored a decisive victory over Charles at Wagram.Napoleon’s friend Marshal Jean Lannes was wounded the next day, 22nd of May, needing both legs amputated. Napoleon showed (uncharacteristic?) concern and was seen with Lanne’s blood on his clothing.Napoleon wrote to Josephine expressing his sadness at the loss (and wounding) of two of his friends:“I am in great grief for the loss of the Duke of Montebello, who died this morning. And so all things come to their end! Goodbye, dear friend; do anything you can to console the Marshal’s poor wife. There are some wounds to which death itself is preferable. It is at the moment of leaving life that a man clings to it with all his might, Lannes, the bravest of men…” - Napoleon to Josephine, May 31st 1809 (source)Images: 1) The Battle of Essling, May 1809 (oil on canvas) by Fernand Cormon. Musee des Beaux-Arts, Mulhouse, France (source) 2) Marshal Jean Lannes, Duc de Montebello, Prince de Sievers, wounded at the battle of Essling, engraving by Paul-Émile Boutigny, unknown date (source) -- source link