Italian Campaigns of the French Revolutionary Wars
The Italian Campaigns were the two military offensives carried out by the French Army, under Napoleon Bonaparte, during the French Revolutionary Wars. The main rationale for him to lead his army against the Austrians and Italians was to save the French Republic from the absolute monarchs’ plans to quell the French Revolution. Thus, it was a preemptive move against the royalists’ attempt to reestablish the monarchy in France.
The first campaign consisted of two French attacks on the Coalition Army, composed of Austrian and Neapolitan forces, and took place in northern Italy in 1794. With Napoleon drawing up the plan of attack, this French offensive was conducted by Andre Massena thoroughly defeating the Austrians. At that time Napoleon was commander of the French Army’s artillery. Thus, the French secured Piedmont and its mountain pass. It was ended with the Treaty of Campo Formio (1797).
The second campaign took place between 1799 and 1800 and began with two French defeats in the hands of the Austrian-Russian Army; however, in early 1800, Napoleon took over the command of the French Army again, replacing General Jean Moreau, and initiated an offensive against the Austrians, beating them at the Battle of Marengo on June 14, 1800.
Below, a painting by Louis-Francois Lejeune, depicting the Battle of Marengo, which was the last military engagement of the second Italian Campaign.
