THE Battle of Lodi it took place on May 10, 1796, in the city with the same name as the battle, located in the north of what is now Italy. The Battle of Lodi was one of the battles of the so-called Campaign in Italy, commanded by the young general of the French army Napoleon Bonaparte.
French army troops commanded by Bonaparte faced troops piedmontese and Austrian during the Battle of Lodi, the latter being commanded by General Beaulieu. At the time, the Austrian Empire was one of the main enemies of the French, becoming the bastion of defense of the Ancien Regime against revolutionary France.
Napoleon's initial onslaught took place on the banks of the river Po, close to Piacenza. After crossing the river, the French later advanced to Lodi. The city was fortified and protected by four bastions protected by moats. Despite this protection, Austrian troops abandoned the city after the entry of the first French skirmishers. The Austrians crossed the bridge over the Adda River and moved along its east bank towards the north.
The fame of the Battle of Lodi is related to the advance of the French infantry over the river bridge, against the strong firepower of the Austrian army and the lack of support in the rear. Napoleon managed to motivate the soldiers under his command through patriotic speeches, which injected morale into the troops to face the enemies. The advance of French infantry and cavalry caused the Austrians to retreat.
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Losses among the Austrians were estimated at around 2,000 men and 15 guns. Among the French, human losses were around a thousand people.
Although the Battle of Lodi was not a major military action, its importance lies mainly in the Napoleon Bonaparte's conviction in his own military capacity, in his own potential for achievements grandiose.
However, the political context in France, governed by the Directory, would lead to the division of French troops in Italy to face another Austrian attack, this time in the Alps. Napoleon opposed this decision, through two letters sent to Paris, prompting the Directory to yield. Napoleon maintained command of the troops and was free to take Mantua.
By Tales Pinto
Master in History
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PINTO, Tales of the Saints. "Battle of Lodi, 1796"; Brazil School. Available in: https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/guerras/batalha-lodi-1796.htm. Accessed on June 28, 2021.