14 June 1800
Battle of Marengo

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In a dramatic manoeuvre, Napoleon leads his army over the Alps into Italy in May and then wins a stunning victory at Marengo over the Austrians, who had launched a new offensive against the French at the beginning of April.

At Marengo, he is saved by the actions of his general, Louis Desaix. Sent with two divisions to block the expected retreat of the Austrians, Desaix is alerted by the sound of guns to a surprise attack on Napoleon's troops by the Austrians under General Michael Melas. 'Marching towards the sound of gunfire', Desaix's reinforcements change the course of the battle and the Austrian army pull out of Italy. Desaix, however, loses his life.

Austria, Russia and Britain had been the principal partners in the Second Coalition (see Empire) against France since 1798, but Russia withdrew from fighting in 1799. Another decisive defeat for Austria at Hohenlinden in December leads to the Treaty of Lunéville and the end of the Second Coalition.

'When we fight, no matter in what country, it is a civil war we make.' Napoleon

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