Battle of Ostrach

Significance

The Battle of Ostrach, fought on 20–21 March 1799, was the first engagement of the War of the Second Coalition to occur outside Italy. Austrian forces under Archduke Charles, numbering roughly 52,000, defeated a French army of approximately 28,000 under Jean-Baptiste Jourdan. The victory gave Austria an early operational success on the German theater front at the outset of the coalition war, checking Jourdan's advance and demonstrating Austrian numerical and tactical advantage in the opening phase of the campaign.

Forces & casualties

Commanders (2)