Battle of Ronco

Overview

The Battle of Ronco took place during the Neapolitan War on 21 April 1815 in the village of Ronco, just south of Forlì. The main Neapolitan army, retreating following the disaster at the Battle of Occhiobello, was being pursued by an Austrian corps under the command of Adam Albert von Neipperg. The Neapolitans, commanded by their king, Joachim Murat, turned to check the Austrians at the Ronco River. The Neapolitans rear guard was defeated by a smaller advanced Austrian force, compelling Murat to retreat further south to the Savio River. The Austrians suffered light casualties, whereas nearly 1,000 Neapolitans were killed or wounded and more deserted Murat altogether.

Overview adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Significance

The Battle of Ronco was a further reverse for Joachim Murat's army during the Austrian advance through northern Italy in the Neapolitan War of 1815. Already weakened by the disaster at Occhiobello, the Neapolitan army turned at the Ronco River in an attempt to check the pursuing Austrian corps under Adam Albert von Neipperg. The failure of that rearguard action cost Murat nearly 1,000 killed or wounded, compelled a continued retreat southward to the Savio River, and accelerated the disintegration of his force as additional troops deserted. The engagement demonstrated that the Neapolitan army, outnumbering the Austrians by more than two to one at this engagement, could no longer hold a defensive line against a pursuing enemy, deepening the operational collapse that would culminate in the loss of Murat's kingdom.

Tactics

Forces & casualties

Commanders (2)