ORDER OF BATTLE // November 6, 1796
Second Battle of Bassano
Estimated force strength by side, with confidence labels per surviving record.
Forces engaged
2 sides catalogued · combined 47,500–49,000 estimated
French Republic
19,500–21,000
Medium-confidence figure
Habsburg monarchy
28,000
Medium-confidence figure
Battle context
The Second Battle of Bassano on 6 November 1796 marked the first tactical defeat of Napoleon Bonaparte's career, as Habsburg forces under Alvinczi repulsed repeated French attacks between Bassano del Grappa and Cittadella. Despite fielding roughly 19,500–21,000 troops against an Austrian force of around 28,000, the French Army of Italy failed to break through, suffering approximately 3,000 casualties against Austrian losses estimated between 2,823 and 5,600. The engagement was part of the third Austrian attempt to relieve the siege of Mantua during the War of the First Coalition, a strategic objective the Habsburgs pursued across multiple campaigns throughout 1796. Coming two months after the French victory at the more famous First Battle of Bassano, the outcome demonstrated that Alvinczi's army could absorb and deflect Bonaparte's offensive pressure, keeping the question of Mantua's relief unresolved and prolonging French operational strain in northern Italy.
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