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BATTLE // February 2, 1797

Siege of Mantua

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Overview

The siege of Mantua lasted from 4 June 1796 to 2 February 1797 with a short break where French forces under the overall command of Napoleon Bonaparte besieged and blockaded a large Austrian garrison at Mantua for many months until it surrendered. The siege was the focal point of the Italian Campaign of 1796-1797, lasting the vast majority of the campaign and being the hinge point that would determine which side would control Northern Italy. The eventual surrender, together with the heavy losses incurred during four unsuccessful relief attempts, led to Napoleon invading Austria and convincing the Austrians to sue for peace in 1797. The siege occurred during the War of the First Coalition, which is part of the French Revolutionary Wars. Mantua, a city in the Lombardy region of Italy, lies on the Mincio River.

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

Forces & casualties

Troop strength

  • France16,000
    medium
  • Austria25,000–34,000
    medium

Austria fielded a 1.8 : 1 numerical advantage

Casualties

  • France7,000
    medium44% loss rate
  • Austria16,333
    medium55% loss rate

Commanders (15)

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6 sibling battles · 0 factions

Last verified June 2026
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