Battle of Abensberg

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict=Battle of Abensberg
partof=the War of the Fifth Coalition


caption=
date=20 April, 1809
place=Abensberg, Bavaria
result=French victory
combatant1=flagicon|Austrian Empire Austria
combatant2=flagicon|France France
flagicon|Bavaria|striped Bavaria
flagicon|Württemberg Württemberg
commander1=Archduke Charles
commander2=Napoleon I
strength1=80,000
strength2=90,000
casualties1=2,800 dead and wounded, 4,000 prisoners
casualties2=2,000 dead and wounded The Battle of Abensberg took place on April 20 1809, between the French, Württembergers (VIII Corps) and Bavarians (VII Corps) under Napoleon which numbered about 90,000 strong, and 80,000 Austrians under the Archduke Charles of Austria. The battle resulted in a French victory.

Prelude

Desperately trying to wrest the initiative back from Archduke Charles in the opening phases of the 1809 campaign, Napoleon Bonaparte consolidated his forces, left in a confused state by the former commander Marshal Berthier, and went on the offensive at Abensberg.

The battle

On the French left, Marshal Lannes' corps drove back the Austrians after a feeble resistance. In the centre the Bavarians were hard pressed, but eventually Napoleon succeeded in turning the Austrian flank, exposed by the defeat of their right, and Charles was forced to retreat. The Austrians lost 7,000, the French, Württembergers and Bavarians about 3,000 killed and wounded. Despite being outnumbered, Bonaparte's 113,000 troops split the 160,000 strung-out Austrians into two forces. Charles was forced to retreat east to Eckmühl and General Hiller moved south-east to Landshut. Both then had to fight a second major battle each. Austria suffered 2800 casualties at Abensberg, with a further 4000 men captured.