Napoleons First Italian campaign

Battle of Tarvis
Battle of Tarvis 1797 ©Keith Rocco
1797 Mar 21

Battle of Tarvis

Tarvisio, Italy

In the battle, three divisions of a First French Republic army commanded by Napoleon Bonaparte attacked several columns of the retreating Habsburg Austrian army led by Archduke Charles, Duke of Teschen. In three days of confused fighting, French divisions directed by André Masséna, Jean Joseph Guieu, and Jean-Mathieu-Philibert Sérurier succeeded in blocking the Tarvis Pass and capturing 3,500 Austrians led by Adam Bajalics von Bajahaza.