Battle of Marengo
1800 CE · Italy (Piedmont)
The Battle of Marengo was fought in 1800 CE in Italy (Piedmont) between French Republic vs the Habsburg Monarchy; French victory snatched from defeat by Desaix's late arrival; Desaix was killed.
Battle of Marengo: quick facts
- Date
- 1800 CE
- Location
- Italy (Piedmont)
- Belligerents
- French Republic vs the Habsburg Monarchy
- Commanders
- Napoleon Bonaparte and Louis Desaix vs Michael von Melas
- Result
- French victory snatched from defeat by Desaix's late arrival; Desaix was killed.
- Era
- ⛵ Colonial & Napoleonic Era
- Quiz difficulty
- hard
What happened at the Battle of Marengo?
Napoleon was on the verge of defeat when General Desaix arrived with fresh troops and launched a dramatic counterattack that shattered the advancing Austrian army. Desaix was killed leading the charge that reversed the battle's outcome, but his sacrifice turned a near-disaster into a decisive French victory. Marengo secured Napoleon's political position as First Consul, drove Austria from northern Italy, and cemented his reputation as a military genius who could snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
Did you know?
General Desaix arrived at Marengo late in the afternoon and reportedly said 'This battle is completely lost, but there is time to win another' before leading the charge that saved Napoleon.
Sources and further reading
- Battle of Marengo on Wikipedia for the full account, historiography and primary sources.
- How BattleGuess compiles and checks battle facts: see the About page.
Entry last reviewed 26 September 2026.