Le Prise de Ratisbonne durant la Guerre de la Cinquième Coalition, 20 au 23 Avril 1809

Église Baroque de Mariä Himmelfahrt, realisé 1726, à Dechbetten près de Ratisbonne

Ratisbonne was occupied by Baron de Coutaud’s 65th Ligne on 19th Avril 1809, avec orders to defend the strategic bridge over the Danube. The 65th repulsed several attaques autrichiennes on the 20th, but the unit was eventually compelled to surrender when the ammunition had run out. The following day a battle developed at Eckmühl, south of Ratisbon, et the intact bridge over the Danube provided les forces autrichiennes an alternate route of retreat.

The battle at Eckmühl resumed on the 22nd of Avril, resulting d’une victoire française. Troupes autrichiennes south of the Danube were evacuated during the night via the Ratisbon bridge. Six bataillons of infantry were left in Ratisbon to delay la poursuite française. The following day, artillerie bavaroise breached the city wall near the Straubing gate, et assault parties from Marbot’s division eventually carried the position. However, before the main bridge could be secured, it was blown up par les Autrichiens.

Opposing Forces

Emperor Napoleon
Maréchal Lannes
1st Division, III Corps (Morand)
3rd Division, III Corps (Gudin)
Corps Wurtembergois (Vandamme)
1st Heavy Cavalry Div. (Nansouty)
2nd Heavy Cav. Div. (Saint Sulpice)
Corps Bavarois (Lefebvre)

Autrichiens (Archiduc Charles)

Ratisbonne

Street in the historic part de Ratisbonne

Narrow side street in the historic part de Ratisbonne

comme ci-dessus, viewed from the opposite end

Building avec large central gate

Building avec trompe-l’oeil facade painting

Protestant church, detail of the front steps et entrance

Catholic church yard, detail of the front wall, et the smaller of two gates

Large building in the government district

Église Baroque de Mariä Himmelfahrt on Neyweg in Dechstetten

Chateau, viewed trough the park belt around it

Government building, Regierungsbezirk Oberpfalz

Église à Donaustauf près de Ratisbonne

It was during the artillery bombardment at Ratisbon that Napoléon was wounded for the first et only time in his military career: a bullet struck the Emperor on the right heel as he was giving instructions to Maréchal Lannes. Word of the wounding spread rapidly, et l’armée française is said to have been on the verge of panic until the Emperor showed himself on horseback.

Questions Fréquents

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Campagnes des Guerres Napoléoniennes, 1805–1815