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Aftermath

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{{Short description|1701 battle in Italy}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox military conflict
| conflict = Battle of Chiari
| partof = the [[War of the Spanish Succession]]
| image = Copy after Jan van Huchtenburgh (Haarlem 1647-Amsterdam 1733) - The Battle of Chiari, 1701 - RCIN 404897 - Royal Collection.jpg
| image_size = 300px
| caption = ''Battle of Chiari'', [[Huchtenburg|Jan van Huchtenburg]]
| date = 1 September 1701
| place = [[Chiari, Lombardy|Chiari]], [[Lombardy]], [[Italian Peninsula|Italy]]
| coordinates = {{coord|45|32|N|9|56|E|type:event_region:IT||display=inline,title}}
| result = Austrian victory
| combatant1 = {{flagdeco|Habsburg Monarchy}} [[Habsburg monarchy|Austria]]
| combatant2 = {{flagcountry|Kingdom of France}} <br /> {{flagdeco|Spain|1701}} [[Enlightenment in Spain|Spain]] <br /> {{flagcountry|Duchy of Savoy}}
| commander1 = {{flagdeco|Habsburg Monarchy}} [[Prince Eugene of Savoy|Eugene of Savoy]]
| commander2 = {{flagdeco|Kingdom of France}} [[François de Neufville, duc de Villeroi|Duke of Villeroi]]
| strength1 = 22,000<ref>Chandler: ''The Art of Warfare in the Age of Marlborough,'' 302. All statistics taken from Chandler.</ref>
| strength2 = 38,000<ref>{{cite web |title=Imperial Army at the Battle of Chiari |url=http://www.cgsc.edu/CARL/nafziger/701IAF.pdf |website=cgsc.edu |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100612052628/http://www.cgsc.edu/CARL/nafziger/701IAF.pdf |archive-date=12 June 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| casualties1 = 200–300 killed and wounded{{Efn|De Vryer doubted the low figures for the Imperial army: "It is not easy to determine what losses both armies suffered in this battle, as these details are usually reduced or increased according to the authors' affiliations; although it is said that some time after this [battle] a messenger from the Bourbon army fell into the hands of the Emperor's troops, with whom a list was found in which their loss was estimated at 86 killed and 302 wounded, both high and low ranking commanders, apart from between 3000 and 4000 so killed and wounded soldiers. But, if this is true, there is no reason to believe the story of some who say that on the Emperor's side there were no more than 30 killed and 81 wounded; For although it is clear from the account of the battle that the loss must have been greater on the French side than on the German side, there is no proportionality between these two numbers, and especially not when one considers that the loss and the regaining of the posts at Chiari could not take place without a great loss of people; therefore those who bring the loss of the Prince of Savoy to 300 both killed and wounded deserve more credence, although that number still seems too low."{{Sfn|De Vryer|1737|p=61–62}}}}{{Efn|Henderson states 107, (36 dead, 81 wounded).}}
| casualties2 = 2,000–3,800 killed and wounded<ref>John Wolf puts the French casualty rate at over 3,300; Derek McKay puts it at 2,000.</ref>
| campaignbox = {{Campaignbox War of the Spanish Succession}}
}}

The '''Battle of Chiari''' was fought on 1 September 1701 during the [[War of the Spanish Succession]]. The engagement was part of [[Prince Eugene of Savoy]]'s campaign to seize the Spanish controlled [[Duchy of Milan]] in the Italian peninsula, and had followed his victory over Marshal [[Nicolas Catinat|Catinat]] at the [[Battle of Carpi]] in July. [[François de Neufville, duc de Villeroi|Marshal Villeroi]] replaced Catinat as commander of the Franco–Spanish–Savoyard forces in the theatre, carrying with him orders from King [[Louis XIV]] to push the Imperialists out of Italy.

Foreseeing Villeroi's intention of attacking at any price, Eugene entrenched himself in front of the small fortress of [[Chiari, Lombardy|Chiari]], and waited for the attack. In a battle that lasted several hours the Austrians inflicted heavy casualties on Villeroi's forces, gaining an overwhelming victory. The victory in the campaign established Eugene in [[Lombardy]], and helped to persuade the Maritime Powers to come to the aid of the Emperor. Within a week of the battle [[Kingdom of England|England]], the [[Dutch Republic]], and [[Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor|Leopold I]] had signed the second treaty of the Grand Alliance.

==Prelude==
After his defeat at the [[Battle of Carpi]] on 9 July 1701 the French commander, [[Nicolas Catinat]], precipitously retired behind the river [[Mincio]], leaving [[Prince Eugene of Savoy|Prince Eugene]] in command of the whole country between that river and the [[Adige]]. Eugene now effected the passage of the Mincio at [[Peschiera del Garda]], driving the French farther back across the [[Oglio]].<ref>Coxe: ''History of the House of Austria,'' II, 482–83</ref> (''See map'').

The failure of Catinat to withstand the advance of a much smaller Imperial army evoked indignation at [[Palace of Versailles|Versailles]], leading King [[Louis XIV]] to replace Catinat with the ageing [[François de Neufville, duc de Villeroi|duc de Villeroi]]. Villeroi – with orders to risk a battle – arrived in theatre in late August.<ref name=mckay60>McKay: ''Prince Eugene of Savoy,'' 60</ref> Louis XIV needed a victory to assure the continued loyalty of Italy to [[Philip V of Spain|his grandson]]'s regime. On 7 September, not knowing the battle had already been fought, the French King wrote to his commander, "I cannot tell you how pleased I am to have you in command … I have reason to believe that you will finish the campaign gloriously".<ref>Wolf: ''Louis XIV,'' 628</ref> Villeroi joined the army, and his generals – the [[Victor Amadeus II of Sardinia|Duke of Savoy]], Catinat, and the [[Prince Charles Henry de Lorraine-Vaudemont|Prince of Vaudémont]] – and marched to find the enemy, confident he would drive them from Italy.

==Battle==
Eugene welcomed the prospect of a decisive battle, and waited on the eastern side of the Oglio to be attacked. The Imperial commander had chosen his ground carefully, entrenching his troops and guns in front of the small fortress of [[Chiari, Lombardy|Chiari]]. Streams protected his position on three sides: as there was not enough room for a cavalry engagement, Eugene could count on a frontal attack by the French infantry.<ref name=mckay60/> Two battalions and a few pieces of artillery were placed in Chiari itself.{{Sfn|De Vryer|1737|p=60}}

[[File:Italy - War of the Spanish Succession 1701.png|thumb|left|300px|The north Italian campaign, 1701]]

Villeroi ignored Catinat's warning that Eugene was in a strong position, remarking that the King, "had not sent so many brave men just to look at the enemy through their spy glasses."<ref name=mckay60/> On 1 September the Franco-Spanish infantry advanced. Deceived by the report of spies that the Imperialists were retiring, Villeroi crossed the Oglio and pushed on to Chiari expecting to attack their [[rear guard]].<ref name=coxe483>Coxe: ''History of the House of Austria,'' II, 483</ref> The attack began around 2 p.m. when three French brigades approached Chiari and overpowered the Imperial troops there without much difficulty. However, instead of facing the rear guard the French commander encountered the whole Imperial army securely entrenched in their positions. As the Bourbons' army approached the Imperial positions, Eugene forbade his men to fire. Loading their artillery with [[canister shot]], they only unleashed a withering fire when the Bourbon army entered point-blank range. This disordered the attackers and a chaos ensued which the French and Spanish commanders could not suppress. While this was going on Chiari was recaptured by the Imperials after a fierce struggle.{{Sfn|De Vryer|1737|p=60}}
The Bourbons were driven back with heavy casualties in a contest as destructive as any battle during the war in Italy.<ref name=coxe483/> With only minor losses the Imperial army had inflicted over 3,000 casualties in the ranks, and over 250 officers. This number would grow rapidly as fever attacked the wounded.<ref>Wolf: ''Louis XIV,'' 629</ref>

Villeroi lost personal control during the battle, and Catinat, despite being wounded, had to organise a retreat. The French dug themselves in only a mile or so away from the Austrians on the same side of the Oglio. Here, the two opposing sides remained for the next two months: the French were too much discouraged by their repulse to resume the assault, and Eugene was unwilling to risk the advantages he had gained by attacking the French in their strong defensive position.<ref name=mckay60/> However, as autumn advanced, conditions deteriorated in both camps: fodder was so short that Eugene's horses were forced to eat fallen leaves. But the French, whose camp was built on marshy ground, suffered most, and they moved out first in mid-November, crossing the Oglio before entering winter quarters in the [[Duchy of Milan]].<ref name=mckay61>McKay: ''Prince Eugene of Savoy,'' 61</ref>

[[File:Chiari.1701 (sketch).jpg|thumb|300px|Initial disposition of both forces.]]

==Aftermath==
In Milan, the French presence proved increasingly unpopular: five million [[French livre|livres]] for soldiers' pay and lodgings, and two million for fodder, had soon been imposed on the local population, most of which had to be taken by force.<ref name=mckay61/> For his winter quarters Eugene proceeded to reduce the whole [[Duchy of Mantua]], except the capital and [[Goito]], which he closely blockaded; shortly after he occupied [[Mirandola]] and [[Guastalla]].<ref name=coxe483/> Eugene's relationship with the local population had been good and he had kept a tight control: he had executed 48 of his men for looting, telling the Emperor that he had 'imposed more severe discipline than has possibly ever been seen in an army'.<ref name=mckay61/> Eugene had received little cash from the Emperor, far less than he expected, but he had secured a sound footing in northern Italy and, as hoped, his success helped to encourage the Maritime Powers to come to the aid of Leopold I.<ref name=mckay61/> Since the beginning of the year [[John Wenceslau Wratislaw von Mitrowitz|Count Wratislaw]] had been in London as Imperial minister, pressing for assistance. With Eugene's two victories (Carpi and Chiari), Leopold I had proved he would fight to protect his interests, giving Wratislaw the arguments he needed to push through the alliance with the Maritime Powers.<ref>Spielman: ''Leopold I of Austria'', 184–85</ref> On 7 September 1701 – within a week of the battle – England and the Dutch Republic signed the second treaty of the Grand Alliance, backing the Emperor's claims to the [[Spanish possessions in Italy]].<ref name=mckay61/>

The French were still in Milan, but their position was weak: morale was poor and desertion was high. Louis XIV wrote to Villeroi urging him to work closely with Catinat and, "not again to attack the enemy without advantage." "If you do … the King, my grandson, will lose Italy."<ref>Wolf: ''Louis XIV,'' 630</ref> By October French optimism for the campaign was gone, but Louis XIV hoped to send reinforcements for next year's campaign, believing the Emperor would not be able to make a comparable increase in Eugene's strength. However, the campaign season was not yet over. As Villeroi settled down for the winter, Eugene was preparing [[Battle of Cremona|to attack him]] at his headquarters in [[Cremona]].

==Footnotes==
{{notelist}}

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

==References==
{{refbegin}}
*[[David G. Chandler|Chandler, David G]] (1990). ''The Art of Warfare in the Age of Marlborough.'' Spellmount Limited. {{ISBN|0-946771-42-1}}
*[[William Coxe (historian)|Coxe, William]] (1864). ''History of the House of Austria''. Volume II. Henry G. Bohn
*[[Nicholas Henderson|Henderson, Nicholas]] (1966). ''Prince Eugen of Savoy.'' Weidenfeld & Nicolson. {{ISBN|1-84212-597-4}}
*McKay, Derek (1977). ''Prince Eugene of Savoy.'' Thames and Hudson Ltd. {{ISBN|0-500-87007-1}}
*Spielman, John (1977). ''Leopold I of Austria.'' Thames and Hudson Ltd. {{ISBN|0-500-87005-5}}
*[[John Baptist Wolf|Wolf, John B]] (1970). ''Louis XIV.'' Panther Books. {{ISBN|0-586-03332-7}}
{{refend}}

==Sources==
* {{cite book |last=De Vryer |first=Abraham |title=Histori van François Eugenius, prins van Savoije-Soissons |publisher=Loveringh en De Jonge |year= 1737 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IvZWAAAAcAAJ|language=Dutch}}

[[Category:Battles of the War of the Spanish Succession|Chiari]]
[[Category:Battles involving France|Chiari]]
[[Category:Battles involving Austria|Chiari]]
[[Category:Conflicts in 1701|Chiari]]
[[Category:1701 in the Habsburg monarchy]]
[[Category:1701 in France]]
[[Category:Chiari, Lombardy]]

Battle of Chiari - Revision history

imported>JASpencer: /* Aftermath */