Battle of Mariazell

Mariazell as it appeared around 1900

Date	8 November 1805
Location	Mariazell, Austria
Result	French victory

Belligerents

France

Holy Roman Empire

Commanders and leaders

Étienne Heudelet

Count of Merveldt

Units involved

III Corps (Grande Armée)

Merveldt's Corps

Strength

3,800

4,000

Casualties and losses

light

2,000, 16 guns

War of the Third Coalition

Proposed Invasion of the United Kingdom Boulogne Cape Finisterre Ulm Campaign Verona Trafalgar Caldiero Cape Ortegal Amstetten Mariazell Dürenstein Dornbirn Schöngrabern Castelfranco Veneto Wischau Austerlitz Blaauwberg San Domingo Naples Gaeta Campo Tenese Maida Mileto

The Battle of Mariazell or Battle of Grossraming (8 November 1805) saw the advance guard of the French III Corps attack a retreating Austrian force led by Maximilian, Count of Merveldt. The advance guard, led by Étienne Heudelet de Bierre overwhelmed their demoralized enemies, capturing about half of them. Marshal Louis Davout commanded the III Corps. The action occurred during the War of the Third Coalition, which is part of the Napoleonic Wars. Mariazell is located in the Austrian province of Styria, about 50 kilometres (31 mi) south of St. Pölten.

The 1805 war began with the Ulm Campaign which was disastrous for Austria, with only the corps of Michael von Kienmayer and Franz Jellacic escaping envelopment by the Grande Armée of Napoleon. As Kienmayer's columns fled to the east, they joined with elements of the Russian Empire's army in a rear guard action at the Battle of Amstetten on 5 November. A few days later, Davout's III Corps caught up with Merveldt's division at Mariazell. The Austrian soldiers, their morale shaken by continuous retreating, were routed after a brief struggle. On 12 November, Austria's capital Vienna fell to the French without a fight. The outcome of the war would be decided by the Battle of Austerlitz in early December.

References

Chandler, David G. (1966). The Campaigns of Napoleon. New York, NY: Macmillan.
Horne, Alistair (1979). Napoleon Master of Europe 1805-1807. New York, NY: William Morrow & Co. ISBN 0-688-03500-0.
Smith, Digby (1998). The Napoleonic Wars Data Book. London: Greenhill. ISBN 1-85367-276-9.

Coordinates: 47°46′23″N 15°18′59″E / 47.7731°N 15.3164°E / 47.7731; 15.3164

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