Historical Note
Rivoli was fought on January 14th, 1797 between Alvintzi's main army of 28,000 men and Bonaparte's force of about 22,000 men. Alvintzi was on the offensive and he believed he was only facing Joubert with a force of 10,500 men.
The Austrians were divided into six columns, of which four had only some light guns and no cavalry. Another Austrian column was on the other side of the Adige River and could only offer artillery support. The main column was choked into advancing along a narrow gorge.
Early in the morning Joubert retook the high ground and held out until Masséna arrived. Bonaparte counter attacked and drove back four of the columns. The column under Lusignan was isolated and captured. This battle effectively destroyed Alvintzi's offensive.
Briefings and Orders of Battle
General Baron Joszef Alvintzi :
General order of the day issued at 6:00am January 14, 1797: "The enemy forces that present
themselves before us must be brushed aside. Our goal remains to relieve the valiant
defenders of Mantua."
General Baron Anton Lipthay : You are ordered to attack the French left flank.
General Köblös: You are ordered to attack the center of the French line.
General Baron Joseph Ocskay : You are ordered to attack the French right flank.
Colonel Marquis Franz Joseph Lusignan : You are ordered to take and hold Monte Pipolo.
General Prince Heinrich Reuss-Plauen : You will be supporting Quosdanovich.
General Baron Joseph Philipp Vukassovich : Support Quosdanovich with artillery fire.
General Peter Vitus von Quosdanovich : Attack and take Osteria, then Rivoli.
For a detailed Austrian Order of Battle click HERE.
General-in-Chief of the Army of Italy : Général Napoleon Bonaparte :
General order of the day issued by the commanding General Bonaparte at 6:00am January 14, 1797:
"I have known that the main Austrian attack will be made in the Adige Valley. Orders have been
dispatched to Masséna and Rey, setting them on the road to join Joubert at Rivoli, while
Serurier will guard against any attempt by Wurmser to break out of Mantua. I have selected a
strong defensive position on a plateau at Rivoli as the scene of this battle today."
Général Barthélemy Catharine Joubert : Your Division is ordered to hold San Marco and Osteria with
Vial's Brigade, the center of the French line with Lebley's Brigade, and the left with Sandos'
Brigade.
Général André Masséna : Your Division remains in reserve with Monnier supporting Sandos,
Brune supporting Monnier, and Leclerc in Rivoli.
Général Antoine-Gabriel-Venance Rey : March to Rivoli with all haste.
Général Louis-Alexandre Berthier : You will remain in reserve in Rivoli.
Chef d'Escadron Antoine-Charles Louis Lasalle : You will support Vial and Lebley.
For a detailed French Order of Battle click HERE.
Rivoli - January 14, 1797 : After Action Report
The Austrian plan had been in motion for a couple of days. Lipthay, Köblös and Ocskay were to make a direct assault from Monte Baldo. Lusignan would attack the French rear and take Monte Pipolo. The main column with Quosdanovich and Reuss would attack Osteria and Rivoli. Vukassovich would support the action with his artillery fire from the other side of the Adige.
On the night of 13 January Bonaparte could see the six Austrian camp fires. He anticipated their plan and ordered Joubert to retake the Trombalore Heights. Masséna and Rey were ordered to bring up their troops at once.
By 4:00am Joubert had pushed back a token Austrian force and occupied the heights and San Marco. At 5:00am Masséna's first Brigade under Leclerc was in Rivoli.
Once Köblös realized the heights were now held by the French he wanted to hold off his attack until Lusignan's troops were on the field. Lipthay did not agree and ordered his troops forward at 9:00am. Köblös and Ocskay reluctantly did the same. By this time Masséna's other two Brigades were on the Rivoli Plateau.
Shortly after 11:00am Quosdanovitch started his push out of the Osteria Gorge and Vukassovich unlimbered his guns. Lipthay contacted Sandos' troops on the French left flank and Köblös men met Lebley's command in the center. Both Austrian forces were forced back by superior French musketry and artillery. Ocskay did much better, he routed two of Vial's battalions that were holding the French right flank.
Vial was now being attacked by both Ocskay and Quosdanovich. Fearing he could not hold without further assistance he asked Joubert for reinforcements. Bonaparte could see the center and left appeared to be stable so he sent Brune's Brigade to support Vial.
Just before 1:00pm Vial managed to rout Quosdanovich's troops and Ocksay attacked San Marco capturing the battalion that was holding it. Lipthay and Köblös had regrouped and started a second assault. Lusignan arrived on the road to Monte Pipolo.
By 2:00pm both Lipthay and Köblös' commands were in retreat again. Still unable to penetrate the wall of French troops holding the heights. Ocskay men did at one time take the crest of the heights, but Vial counterattacked and pushed them back down into the valley. Rey arrived in hot pursuit of Lusignan.
Bonaparte saw his opportunity and ordered his troops on the heights to counterattack. The Austrian offensive collapsed. Lusignan was surrounded and surrendered. It was clear the battle was over for the Austrians.
Rivoli 14 January 1797 Map:
Conclusion
Both sides were locked into their historical positions and time lines which also produced very similar outcomes. Unfortunately for the Austrians they were unable to achieve any exceptions. The French did obtain a slightly better outcome then their historical counter parts. So the victory must be given to the French.
