Battle of Luzzara

Battle of Luzzara
Part of the War of the Spanish Succession
Date 15 August 1702 Location Near Luzzara (present-day Italy) 44°58′N 10°42′E / 44.967°N 10.700°E / 44.967; 10.700 Result Indecisive
Belligerents
Habsburg Monarchy	Duchy of Mantua  Kingdom of France
Commanders and leaders
Eugene of Savoy	Duke of Mantua Duc de Vendôme
Strength
25,000 91 Cavalry Squadrons, 35 Infantry and "some" guns	30,000 - 36,000
Casualties and losses
2,000	4,000

25,000

The Battle of Luzzara was a battle of the War of the Spanish Succession, fought on 15 August 1702 near Luzzara, Italy between forces of France under Louis Joseph, duc de Vendôme, and forces of Austria under Prince Eugene of Savoy.

In the summer of 1702, the French army took Guastalla, then turned north, intending to besiege Borgoforte. Vendôme set up camp near Luzzara on the right bank of the Po River.

When Eugene heard of this, he was besieging Mantua. He decided to give up the siege and assemble all available forces to intercept Vendôme.

Arriving near Luzzara, Eugene set up his headquarters a few kilometers north near the village of Riva.

Vendôme was in a favorable position, having prepared his defenses and with the Po River on his left side and the right side of the Austrians. The rest of the terrain was an open field, full of ditches, channels, fences, and high bushes.

The Austrians had more experienced troops, and commanders like Daun, Vaudemont, Prince George of Hesse-Darmstadt, and Guido Starhemberg.

On the morning of 15 August, Eugene did not attack, because many of his troops were not in position, though called for urgently. Eugene's army, according to Nafziger records, was deployed in three wings, each with two lines of troops He waited until all of his troops had reached the battle line.

Then around 5 PM he attacked. His plan was to push the French away from the river and surround them. He attacked several times but with no practical result, against strong French resistance.

The battle raged until darkness.

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Wikipedia