Battle of Tolentino

The Battle of Tolentino by Vincenzo Milizia

Date	2–3 May 1815
Location	Tolentino, Macerata, present-day Italy
Result	Decisive Austrian victory

Belligerents

Austrian Empire

Kingdom of Naples

Commanders and leaders

Frederick Bianchi

Joachim Murat

Strength

11,938 men
1,452 horses
28 guns

25,588 men
4,790 horses
58 guns

Casualties and losses

800 total:

700 killed
100 wounded

4,120 total:

1,120 killed
600 wounded
2,400 captured

800 total:

4,120 total:

The Battle of Tolentino was fought from 2–3 May 1815 near Tolentino, Kingdom of Naples in what is now Marche, Italy: it was the decisive battle in the Neapolitan War, fought by the Napoleonic King of Naples Joachim Murat to keep the throne after the Congress of Vienna. The battle was similar to the Battle of Waterloo. Both occurred during the Hundred Days following Napoleon's return from exile and resulted in a decisive victory for the Seventh Coalition, leading to the restoration of a Bourbon king.

By the end of April 1815, Murat had lost all the early gains he made at the start of the war as two advancing Austrian corps under the command of Generals Bianchi and Neipperg forced the Neapolitans south-east to a base in Ancona. The two Austrian corps had become separated on either side of the Apennine Mountains and Murat hoped to defeat Bianchi to the west before quickly turning on Neipperg, who had been pursuing his retreat from the north. His plan was similar to Napoleon's plan to defeat the British before turning on the Prussians during the Waterloo Campaign.

Murat planned to face Bianchi near the town of Tolentino. Dispatching a small force under General Michele Carascosa to delay Neipperg, Murat moved his main force to meet Bianchi. On 29 April, a small advance party of Hungarian hussars routed the small Neapolitan garrison stationed in Tolentino. With the Austrian vanguard already established in Tolentino, Murat's army camped to the north east in Macerata. Bianchi realised Murat's plan and decided to delay Murat for as long as possible. The Austrians established a defensive line based on the Tower of San Catervo, with further troops being positioned at Rancia Castle, the church of Maestà and at Saint Joseph. Murat had to force the issue and march on Bianchi. The two armies met on 2 May.

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