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War with Second Coalition
1799—1800

On 22 June 1799, Britain became the last nation to join the Second Coalition against France. Before her signature were those of Austria, Russia, Turkey, the Vatican, Portugal and Naples.

The first success for the new anti-French league was the capture of Rome by a Neopolitan army, led by Austria's General Karl Mack, but the high point was short-lived as French troops threw them out two weeks later. With Napoleon Bonaparte on his Egyptian Campaign, the military leadership of France fell upon Lazare Carnot who decided the best form of defence was to attack all his enemies at once. That called for three operations - against Austria and Russia in Italy, Austria in Germany and Russia and England in the Netherlands. There were some big-name commanders against them, with Russia's General Alexander Suvorov leading the Italian forces, Archduke Charles the forces in Germany and the Duke of York in the Netherlands.

General Jean-Baptiste Jourdan initially took the offensive in Germany, but was pushed back at Ostrach and then beaten four days later at Stockach. General Andre Massena performed well in Switzerland and, when Jourdan resigned, he took over the German forces as well. He was pushed back at Zurich, but did the same to the Austrians at Dottingen. Facing a mutiny in the army of Naples, Mack threw himself on the mercy of the French and his loss meant the disorganised Neopolitans were brushed aside by the rampant forces of General Etienne Championnet. The victory in southern Italy did nothing for the French cause, however, as defeat after defeat set its armies reeling back and the Allies recovered almost of of the ground lost to Bonaparte's brilliant 1796 Campaign. Led by General Paul Kray, the Austrians defeated a French army at Magnano, then a combined Russo-Austrians army under General Alexander Suvorov routed the new French commander General Jean Moreau at Cassano.

Having lost the major cities of Turin and Milan, the situation was dangerous for France, but when General Macdonald lost at Trebbia, Moreau was dismissed and his replacement General Joubert defeated and killed at Novi, things looked hopeless. Fortune then took a hand in the war, with the Allies deciding to switch Charles to the Netherlands and Suvarov to Germany. This gave General Massena the opening he needed. Attacking the Russians at Zurich, Massena routed General Alexander Korsakov's troops effectively won control of Switzerland from the Allies.

In the Netherlands, the Allied efforts were hampered by poor supply lines and worse co-operation. The Duke of York's forces were halted twice within a fortnight at Bergen and a third poor result at Castricum on 6 October had the commander reassessing the campaign. When the prime target for the invasion - the Dutch fleet - fell into French hands, he abandonned the venture. Another who was sick of the war was Tsar Paul I, who gave up on being part of the coalition.

However, a more dangerous thing occurred on 9-10 November 1799. The returning General Bonaparte staged the Coup de Brumaire, ending the Directory and setting the stage for his own, new vision, for France. One of Bonaparte's first aims was to regain the territories lost in Italy. Only Massena remained on Italian soil, and he was locked in an under-siege Genoa. With the Austrians forcing French forces through Nice on the Cote d'Ázur, Bonaparte decided on a daring campaign that would see his army cross the Alps and, hopefully, surprise the enemy and cut them off from their homeland. The Austrian commander, General Michael Melas, quickly pulled his men back to face the new threat. The only good news he received was that of the surrender of Massena. It was, however, the beginning of a dire period for Austria. An Austrian army was beaten at Montebello by General Jean Lannes, but the situation almost worked in Melas' favour as an overconfident Bonaparte stretched his forces too far and walked into the Austrian commander's full force at Marengo. It was almost a battle of two halves as first the Austrians had the decisive edge, then the arrival of General Louis Desaix and reinforcements swung it entirely in France's favour. The ensuing rout destroyed Austria's army in Italy and any hopes for the Second Coalition. In the German theatre, Moreau beat the Austrians at Stockach, Moskirch, Ulm and Hochstadt - a series of defeats that led to the replacement of General Paul Kray with the Archduke John. The last major battle of the Second Coalition was at Hohenlinden where the Austrians again were decisively beaten. With French forces advancing on Vienna from several directions the Austrians sued for peace and signed the Treaty of Luneville.

The Austrian commander, General Michael Melas, quickly pulled his men back to face the new threat. The only good news he received was that of the surrender of Massena. It was, however, the beginning of a dire period for Austria. An Austrian army was beaten at Montebello by General Jean Lannes, but the situation almost worked in Melas' favour as an overconfident Bonaparte stretched his forces too far and walked into the Austrian commander's full force at Marengo. It was almost a battle of two halves as first the Austrians had the decisive edge, then the arrival of General Louis Desaix and reinforcements swung it entirely in France's favour.

The ensuing rout destroyed Austria's army in Italy and any hopes for the Second Coalition.

In the German theatre, Moreau beat the Austrians at Stockach, Moskirch, Ulm and Hochstadt - a series of defeats that led to the replacement of General Paul Kray with the Archduke John.

The last major battle of the Second Coalition was at Hohenlinden where the Austrians again were decisively beaten. With French forces advancing on Vienna from several directions the Austrians sued for peace and signed the Treaty of Luneville.

Aden/Seiyun, 1968, Napoleon crossing the Alp

Ajman, 1970, French army crossing the Alps

Ajman, 1970, Napoleon crossing the Alp

Ajman, 1973, Napoleon after Battle of Marengo

Ajman, 1973, Napoleon Crossing the Alp

Cameroon, 1969, Napoleon crossing the Alp

Chad, 1970, Napoleon crossing the Alp

Chad, 1971, Napoleon crossing the Alp

Chad, 1999, Napoleon crossing the Alp

Chad, 1999, Napoleon Bonaparte as First Counsil

Chad, 1999, Napoleon crossing the Alp

Chad, 1999, Bonaparte crossed the Alpes