Battle of Sankt Michael

Battle of Sankt Michael
Part of the Napoleonic Wars
Date 25 May 1809[1] Location Sankt Michael in Obersteiermark, Austria 47°20′19″N 15°01′06″E / 47.33861°N 15.01833°E / 47.33861; 15.01833 Result French victory[1]
Belligerents
First French Empire	Austrian Empire
Commanders and leaders
Paul Grenier	Franz Jellacic
Strength
12,000[2] to 15,000[3]	8,000[3] to 9,000[2]
Casualties and losses
670[2]	6,573[2]

War of the Fifth Coalition

200km
125miles

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  current battle

  Napoleon in command

  Napoleon not in command

In the Battle of Sankt Michael (or Sankt Michael-Leoben) on 25 May 1809, Paul Grenier's French corps crushed Franz Jellacic's Austrian division at Sankt Michael in Obersteiermark, Austria. The action occurred after the initial French victories during the War of the Fifth Coalition, part of the Napoleonic Wars. Sankt Michael is located approximately 140 kilometers southwest of Vienna.

Originally part of the Danube army of Archduke Charles, Jellacic's division was detached to the south before the Battle of Eckmühl and later ordered to join the army of Archduke John at Graz. As it retreated southeast toward Graz, Jellacic's division passed across the front of Eugène de Beauharnais' Army of Italy, which was advancing northeast in pursuit of Archduke John. When he learned of Jellacic's presence, Eugène sent Grenier with two divisions to intercept the Austrian column.

Grenier's lead division duly intercepted Jellacic's force and attacked. Though the Austrians were able to hold off the French at first, they were unable to get away. The second French division's arrival secured a clear numerical superiority over Jellacic, who was critically short of cavalry and artillery. Grenier's subsequent French assault broke the Austrian lines and captured thousands of prisoners. When Jellacic joined John it was with only a fraction of his original force.