Engagement of Lavis, 6 September 1796

The engagement at Lavis (6 September 1796) was a minor clash between one of Napoleon's divisions under General Henri Vaubois and an Austrian army under Field Marshal Davidovich that had been defending the Adige valley.

At the start of September Napoleon began to move up the Adige valley, heading for Germany where he was to cooperate with the Army of the Rhine. Having beaten Davidovich at Rovereto (4 September 1796) and Calliano (5 September 1796), Napoleon reached Trento only to discover that the main Austrian army under Field Marshal Würmser was moving east along the Brenta valley.

Austrian Relief of Mantua, 1796-97
Austrian Relief of Mantua,
1796-97

Würmser was planning to swing south west after he emerged from the mountains, and lift the siege of Mantua. Napoleon decided to give chase with two of his three divisions, leaving General Vaubois to watch Davidovich.

After abandoning Trento Davidovich had only moved five miles up the valley, to Lavis. On 6 September Vaubois caught up with the Austrians, and inflicted another defeat on them. Davidovich was forced to retreat further up the Adige, leaving the French in possession of the area around Trento.

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How to cite this article: Rickard, J (30 January 2009), Engagement of Lavis, 6 September 1796 , http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/engagement_lavis.html

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