The Battle of Rottofreddo was fought on 10 August 1746 during the

War of Austrian Succession War is an intense armed conflict between states, governments, societies, or paramilitary groups such as mercenaries, insurgents, and militias. It is generally characterized by extreme violence, destruction, and mortality, using regular o ...

between a French army and Austrian forces. The French were led by Marshal Maillebois, and could repel the Austrian attack, but had to withdraw after the battle.

The battle

After the defeat at Piacenza the French and Spanish army had to retreat across the Po river. The Austrian commander

Antoniotto Botta Adorno Antoniotto Botta Adorno. Antoniotto Botta Adorno, also Anton Otto Marchese Botta d'Adorno (Castelletto di Branduzzo, 1688 - Torre d'Isola, 29 December 1774) was a high officer of the Habsburg monarchy and a plenipotentiary of the Austrian Netherla ...

tried to prevent this and send Count Serbelloni with the vanguard to attack. The Bourbon Army defended the town of Rottofreddo till their baggage train crossed the Tidone to the west, but were then overwhelmed by the Austrian mainforce. During the following attack against the main French army at

Castel San Giovanni Castel San Giovanni ( Piacentino: ) is a town and ''comune'' in the province of Piacenza, Emilia-Romagna, Italy. History The origins of the town are probably related to an ancient '' pieve'' called ''Olubra'' and a fortress called ''Castellus ...

Austrian field marshal Bärenklau tried a flank attack in the south, but was hit by a musket ball and died shortly after. The French and Spanish could hold their line but finally decided to retreat to Tortona. In the aftermath

Piacenza Piacenza (; egl, label= Piacentino, Piaṡëinsa ; ) is a city and in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy, and the capital of the eponymous province. As of 2022, Piacenza is the ninth largest city in the region by population, with over ...

surrendered to Austrian General Nádasdy, but the following invasion of the Provence should end in failure. Nevertheless Italy was secured for the Austrians.

References

Sources

World History at KMLA
* Janko, Wilhelm Edler von, "Bärenklau zu Schönreith, Johann Leopold Freiherr von" in: Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie 2 (1875), S. 59 nline-Version URL: https://www.deutsche-biographie.de/gnd135853958.html#adbcontent GERMAN *Plan de la Battaille donnée de l'Armée Imperiale Royale d'Hongrie à l'Armée Espagnole Francaise le 10te. Aug. 1746 en Italie près de la Ville Piazenza au Torrent Didionne; URL: https://arcinsys.hessen.de/arcinsys/detailAction?detailid=v4085879 FRENCH *Bodart, Gaston, Militär-historisches Kriegs-Lexikon (1618-1905), Wien 1908, p. 209. GERMAN Battles involving France Battles involving Austria Conflicts in 1746 1746 in Austria 1746 in France 1746 in Italy Rottofreddo {{Austria-battle-stub