Siege of Mantua (1796–1797)

The Siege of Mantua (1796–1797) was a significant military event during the War of the First Coalition, part of the French Revolutionary Wars. The siege took place in Mantua, a heavily fortified city in Lombardy, northern Italy, then under Austrian control. French forces, commanded initially by General Napoleon Bonaparte, blockaded and besieged the city, aiming to force its Austrian garrison to surrender.

The siege began in June 1796, shortly after Bonaparte's initial victories in northern Italy. Mantua was a crucial Austrian stronghold, controlling access to the Tyrol and Vienna. Capturing it was essential for Bonaparte to consolidate French control over the region.

The siege was not a continuous blockade. Austrian attempts to relieve Mantua led to several major battles, notably Castiglione (August 1796), Bassano (September 1796), Arcole (November 1796), and Rivoli (January 1797). These battles were fought to break the French siege lines and resupply the besieged garrison.

Despite Austrian efforts, the French consistently defeated the relieving armies. The Austrian garrison inside Mantua, commanded by Feldzeugmeister Josef Franz Graf Canto d'Irles, suffered increasingly from shortages of food and supplies. Disease also took a heavy toll on the defenders.

After the Battle of Rivoli, the last significant attempt to relieve Mantua failed. With no hope of reinforcement and facing starvation, Canto d'Irles surrendered the city to the French on 2 February 1797.

The fall of Mantua was a major turning point in the War of the First Coalition in Italy. It allowed Bonaparte to advance into Austria proper and ultimately led to the Treaty of Campo Formio, which ended the war and confirmed French control over much of northern Italy. The capture of Mantua significantly enhanced Bonaparte's reputation and solidified his position as a leading military commander.