Battle of Montenotte

On 11 April 1796 at Montenotte in Liguria, Bonaparte won his first victory as commander-in-chief of the Army of Italy by defeating Austrian General Argenteau. This battle opened the lightning Italian campaign that would make Bonaparte's glory: within weeks he drove Austrians from Lombardy and directly threatened Austria from the south.

Napoleon, newly appointed commander-in-chief of the Army of Italy, launched an offensive to cut the link between the Austrian and Sardinian armies, exploiting poor enemy coordination. Arriving at Nice on 27 March, he had only ~31,000 operational men against ~80,000 coalition troops; on 11 April, Rampon defended the Monte-Legino redoubt against Argenteau.

Bonaparte concentrated forces against Argenteau's Austrian wing, leaving Augereau to contain the Sardinians. French attack at dawn surprised poorly positioned Austrians on Montenotte heights. Overwhelmed, Argenteau withdrew toward Dego; the French breakthrough opened the road to the Lombard plain and isolated the Sardinian army.

Montenotte launched the victorious Italian campaign: Millesimo, Dego, Lodi, and Arcole followed within weeks. Bonaparte's prestige grew in Paris; the Directory had to accept his demands for reinforcements. Victory convinced Piedmontese to negotiate the Armistice of Cherasco (April 1796), first treaty of the campaign.