Battle of Rivoli

On 14–15 January 1797 at Rivoli Veronese in Venetia, Bonaparte won a decisive victory over Alvinczy's Austrian army, ending the fourth and final attempt to relieve the Siege of Mantua. About 22,000 French faced 28,000 Austrians on a steep plateau; Joubert opened battle at dawn, Masséna arrived after a forced march, and Bonaparte committed reserves to envelop the Austrian wing.

After Arcole (November 1796), Mantua remained besieged but Alvinczy prepared a new relief offensive for January 1797. Bonaparte divided his army: Joubert watched Rivoli while other corps blocked Austrian columns on the Verona and Lake Garda roads. The battle decided the Italian campaign and Austria's ability to hold Venetia.

Joubert attacked at four in the morning on the Rivoli plateau; around ten o'clock, Masséna's division, after twelve hours of forced march, stabilized the threatened center. Bonaparte concentrated artillery and reserves on the retreating Austrian left, then ordered a general counterattack. French guns on the heights and Murat's charge completed the rout; Alvinczy lost about 14,000 killed, wounded, or captured.

Rivoli ended all Austrian offensives in northern Italy; Mantua capitulated on 2 February 1797. Austria had to negotiate the Treaty of Campo Formio (October 1797), ceding Belgium and part of Venetia to France. Victory consolidated Bonaparte as master of Italy and prepared his triumphal return to Paris, prelude to the Brumaire coup.