Battle of Carpi (1815)
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Carpi was a battle in the Neapolitan War
between a brigade of Neapolitan soldiers under the command of Guglielmo Pepe
and an Austrian force under the command of Frederick Bianchi
. The battle took place in the town of Carpi
and resulted in an Austrian victory, with the Neapolitans being driven from the town.
, the Neapolitan advance was stopped on the banks of the Po River
. From here, the Austrian launched a counterattack against the Neapolitan position in northern Italy. A corps under the command of Bianchi was ordered to march of the Neapolitan position around Modena
and drive the Neapolitans out of the duchy. Half of Bianchi's corps marched on the town of Carpi, whilst the other half were sent to cut off the Neaplotian line of retreat.
The Austrians reached Carpi on 10 April, opening with an artillery barrage on the town's north gate. However, the Austrian column came through the south gate surprising the Neapolitan garrison of 5,000 men commanded by Guglielmo Pepe and crushing any Neapolitan opposition. Having already received news of the defeat at Occhiobello, the Neapolitan morale crumbled and most of the surviving garrison deserted after the battle. Meanwhile, Michele Carascosa who was in command of all the Neapolitan forces in the Duchy of Modena realised the remaining troops were in danger of being surrounded, ordered a general retreat from the area.
Neapolitan War
The Neapolitan War was a conflict between the Napoleonic Kingdom of Naples and the Austrian Empire. It started on 15 March 1815 when Joachim Murat declared war on Austria and ended on 20 May 1815 with the signing of the Treaty of Casalanza...
between a brigade of Neapolitan soldiers under the command of Guglielmo Pepe
Guglielmo Pepe
Guglielmo Pepe was an Italian general and patriot. He was brother to Florestano Pepe and cousin to Gabriele Pepe. He married to Marianne Coventry, a Scottish woman.-Biography:Pepe was born at Squillace in Calabria....
and an Austrian force under the command of Frederick Bianchi
Frederick Bianchi, Duke of Casalanza
Frederick Bianchi, Duke of Casalanza , was an Austrian general and later field marshal.-Biography:...
. The battle took place in the town of Carpi
Carpi (Modena)
Carpi is an Italian town and comune of about 67,000 people in the province of Modena, Emilia-Romagna.It is a busy centre for industrial and craft activities and for cultural and commercial exchanges.-History:...
and resulted in an Austrian victory, with the Neapolitans being driven from the town.
Battle
After Murat was defeated at the Battle of OcchiobelloBattle of Occhiobello
The Battle of Occhiobello was fought on 8 April – 9 April 1815 and was the turning point of the Neapolitan War. Joachim Murat, King of Naples was repulsed by an Austrian force under the command of Johann Frimont whilst trying to cross the bridge over the Po River at Occhiobello...
, the Neapolitan advance was stopped on the banks of the Po River
Po River
The Po |Ligurian]]: Bodincus or Bodencus) is a river that flows either or – considering the length of the Maira, a right bank tributary – eastward across northern Italy, from a spring seeping from a stony hillside at Pian del Re, a flat place at the head of the Val Po under the northwest face...
. From here, the Austrian launched a counterattack against the Neapolitan position in northern Italy. A corps under the command of Bianchi was ordered to march of the Neapolitan position around Modena
Modena
Modena is a city and comune on the south side of the Po Valley, in the Province of Modena in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy....
and drive the Neapolitans out of the duchy. Half of Bianchi's corps marched on the town of Carpi, whilst the other half were sent to cut off the Neaplotian line of retreat.
The Austrians reached Carpi on 10 April, opening with an artillery barrage on the town's north gate. However, the Austrian column came through the south gate surprising the Neapolitan garrison of 5,000 men commanded by Guglielmo Pepe and crushing any Neapolitan opposition. Having already received news of the defeat at Occhiobello, the Neapolitan morale crumbled and most of the surviving garrison deserted after the battle. Meanwhile, Michele Carascosa who was in command of all the Neapolitan forces in the Duchy of Modena realised the remaining troops were in danger of being surrounded, ordered a general retreat from the area.