Battle of Campo Santo

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Battle of Campo Santo
Part of the War of the Austrian Succession
Date February 8, 1743
Location Campo Santo, Italy
Result Austrian/Piedmont-Sardinian victory
Belligerents
Flag of Spain Spain Flag of Habsburg Monarchy Austria
Flag of Sardinia Sardinia
Commanders
Flag of Spain De Gages Flag of Habsburg Monarchy Field Marshal Traun
Flag of Sardinia Count Aspremont
Strength
13,000 11,000
Casualties and losses
c.4000 c.2000
v • d • e
War of the

Austrian Succession:

Italian Campaigns

The Battle of Campo Santo was fought on February 8, 1743 between Spain and Austria. The Spainards and their Neopolitan allies under General De Gages were defeated by the Austrians and their Sardinian allies under Field Marshall Traun on the Panaro.

Contents

[edit] Preliminary manoeuvring

In January 1743, General De Gages' Spanish Army -13,000 strong - lay at Bologna, south of the Panaro. Count Traun's Austrian and Piedmont-Sardinian army - 11,000 strong - lay to the north of the river. Every attempt that Gages made to cross this formidable barrier had been blocked by Traun whose preference lay with a manoeuvring defence rather than bringing on a pitched battle with his opponent. Needing a victory Philip V of Spain and his Queen Elizabeth Farnese demanded that Gages launch an offensive or tender his resignation. Leaving Bologna on the night of February 3 Gages finally managed to cross the Panaro and entered the Duchy of Modena seeking a decisive encounter with Traun.

Fortunately for Gages Marshall Traun sought to oblige him. Aware of the criticism levelled at him in Vienna where his enemies were trying to relieve him of his command and also that Spain's recent seizure of Savoy might well induce the King of Sardinia to negotiate with the Spanish King the Marshall realised that a victory would quell the uproar and induce his allies to think twice about negotiating. Gathering up his army, Traun sought to block Gages path and prevent him from advancing further into Modena. Advancing towards the Spanish the two armies met at the village of Campo Santo.

[edit] The battle

On the morning De Gages drew up his army on the outskirts of the village in the traditional fashion with his infantry in the centre and the cavalry on the wings. Traun also drew up his army in the same way but being slightly outnumbered he chose to gamble with an un-orthodox strategy. Instead of aligning himself directly opposite the Spaniards, he shifted his troops to the northwest, which meant that the centre of Traun's infantry was directly opposite the gap between Gages' infantry and the right wing of cavalry. Although this meant that Traun would have a greater superiority of numbers on this wing and that he could also deliver a flank attack on the Spanish right, his own right flank would, however, be vulnerable to a Spanish flank attack. It seems that the Marshall was relying on the troops of that wing to delay the Spanish long enough for the action on his other wing to be decisive.

Matters were helped when Gages chose 4:00 in the afternoon to launch the attack, which gave very few hours of daylight left for a battle. The Spanish were initially successful on both wings, where their cavalry drove off the Austro-Piedmontese cavalry, fatally wounding Count Aspremont in the process and leaving the Austrian infantry vulnerable. However instead of reforming to attack the infantry, the Spanish chased them off the field. Traun stabilised his left flank, and led his infantry into the attack against the Spanish. Meanwhile Count Schulenberg regrouped the Austrian cavalry on the Austrian right, and launched a counterattack against the Spanish cavalry. On the other flank, General Leutram (Aspremont's replacement) led his wing forward as well, and by this point De Gages thought it wiser to retreat than stay and lose his army. By twilight the Spanish had withdrawn from the field and back across the Panaro towards Bologna.

Casualties in the battle were about 4000 for Spain which was approximately 30% of their army while the Austro-Piedmontese lost about 2000 men. Traun himself had two horses shot from under him during the battle, and throughout he had managed to outwit Gages at every turn. The Spanish Commander never realised Traun's plan and therefore did not alter his formation accordingly.

[edit] Aftermath

De Gages retreated to Bologna but on March 26 he was also forced to retreat to Rimini. Following the battle France promised support and co-operation with the Spanish but for the moment Traun had saved North Italy for Maria Theresa.

[edit] Further reading

  • Browning, R - The War of the Austrian Succession pg.131-133 Bibliography 403-431