ABOUKIR, MARENGO & VITTORIA

Wellington’s victory at Vittoria (1813) was incomplete as although the defeat evicted the main French army from Spain, most of their forces were able to escape intact to fight another day. This was not solely or even primarily due to Wellington’s own men collapsing into an orgy of looting as was claimed at the time, but also due to the timely and effective rearguard actions organised by French generals such as Reille.

Conversely, Napoleon’s victory at Aboukir (1799) was decisive as his cavalry was able to inflict huge casualties on the retreating Turks which ensured that they were not allowed to recover.

At the Battle of Marengo (1800) the timely arrival of Desaix’s troops at the very moment the French had begun to collapse gave Napoleon the opportunity not only to steady his retreating troops, but also to turn the tables on the enemy to inflict a memorable and significant victory over the advancing Austrians.