Aspern, Battle of

Austrian victory over Napoleon Bonaparte 21–22 May 1809, his first defeat. The battle took place outside the village of Aspern, northwest of Vienna.

Following the French occupation of Vienna, Archduke Charles gathered the Austrian Army across the River Danube and Napoleon sent 40,000 troops to confront him on the Marchfield Plain, between the villages of Aspern and Essling. A confused battle ensued, after which the Austrians held Essling and the French Aspern. On the following day Napoleon attacked again and broke the Austrian centre, but the Austrians held firm and sent a force to destroy the bridges behind the French. Napoleon ordered the attack to cease and the French then fell back, fighting a rearguard action, to the village of Lobau.