Bautzen, Battle of

French victory in the Napoleonic Wars over a combined Russian and Prussian force 20–21 May 1813, at Bautzen, about 40 km/25 mi northwest of Dresden. The victory was the result of Napoleon's insistence on punishing the Prussians for deserting his alliance.

Napoleon led 115,000 troops against the 100,000-strong combined army under Marshal Gebhard von Blücher and Count Wittgenstein. He planned to make a frontal attack to fix the troops on his front, while sending Marshal Michel Ney, approaching with another body of troops, against the enemy's right flank. Three French corps crossed the River Spree 20 May and took Bautzen and a ridge of hills. The combined armies counterattacked 21 May and succeeded in pushing the French back some distance but were then struck by Ney. Although the Russians and Prussians put up a powerful fight, they were incapable of dealing simultaneously with both frontal and flank attacks and the frontal attack, led by Marshal Nicolas Soult, broke through the centre while Ney was steadily advancing from the flank. The combined force had no alternative but to retreat, which they were able to achieve in good order, largely because Napoleon had no cavalry to harry them.