1796 in History

Carnot supported the appointment of Bonaparte as commander in chief of the Army of Italy.

Secures an Armistice with the Aerdinians

Napoleon concluded the Armistice of Cherasco with Sardinia, securing French gains and freeing his army to concentrate against Austria.

Barras supported the decision that placed Bonaparte in command of the Army of Italy before the 1796 campaign.

Arrested for conspiring to overthrow the Directory

Commands the occupation of Elba.

Occupies the Venetian Republic

Creates the Cispadine Republic

Appointed Colonel

Appointed Colonel

Appointed Colonel

Appointed Commander of the 33rd Regiment of Foot, India

Appointed Commander of the Army in Italy

Napoleon received command of the Army of Italy, placing him at the head of the campaign against Austria and Piedmont.

Appointed Commander of the Army in Italy

La Revelliere-Lepeaux wrote to Josephine Bonaparte after the victories of Lonato and Castiglione and praised Napoleon's military success.

Arrested for conspiring to overthrow the Directory

Napoleon left Paris to join the Army of Italy after receiving its command earlier that month.

Carnot continued coordinating military affairs as French armies campaigned in Italy and Germany during 1796.

Discovers an inoculation for smallpox derived from cowpox

Napoleon entered Milan after the victory at Lodi, strengthening French control of Lombardy during the Italian campaign.

Appointed General de Brigade

Charles of Austria drives the French out of Germany

Leads the Army into Italy

Napoleon conquers Lombardy as far as Mantua then creates the Lombard Republic

Begins the invasion of Papal territory

Founds the Lombard Republic

Marries Josephine Tascher de la Pagerie

Marries Napoleon I

Napoleon married Josephine de Beauharnais in Paris shortly before leaving to take command of the Army of Italy.

Barras served as a witness at the civil marriage of Napoleon Bonaparte and Josephine de Beauharnais.

La Revelliere-Lepeaux served as president of the Directory during the summer of 1796.

Carnot supported replacing Pichegru with Moreau in a senior army command as the Directory reorganised its military leadership.

Talleyrand returned to Paris after years abroad and began rebuilding his political position under the Directory.

Commands the occupation of Elba.

Drives the Austrians out of Mantua

Relieves Mantua

Birth of Karl Friedrich von Steinmetz

Dies of apoplexy aged 67

Jourdan defeated forces of the Duke of Wurttemberg at Altenkirchen during the 1796 campaign in Germany.

Defeats the French under Jourdan & Moreau

Massena fought at Arcole during the three-day battle that forced Austrian forces away from the Adige.

Napoleon secured victory at Arcole after three days of fighting, forcing the Austrian army to withdraw from the Adige region.

Fights at the Battle of Arcole in Italy

Massena fought at Bassano as Bonaparte pursued Austrian forces during the campaign around Mantua.

Napoleon defeated Austrian forces at Bassano and continued the campaign to prevent relief of Mantua.

Defeats the Austrians in Mantua

Defeated by Bonaparte

Massena's division contributed to the French victory at Castiglione against Wurmser's Austrian army.

Napoleon defeated the Austrian army at Castiglione during the first major attempt to relieve the siege of Mantua.

Defeats the Austrians in Mantua

Fights at the Battle of Castiglione in Italy

Defeated by Bonaparte

Distinguishes himself at Dego in Italy

Massena fought at Dego as French forces continued separating the Austrian and Piedmontese armies in northern Italy.

Commands the Army of Italy against the Austrians & Sardinians

Fights at the Battle of Dego in Italy

Massena fought at Lodi during the French advance across the Adda toward Milan.

Drives the Austrians out of Lombardy

Napoleon defeated Austrian forces at Lodi and forced a crossing of the Adda during the advance into Lombardy.

Fights at the Battle of Lodi in Italy

Wounded with four sabre cuts at Lonato in Italy

Massena fought around Lonato during Bonaparte's operations against the Austrian attempt to relieve Mantua.

Defeats the Austrians in Mantua

Fights at the Battle of Lonato in Italy

Commands the Army of Italy against the Austrians & Sardinians

Napoleon defeated the Piedmontese at Mondovi, increasing pressure on the Kingdom of Sardinia to seek an armistice.

Commands the Army of Italy against the Austrians & Sardinians

Massena played a leading role at Montenotte during the opening French victories of Bonaparte's first Italian campaign.

Napoleon won at Montenotte, opening the Italian campaign with a victory that separated Austrian and Piedmontese forces.

Commands the Army of Italy against the Austrians & Sardinians

Defeats the French under Jourdan & Moreau