Permanent historical factsheet

Battle of Heilsberg

Germany · Warfare / Napoleonic Wars. Chronological records rendered directly from the World History Database.

5Records
1807Date range
1Named people
1Places

Chronological records

1807

Levin August Gottlieb Theophil von Bennigsen10 June 1807

Heilsberg · Warfare / Napoleonic Wars

After several months of recuperating from Eylau, Napoleon ordered the Grande Armee on the move once again.

Levin August Gottlieb Theophil von Bennigsen10 June 1807

Heilsberg · Warfare / Napoleonic Wars

In fact, the French ran into the entire Russian army of over 50,000 men and 150 artillery guns.

Levin August Gottlieb Theophil von Bennigsen10 June 1807

Heilsberg · Warfare / Napoleonic Wars

Learning that the Russians had encamped at their operational base in the town of Heilsberg, by the Alle River, Napoleon decided to conduct a general assault in the hopes of dislodging what he thought was the rearguard of the Russian army.

Levin August Gottlieb Theophil von Bennigsen10 June 1807

Heilsberg · Warfare / Napoleonic Wars

Repeated and determined attacks by the French failed to dislocate the Russians, who were fighting inside elaborate earthworks designed to prevent precisely the kind of river crossing Napoleon was attempting. French casualties soared to 10,000 while the Russians lost about 6,000.

Levin August Gottlieb Theophil von Bennigsen10 June 1807

Heilsberg · Warfare / Napoleonic Wars

The Russians eventually withdrew from Heilsberg as their position became untenable, prompting Napoleon to chase after them once again

Names involved

Levin August Gottlieb Theophil von Bennigsen

Provenance

This factsheet is generated from stored World History Database records matching the country, broad category, detailed category and exact Event value shown above. Duplicate display records are collapsed; database wording is otherwise preserved. Source provenance varies by record, so formal academic citation should be checked against the relevant primary source, archive or specialist historical reference.