La Bataille de Staffarde

18 aout 1690
par

Beat Fidele de Zurlauben

baron de la Tour-Chatillon (1720-1795),

http://www.inumis.com/us/vso//louis-xiv-bataille-de-staffarde-1690-paris-a22035.html

dans Bibliothque Militaire Historique et politique, Paris, Chez Vincent, 1760, tome III, pp. 200-215.

Victoire de Staffarda par Jean Baptiste Morret.

HUCHTENBURG Jan van ( Haarlem 1647- Amsterdam 1733 ), VELDTSLAG VAN STAFFARDE IN PIEMONT [...]. BATAILLE DE STAFFARDE EN PIEMONT ENTRE LES FRANCOIS & LES ALLIEZ DONT LE PRINCE EUGENE COMMANDA UNE PARTIE & FIT LA RETRAITE AVEC AUTANT D'ORDRE QUE DE PRUDENCE & GLORIE, da: DUMONT Jean, "OORLOGSKUNDIGE BESCHRYVING VAN DE VELSLANGEN [...] DEN PRINS EUGENIUS VAN SAVOYE, DEN PRINS EN HERTOG VAN MALBOROUGH, EN DEN PRINS VAN OGRANJE-EN NASSAU-VRIESLAND", (vol. I) IN'S GRAVENHAAGE, ISAAC VAN DER KLOOT, 1729 http://www.cartiglio.it/cscart/index.php?dispatch=products.view&product_id=30405

Battle of Staffarda

Victory of Staffarda by Jean Baptiste Morret Part of the Nine Years' War or Guerre de la Ligue d'Auguste Date Location Result France Nicolas Catinat 12,000[1] 2,000 killed / wounded
[2]

18 August 1690 Staffarda, Piedmont French victory Duchy of Savoy, Duke of Savoy 18,000 2,800 killed / wounded 1,200 prisoners Spain

The Battle of Staffarda was fought during Nine Years' War in Piedmont-Savoy, modern-day northern Italy, on 18 August 1690. The engagement was the first major encounter in the Italian theatre since Victor Amadeus, the Duke of Savoy, had joined the Grand Alliance in opposition to France earlier that year. The battle was a clear victory for the French commander, Nicolas Catinat, who proceeded to take other Piedmontese strongholds. The French also overran most of the Duchy of Savoy but due to sickness, lack of infantry, and problems with supply, Catinat was unable to besiege Amadeus's capital Turin as King Louis XIV had hoped. Background By 1690, the Nine Years' War was in its third year. The greater part of the forces involved on both sides was engaged in the Spanish Netherlands where the Dutch, with considerable English and a little Spanish help, concentrated their war effort. Along the Rhine where ultimately the war would prove no more decisive than the Netherland's campaign the German Princes provided the bulk of the troops to face France. The one area where the Allies had great hopes of forcing " a door into France, big enough for us to get in at", was Italy.[3] The territories of Victor Amadeus II, Duke of Savoy, split into several distinct areas: the County of Nice, the Duchy of Savoy, the Duchy of Aosta, and the Principality of Piedmont. Nice occupied the region on the Mediterranean where the Alps meet the sea; Savoy occupied the region where the Alps border the French province of Dauphin; and Piedmont, which also contained the capital city of Turin and was the most important and populous region, linked the mountains to the Po valley. King Louis XIV tended to consider the Savoyard state as subsidiary to his rule despite Amadeus's determination to maintain his independence he was often little more than a vassal compelled to follow the French king's wishes. Even before the outbreak of the war Louis had a military presence in Italy with the control of two imposing fortresses: Pinerolo, to the west, annexed by France fifty years earlier in defiance of the 1631 Treaty of Cherasco; and to the east in Duchy of Montferrat, the fortress of Casale, acquired in 1681 after Ferdinand Charles, Duke of Mantua, surrendered it to Louis in exchange for an initial payment of 1,000,000 livres and an annual subsidy of 60,000 livres.[4]

Prelude At the beginning of 1690 Amadeus had yet to declare himself against Louis. Although his small army (8,000 men at the start of 1690)[5] aroused only French contempt, Louis understood that he had to retain Savoy in the French orbit. Ignoring Amadeus's own sovereign interests, the French sought guarantees and made their demands on the Duke: Amadeus was either to send 2,000 infantry and three dragoon regiments to assist French forces in the Spanish Netherlands nearly half his army or, he was to unite them with Nicolas Catinat's forces for an attack on the Spanish Milanese; he was also to hand over to Catinat the citadel of Turin and, further down the Po River, Verrua. If he did not do so he would, in Louvois' words, "be punished in such a manner that he remembers it for the rest of his life."[6] French demands from the Duke were nothing less than an attack on Savoyard independence but the intimidation ultimately proved counterproductive.[6] In the early summer of 1690, Amadeus realised he had to stand up to France and he began to look towards the Grand Alliance. But he had conditions. Amadeus reiterated his family claim to the Duchy of Montferrat, over which the House of Savoy was in perennial dispute with the Duke of Mantua, stipulating the razing of Casale as the minimum he would accept in this region; he also demanded the reacquisition of Pinerolo as the sine qua non of Savoyard entry into the war on the Allied side, and sought to take over at least one French place in Dauphin.[6] Amadeus's hectic preparations for war and his negotiations for financial assistance from England and Spain, were followed by a declaration of war against France on 4 June.[6] Battle In 1690, the territories of Victor Amadeus II, Duke of Savoy, primarily split into several distinct areas, notably: Nice, Savoy and Piedmont, which contained the capital city of Turin. In July Catinat took command of French forces in Piedmont, totalling some 12,000 men. Amadeus, meanwhile, received 10,000 Spanish reinforcements[7] from the Spanish possession of Milan, and was also promised 5,000 Imperial troops under Prince Eugene of Savoy a cousin of Amadeus.[7] Additionally, Amadeus's Protestant community, the Vaudois, who had previously suffered religious persecution from Louis and Amadeus alike, had since become reconciled with their Duke, and took up arms in defence of their valleys little quarter was asked or given when fighting the French.[8] Determined to punish Amadeus, Louis had ordered Catinat to use his force to burn and tax (put under contribution) large tracts of the mountainous parts of Savoy and the Plain of Piedmont attempts by local peasants to retaliate were met by hanging anyone who was found carrying arms.[9] The Marquis de Feuquieres, however, sent by Catinat with 1,200 troops to Luserna, suffered a major setback and was forced to abandon the town with the loss of some 600 men.[10] While Catinat's army manoeuvred on the Piedmontese plain Marquis de Saint-Ruth took most of the exposed Duchy of Savoy, routing the Savoyard forces; only the great fortress of Montmlian, less than 60 km north of Grenoble, remained in ducal hands. Although Savoy was far less important than Piedmont, its loss was a major setback for the Grand Alliance, making an invasion of France now much less likely.[6] In a desperate attempt to halt the destruction and intimidation Amadeus against the advice of Eugene insisted on engaging the French with his own and Spanish troops. Believing that Feuquieres was lost, and anxious to catch the French whilst they were weak, Amadeus left his camp at Villafranca with the intention of attacking and surrounding Catinat.[10] Catinat left his camp at Cavour and marched south with the intention of taking Saluzzo; when Amadeus moved to stop him, the result was the engagement at the abbey of Staffarda on 18 August. Marshes and hedges impeded movement on the battlefield and sheltered the Savoyard line, but French troops eventually broke Amadeus's army.[10] Only Eugene's command of the Savoyard cavalry and his conduct in retreat saved the Allied army from disaster.[9] Amadeus suffered 2,800 casualties and 1,200 prisoners; he also lost 11 of his 12 cannon. Catinat's casualties amount to some 2,000 troops.[11] Aftermath Catinat subsequently took Saluzzo, Savigliano, and Fossano.[6] More of Amadeus's territory was put under contribution; those towns which Amadeus ordered not to pay such as Ceresole and Autrive were torched.[12] When Eugene's Imperial troops finally arrived in Piedmont little could be achieved due to Spanish hesitancy and reluctance: in Eugene's words: " they want to do absolutely nothing."[9] The Imperial commander had to be satisfied with small raids against the enemy. In one such operation in September Eugene was unable to prevent his men who were used to the brutality of the Turkish wars castrating then killing 200 French prisoners.[9] Catinat proceeded to Susa, a vital fortress controlling communications with Brianon in Dauphin, opening trenches there on 11 November; the stronghold capitulated two days later. But hopes of taking Turin, and capturing the Asti region and south-east Piedmont in order to link up with Casale had to be scaled back due to supply and communication problems, manning shortages, and sickness within the army.[6] The French, therefore, unable to live off the resources of a devastated Piedmont, were forced into winter quarters in Savoy, Dauphin, and Provence. Eugene's imperialists found quarters in Montferrat much to the consternation its pro-French ruler, the Duke of Mantua.[13] Notes 1. ^ Chandler: The Art of Warfare in the Age of Marlborough, p. 302. All statistics taken from Chandler. 2. ^ Lynn states around 1,000 casualties 3. ^ McKay & Scott: The Rise of the Great Powers 16481815, p. 49 4. ^ Lynn: The Wars of Louis XIV, 16671714, p. 164 5. ^ Storrs: War, Diplomacy and the Rise of Savoy, 16901720, p. 25. 6,800 infantry; 1,290 cavalry and dragoons 6. ^ a b c d e f g Rowlands: Louis XIV, Vittorio Amedeo II and French Military Failure in Italy, 1689-96. 7. ^ a b Henderson: Prince Eugen of Savoy, p. 30 8. ^ Lynn: The Wars of Louis XIV, 16671714, p. 211 9. ^ a b c d McKay: Prince Eugene of Savoy, p. 33 10. ^ a b c Lynn: The Wars of Louis XIV, 16671714, p. 213 11. ^ Chandler: The Art of Warfare in the Age of Marlborough, p. 302 12. ^ Lynn: The Wars of Louis XIV, 16671714, p. 214 13. ^ McKay: Prince Eugene of Savoy, p. 34 [edit] References Chandler, David G (1990). The Art of Warfare in the Age of Marlborough. Spellmount Limited. ISBN 0-946771-42-1 Henderson, Nicholas (1966). Prince Eugen of Savoy. Weidenfield & Nicolson. ISBN 1-84212-597-4 Lynn, John A (1999). The Wars of Louis XIV, 16671714. Longman. ISBN 0-582-05629-2 McKay, Derek (1977). Prince Eugene of Savoy. Thames & Hudson Ltd. ISBN 0-500-87007-1

McKay, Derek & Scott, H. M (1984). The Rise of the Great Powers 16481815. Longman. ISBN 0-582-48554-1 Rowlands, Guy (2000). Louis XIV, Vittorio Amedeo II and French Military Failure in Italy, 168996. The English Historical Review 115(462): 534569 Storrs, Christopher (1999). War, Diplomacy and the Rise of Savoy, 16901720. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-55146-3

Bataille de Staffarda 18 aot 1690

Un article de Wikipdia, l'encyclopdie libre.
Date Lieu Issue

18 aot 1690 Abbaye de Staffarda, Pimont Victoire franaise Royaume de France Duch Monarchie espagnole de de de Savoie Sardaigne

Nicolas Marquis de Saint Ruth environ 18 000 hommes 2 000 morts ou blesss

Catinat Victor-Amde II Eugne de Savoie-Carignan 17 000 hommes 6 700 morts, blesss ou prisonniers

La bataille de Staffarde (18 aot 1690) en Italie est une des batailles les plus sanglantes du conflit qui opposa Louis XIV au duc de Savoie, Victor-Amde II, qui avait refus de cder la citadelle de Turin au roi de France en signe de fidlit. Elle se conclut par une victoire franaise sur la Ligue d'Augsbourg. Le nom italien Staffarda est francis en Staffarde selon l'usage franais de l'poque. La bataille se droula prs de l'abbaye de Staffarda, un lieu d'une grande valeur historique et culturelle, dont elle tire son nom. Victor-Amde II attendait l'arrive des troupes impriales, qui auraient pu modifier l'issue de la bataille et le sort mme du duch, mais quand il apprit le nombre effectif des troupes de Nicolas de Catinat, seulement 18 000 hommes, il pensa pouvoir l'affronter sans aide de l'Espagne. Le gnral Eugne de Savoie, comme le marquis de Louvigny, commandant des troupes espagnoles, n'taient pas du mme avis. Mais Victor-Amde, ncoutant que son enthousiasme, attaqua immdiatement. Le terrain tait boueux et malsain. Victor-Amde voulut aligner ses troupes sur deux rangs, faisant passer l'aile droite sur un terrain marcageux et celle de gauche au bord du P. Le centre des troupes tait constitu de la fine fleur de la cavalerie espagnole et pimontaise. Il fit occuper les fermes autour de Staffarda. l'inverse, il ne jugea pas ncessaire de contrler une vieille digue, pourtant importante pour toucher le flanc franais. Il laissa trop d'espace libre entre les fermes, ce qui aurait permis Catinat de pntrer les lignes pimontaises. Catinat ordonna ses dragons de traverser les troupes postes pour dfendre les fermes : les Pimontais furent impressionns par l'avance ennemie, et durent se retirer. Victor-Amde combattit sans relche pour reprendre ses positions, mais dsormais le gnral de San Silvestre avait russi s'immiscer au milieu du champ de bataille, et l'issue du conflit semblait irrvocable. Tandis que cela se passait, Catinat ordonna la seconde ligne d'avancer : l'impact fut si dur qu'il dispersa le front savoyard et Victor-Amde dut ordonner la retraite. La retraite de l'arme savoyarde fut dfendue par les Gardes et les carabiniers de Savoie, pendant que le gros de la troupe se repliait sur Carignano et Moncalieri. Les Pimontais et les Espagnols perdirent 4 000 hommes, 1 200 furent faits prisonniers et 1 500 furent blesss. Parmi les pertes, onze canons et beaucoup de drapeaux. Profitant du succs, Catinat occupa Savigliano et Saluzzo. Sources (it) Cet article est partiellement ou en totalit issu de larticle de Wikipdia en italien intitul Battaglia di Staffarda (voir la liste des auteurs) La Battaglia di Staffarda fu uno degli eventi pi sanguinosi del conflitto che Luigi XIV inizi contro Vittorio Amedeo II. Il 1690 era il terzo anno della guerra dei nove anni. Il duca Vittorio Amedeo disponeva di soli 8.000 uomini in armi. Il Re Sole chiese che 2.000 fanti e tre reggimenti di dragoni di Vittorio Amedeo fossero inviati nei Paesi Bassi o alternativamente contro gli Spagnoli di Milano e che le fortezze di Verrua e Torino venissero occupate dai Francesi, altrimenti il duca sar punito in modo da ricordarsene per tutta la vita. Vittorio Amedeo offr allora la sua alleanza alla Lega di Augusta purch gli venisse assicurato l'abbattimento delle mura di Casale. Vittorio Amedeo II stava attendendo l'arrivo di cinquemila imperiali ma quando gli fu riferito che l'ammontare effettivo delle truppe del Catinat era di soli 12.000 uomini, pens di poterle affrontare con le proprie forze e i diecimila spagnoli. L'esperto generale, principe Eugenio di Savoia, come anche il marchese di Louvigny, comandante delle truppe spagnole, erano invece di parere contrario. Ma Vittorio Amedeo, seguendo il suo giovanile entusiasmo, attacc immediatamente. Il terreno era acquitrinoso e malsano. Vittorio Amedeo volle schierare le sue truppe su due linee, appoggiando l'ala destra ad un terreno paludoso e quella sinistra al fiume Po. Il centro delle truppe era costituito dal fior fiore della cavalleria spagnola e piemontese. Infine vennero occupate le cascine intorno a Staffarda, ma non venne giudicato importante appropriarsi anche di una vecchia diga, posizione importante per poter colpire il fianco francese, mentre fu lasciato, tra una cascina e l'altra, troppo spazio vuoto, che avrebbe permesso al Catinat d'incunearsi tra le file piemontesi. Il Catinat ordin ai suoi dragoni di travolgere le truppe poste a difesa delle cascine: i piemontesi vennero intimoriti dall'avanzata nemica e dovettero ritirarsi. Vittorio Amedeo fatic non poco per riprendere le postazioni originarie, ma ormai il generale di San Silvestre era riuscito ad incunearsi al centro del campo di battaglia e la sorte dello scontro appariva segnata. Mentre ci avveniva, Catinat ordin alla seconda linea di avanzare: l'impatto fu tale che il fronte sabaudo si disperse e Vittorio Amedeo dovette ordinare la ritirata. La ritirata dell'esercito sabaudo fu coperta dalle Guardie e dai Carabinieri di Savoia, mentre il grosso ripieg su Carignano e Moncalieri. Piemontesi e Spagnoli ebbero 2.800 morti, 1.200 prigionieri, 2.700 feriti e persero 11 cannoni su 12; il Catinat ebbe 2.000 morti. Approfittando del successo, il Catinat occup Savigliano e Saluzzo e distrusse Ceresole.

Nicolas de Catinat de la Fauconnerie Seigneur de Saint-Gratien 1637 1712

Un article de Wikipdia, l'encyclopdie libre.

Naissance Dcs Grade Annes de service Conflits Commandement Faits d'armes Hommages

1er septembre 1637 Paris, France 22 fvrier 1712 ( 75 ans) Saint-Gratien, France Marchal de France 1660 - 1701 Guerre de Hollande Guerre de la ligue d'Augsbourg Guerre de Succession d'Espagne Arme du Rhin Bataille de Staffarde Bataille de La Marsaille Bataille de Carpi loge de La Harpe (1775) statue Saint-Gratien (1860)

Nicolas Catinat de La Fauconnerie, seigneur de Saint-Gratien, n Paris le 1er septembre 1637 et mort Saint-Gratien le 22 fvrier 1712, est un militaire franais du XVIIe sicle. Il prend part aux principaux conflits impliquant la France sous le rgne de Louis XIV, Guerre de Hollande, Guerre de la Ligue d'Augsbourg et Guerre de Succession d'Espagne, ce qui lui vaut d'tre lev la dignit de marchal de France (1693). Nicolas de Catinat nat rue de la Sorbonne Paris1. Issu dune famille de la petite noblesse du Perche, fils de Nicolas II Catinat, magistrat, doyen des conseillers du Parlement de Paris, et de Catherine Poisle, il quitta dans sa jeunesse le barreau pour les armes : Catinat rejoint les Gardes-Franaises ds 1660 et gravira, par son mrite, tous les chelons du commandement. Ds 1667, il se distingue lors de l'attaque de la contrescarpe au sige de Lille et reoit du Roi une lieutenance dans le rgiment des gardes. Bless la bataille de Seneffe, il sert avec distinction lors de la guerre de Hollande en 1676-1678. En mai 1679, il est capitaine et commande le dtachement qui enlve prs de Turin le comte Mattioli, secrtaire d'tat du duc de Mantoue, convaincu d'avoir jou un double jeu et ridiculis Louis XIV2. Marchal de camp en 1680, il fut employ contre les Vaudois en 1686 et nomm lieutenant gnral en 1688. Aprs avoir pris part au sige de Philippsburg au commencement de la guerre de la ligue d'Augsbourg, il fut nomm commandant en chef en 1690. Le 18 aot 1690, il remporte la victoire de Staffarde contre l'Espagne et la Savoie, le jour suivant il occupe Saluces et le 18 novembre Suze. Le 4 octobre 1693, il gagne la bataille de La Marsaille contre le duc de Savoie. Cette srie de revers fora la Savoie s'allier la France en 1696. Catinat reut le bton de marchal de France le 27 mars 1693 comme prix de ces exploits. Responsable des oprations en Italie au dbut de la guerre de Succession d'Espagne, il eut combattre le prince Eugne ; mais le mauvais tat de l'arme, le manque d'argent et de subsistances paralysrent ses efforts, et il prouva quelques checs, notamment il souffrit un revers la bataille de Carpi (9 juillet 1701). En disgrce, il fut remplac par Villeroy, qu'il seconda pour la campagne de Chiari. Il subit en philosophe cet injuste traitement, et vcut ds lors en retraite

dans son chteau de Saint-Gratien (prs de Montmorency), fuyant la cour et s'adonnant au quitisme. Il y meurt le 12 fvrier 1712. Il est enterr dans l'glise du village. Il a son buste dans le parc de l'htel de ville de Saint Gratien. Rfrences Louis de Blanchefort de Crquy, Mmoires pour servir la vie de Nicolas de Catinat, Paris, Veuve Duchne, 1775 Nicolas de Catinat, Mmoires et correspondances du marchal de Catinat, publi par Bernard Le Bouyer de Saint-Gervais, 3 vol. in-8, Paris 1819 Son loge a t crit par La Harpe en 1775. Une statue lui a t rige Saint-Gratien en 1860. Association Saint-Gratien d'hier et d'aujourd'hui, Catinat : marchal de France, seigneur de Saint-Gratien, Paris : d. du Valhermeil, 1988 Catinat, Histoire d'une famille, par Ghislaine Chouet et Bruno Jousselin, Amis du Perche, Rmalard, 2010. Armoiries Figure Blasonnement D'argent, une croix de gueules charge de neuf coquilles d'or.3,4

Notes et rfrences 1. Dictionnaire historique des rues de Paris, Jacques Hillairet, ditions de Minuit, p.527 2. voir l'Homme au masque de fer 3. Johannes Baptist Rietstap, Armorial gnral : contenant la description des armoiries des familles nobles et patriciennes de l'Europe : prcd d'un dictionnaire des termes du blason, G.B. van Goor, 1861, 1171 p. [lire en ligne [archive] (page consulte le 16 novembre 2009)], et ses Complments sur www.euraldic.com [archive] 4. www.heraldique-europeenne.org [archive] Source partielle Marie-Nicolas Bouillet et Alexis Chassang (dir.), Nicolas de Catinat dans Dictionnaire universel dhistoire et de gographie, 1878(Wikisource) Voir aussi[Sur les autres projets Wikimedia : Nicolas de Catinat, sur Wikimedia Commons

NYPL Vinkhuijzen collection - friendly version

NYPL Vinkhuijzen collection - friendly version

http://www.facebook.com/pages/La-Battaglia-di-Staffarda1690/371035366248984#!/photo.php?fbid=375778859107968&set=a.375778849107969.92577.371035366248984&type=1&theater http://notizie.comuni-italiani.it/foto/44586 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWryyo0k0jc