Arcole

Arcole (pronounced [ˈarkole]), historicaslly also known as Arcola, is a comune with 5,274 inhabitants in the province of Verona. It is known as the site of the Battle of the Bridge of Arcole. History Between 15–17 November 1796, the Battle of Arcole took place. Napoleon Bonaparte, recently appointed commander of the French Army of Italy, led a rapid and conclusive attack through Italy as part of the French Revolutionary Wars. In April and May of that year he had defeated Piedmont army and driven the Austrian army out of almost all of Northern Italy. In November, Napoleon joined battle with József d'Alvinczi near the junctions of the Adige and Alpone rivers. Despite lacking basic equipment and food the French army went on the offensive. On 14 November, they crossed the Adige. All that remained between the two armies now was the Alpone. On 15–16 November, the French made repeated attempts to cross the bridge at Arcole. These initial assaults were beaten back by Austrian firepower. By 17 November, French flanking moves convinced Alvintzy that he was threatened with encirclement and he ordered a tactical withdrawal. The following year Napoleon went on to crush the Austrians at Rivoli, forcing them to sign the Peace of Campo Formio later that year. References