Battle of Hanau

Battle of Hanau
Part of the German campaign of the Sixth Coalition
Battle of Hanau, Horace Vernet
Date 30–31 October 1813 Location Hanau, Duchy of Frankfurt 50°07′59″N 8°55′01″E / 50.1331°N 8.9169°E / 50.1331; 8.9169 Result French victory
Belligerents
France	Bavaria  Austria
Commanders and leaders
Napoleon Bonaparte	Karl von Wrede
Strength
17,000–30,000	43,000
Casualties and losses
4,500[1]–5,000[2] killed and wounded	6,000[2] killed and wounded 4,000 captured[2]
class=notpageimage| Location within Europe

War of the Sixth Coalition:
German campaign

200km
125miles

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  current battle

  Napoleon in command

  Napoleon not in command

The Battle of Hanau was fought from 30 to 31 October 1813 between Karl Philipp von Wrede's Austro-Bavarian corps and Napoleon's retreating French during the War of the Sixth Coalition.

Following Napoleon's defeat at the Battle of Leipzig earlier in October, Napoleon began to retreat from Germany into France and relative safety. Wrede attempted to block Napoleon’s line of retreat at Hanau on 30 October. Napoleon arrived at Hanau with reinforcements and defeated Wrede’s forces. On 31 October Hanau was in French control, opening Napoleon’s line of retreat.

The Battle of Hanau was an important tactical victory allowing Napoleon’s depleted army to retreat onto French soil to prepare to face an invasion of France.