Battle of Laon

Battle of Laon
Part of the Campaign of France of the Sixth Coalition

Napoleon and his staff are returning from Soissons after the battle of Laon, by Ernest Meissonier
Date9–10 March 1814[1]
Location
Laon, France
49°33′57″N 3°37′14″E / 49.5658°N 3.6206°E / 49.5658; 3.6206
Result Coalition victory
Belligerents
First French Empire France Kingdom of Prussia Prussia,
Russian Empire Russia
Commanders and leaders
First French Empire Napoleon I Kingdom of Prussia Gebhard von Blücher
Kingdom of Prussia August von Gneisenau
Kingdom of Prussia Friedrich von Bülow
Russian Empire Ferdinand von Wintzingerode
Strength
37,000[2]–50,000[1] 90,000[2]–100,000[1]
Casualties and losses
6,000–6,500[2][1] 3,500[1]–4,000[3]
Battle of Laon is located in France
Battle of Laon
Location within France
Map
About OpenStreetMaps
Maps: terms of use
200km
125miles
Paris
22
Battle of Paris (1814) from 30 to 31 March 1814
21
Battle of Saint-Dizier on 26 March 1814
20
Battle of Fère-Champenoise on 25 March 1814
19
Battle of Arcis-sur-Aube from 20 to 21 March 1814
18
Battle of Limonest on 20 March 1814
17
Battle of Reims (1814) from 12 to 13 March 1814
16
Battle of Mâcon (1814) on 11 March 1814
15
14
Battle of Craonne on 7 March 1814
13
Battle of Laubressel on 3 March 1814
12
Battle of Saint-Julien (1814) on 1 March 1814
11
Battle of Gué-à-Tresmes on 28 February 1814
10
Battle of Montereau on 18 February 1814
9
Battle of Mormant on 17 February 1814
8
Battle of Vauchamps on 14 February 1814
7
Battle of Château-Thierry (1814) on 12 February 1814
6
Battle of Montmirail on 11 February 1814
5
Battle of Champaubert on 10 February 1814
4
Battle of Lesmont on 2 February 1814
3
Battle of La Rothière on 1 February 1814
2
Battle of Brienne on 29 January 1814
Bar-sur-Aube
1
First Battle of Bar-sur-Aube on 24 January 1814 Second Battle of Bar-sur-Aube on 27 February 1814
  current battle
  Napoleon in command
  Napoleon not in command

The Battle of Laon (9–10 March 1814) was the victory of Blücher's Prussian army over Napoleon's French army near Laon. During the Battle of Craonne on 7 March, Blücher's army was forced to retreat into Laon after a failed attempt to halt Napoleon's east flank. Along the way to Laon, reinforcements from Russian forces under Ferdinand von Wintzingerode and a Prussian corps led by Friedrich Wilhelm Freiherr von Bülow joined the defensive. Blücher opted to face Napoleon at Laon because it was the site of a strategically important road junction, and because of its highly defensible position.

  1. ^ a b c d e Bodart 1908, p. 477.
  2. ^ a b c Uffindell 2003, p. 203.
  3. ^ Chandler 1995, p. 991.

Developed by StudentB