Battle of Ratisbon | |||||||
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Part of the War of the Fifth Coalition | |||||||
Marshal Lannes leads the storming of the citadel at the Battle of Ratisbon, as painted by Charles Thévenin. | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
French Empire | Austrian Empire | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Archduke Charles | |||||||
Strength | |||||||
37,000–72,000[1] | 26,000–78,000[1] | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
1,000–1,500[2] | 8,900[3] | ||||||
The Battle of Ratisbon, also called the Battle of Regensburg, was fought on 23 April 1809, during the Napoleonic Wars, between the army of the French Empire, led by Napoleon I, and that of the Austrian Empire, led by Archduke Charles. Scene of the last engagement of the Bavaria phase of the campaign of 1809, the brief defense of the city and installation of a pontoon bridge to the east enabled the retreating Austrian army to escape into Bohemia. During the assault, Marshal Jean Lannes led his troops up ladders onto the walls, and Napoleon was wounded in his ankle by a small artillery round. The shot had been fired at great distance and did not severely hurt the Emperor, but caused a contusion.[4]