Battle of Lodi

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The Battle of Lodi was fought on Tuesday 10 May 1796 between French forces under General Napoleon Bonaparte and an Austrian rear guard commanded by Karl Philipp Sebottendorf at Lodi, Lombardy (then part of the Habsburg monarchy, now in Italy), being one of the key engagements of the Italian Campaign. The conflict took place as French forces pursued the retreating Austrian army across the Adda River. After intense artillery bombardment, French infantry spearheaded by the carbineers and grenadiers launched a famed storming charge across the narrow wooden bridge of Lodi under heavy enemy fire. Although the main Austrian army successfully withdrew eastward, the storming of the bridge cleared the way for Napoleon to occupy Milan five days later, vastly enhancing his military reputation and earning him the lifelong affection of his troops, who affectionately nicknamed him "The Little Corporal" (Le Petit Caporal).

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