Switzerland and Italy - Marshal André Masséna


Masséna was recalled to service in August of 1798 when he was named commander of a division of the Army of Mainz. Four months later he was named commander of the Army of Switzerland but put under the overall strategic command of General Jourdan. Masséna launched an offensive in March of 1799 by invading Grisons and seizing Coire, but he was unable to take Feldkirch. Due to losses suffered by the other French armies, the Directory named Masséna commander-in-chief of the Army of the Danube and Army of Switzerland and placed him in charge of defending the entire eastern frontier of France. Masséna was up to the challenge and reorganized his troops, successfully fighting off the Austrian attacks. That August the Russians under Field Marshal Suvorov aimed to join up with the Austrians, but in September Masséna attacked the Austrians first, winning a brilliant victory at Zurich  . He then turned to cut off Suvorov's Russians, inflicting severe casualties on them and almost cutting off their retreat. Masséna next went on to win at Andelfingen in October.


Back in Paris, Napoleon seized power in a coup d'état and established the Consulate. One of his many acts as First Consul was to name Masséna the commander-in-chief of the Army of Italy. Masséna left the Army of Switzerland at the end of November, returned to Paris to meet with Napoleon, and then left for Italy at the end of December. After establishing his command at Nice, he then moved his headquarters up to Genoa.


The Austrians launched an offensive in Italy in April of 1800, and before long the outnumbered French were separated and falling back. Masséna and his men became trapped in Genoa, but when he was asked to surrender, he replied that he'd rather be buried under the towers of Genoa.1 Meanwhile, a British fleet under Admiral Keith blockaded the city from the sea, preventing any hope of resupply. Each time the Austrians tried to storm the city, the French responded with successful counterattacks, but they could only fight disease and hunger for so long.


On May 2nd, Colonel Reille successfully broke through the blockade by boat to deliver to Masséna money to pay the troops and Napoleon's orders to hold the city at all costs as he was crossing the Alps with the Army of the Reserve. Masséna fully comprehended the strategic situation and held out until June 4th when he finally surrendered due to the starvation of his troops. However, his holding of the city had given Napoleon time to cross the Alps unopposed and strike at the Austrians with the Army of the Reserve. Masséna's troops marched out of Genoa with all their equipment, surrendering the city and the city alone.


Masséna was next named commander of the combined forces of the Army of Italy and the Army of the Reserve at the end of June. However, two months later he was relieved of command for many of the same reasons as in 1798 when he had left Rome, namely looting and treating the troops poorly. Masséna retired to Rueil on full pay and rested there with his wife and three children for the next few years


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