A Brief History of the Battle of Caldiero

Massena planned to throw the enemy off balance with a flanking manoeuvre, then push their centre with a frontal attack. But archduke charles surprised everyone by ordering a very uncharacteristic, aggressive attack right into the french centre. Both armies struggled for control over the all important heights and the defensible buildings of caldiero. Despite the intensity of the fighting, it was not decisive. Neither side had gained a clear advantage. The combat only stopped when it became too dark to continue, and arch duke charles decided to slip away under cover of darkness. There is no question that Massena may have failed to win a triumph on the battlefield, but as always he