Battle of Rottofreddo

The Battle of Rottofreddo or Rottofreno (10 August 1746) was fought during the War of Austrian Succession between a Habsburg Austrian army and a Bourbon army consisting of Spanish and French forces. The Spanish were led by Jean Thierry du Mont, comte de Gages and the French by Jean-Baptiste Francois des Marets, marquis de Maillebois. The Franco-Spanish army was isolated by the Austrian and Sardinian armies and trying to escape after being badly defeated in the Battle of Piacenza. In a bold move led by Marshal Maillebois, the Bourbon army crossed to the south bank of the Po River west of Piacenza, intending to march west. Austrian forces led by Antoniotto Botta Adorno attacked the Franco-Spanish rearguard, inflicting serious losses, but were unable to prevent the Bourbon army from getting away to Tortona.