Battles of Bergisel

Battles of Bergisel
Part of the Tyrolean Rebellion

Statue of Andreas Hofer near Bergisel in Innsbruck
Date12 April – 1 November 1809
Full dates
  • 12 Apr – 1st battle
  • 29 May – 2nd battle
  • 13 Aug – 3rd battle
  • 1 Nov – 4th battle
Location
Bergisel, south of Innsbruck, Austria
47°14′48″N 11°23′59″E / 47.24667°N 11.39972°E / 47.24667; 11.39972
Result
Expand results list:

Tyrolean victory – 1st battle
Franco-Bavarian victory – 2nd battle
Tyrolean victory – 3rd battle
Franco-Bavarian victory – 4th battle

Belligerents
Tyroleans Kingdom of Bavaria
First French Empire
Commanders and leaders
Andreas Hofer
Josef Speckbacher
Peter Mayr
Joachim Haspinger
Martin Teimer
François Lefebvre
Jean Drouet d'Erlon
Bernhard Deroy
Karl von Wrede
General Rechberg
Strength
5,000 5,000 (later 15,000)

The Battles of Bergisel were four battles fought between Tyrolese civilian militiamen and a contingent of Austrian government troops and the military forces of Emperor Napoleon I of France and the Kingdom of Bavaria at the Bergisel hill near Innsbruck. The battles, which occurred on 25 May, 29 May, 13 August, and 1 November 1809, were part of the Tyrolean Rebellion and the War of the Fifth Coalition.

The Tyrolean civilian forces, loyal to Austria, were led by militia commander Andreas Hofer, Josef Speckbacher, Peter Mayr, Capuchin Father Joachim Haspinger, and Major Martin Teimer. The Bavarians were led by French Marshal François Joseph Lefebvre, and Bavarian Generals Bernhard Erasmus von Deroy and Karl Philipp von Wrede. After being driven from Innsbruck at the start of the revolt, the Bavarians twice reoccupied the city and were chased out again. After the final battle in November, the rebellion was suppressed.