1809 CAMPAIGN: TYROL
Wargames introduction
The Alde Garde always tries to find some side theatres of the "normal" wargames campaign so for one of our demos we chose 1809 but not the Danube campaign (how great this is) but we presented the 1809 part of the Tyrolean revolt. We have gathered some information that we share underneath.
First an introduction of the period with some books we have read, secondly pictures we have found about Hofer, clothing, battles and so one. We try to add some more information in the near future.
Introduction to the 1809 Tyrolean rebellion or (from Tyrolean perspective: a fight for freedom)
In 1805 France defeated Austria at the battle of Austerlitz and in december 1805 the Peace of Pressburg was signed.
One aspect of this peace treaty was that Bavaria acquired the Tyrol.
This meant a tremendous increase in land (250.000 square kilometers) and population (600.000) for the Bavarian ruler Max Joseph who became a king in 1806.
But the Tyrol, part of Austria since 1363, immediately resented the transfer of their land to Bavaria. This resentment became stronger when Bavarian laws were enforced on the Tyrolean who had lived according their own laws and traditions. Manifold changes were introduced when Bavarian government expanded its control over the region. Moreover the new Bavarian constitution was imposed upon the Tyrol in 1808.
Of course the Tyrolean resented the extra taxes introduced to pay for the Bavarian garrison but also the new administrative and political changes, the dissolution of monasteries, the introduction of conscription (which, after many complaints about the Tyrolean freedom, was abandoned), the manner in which Bavarians took over the official positions and the brutal way the Bavarian officials tried to “Bavarianise” the Tyrol.
All these measures lead to embitter the population and engendered distrust and hatred for the Bavarians and their King which is one of the reasons the following campaign sometimes was marked with deadly cruelty and enduring passion.
So, in 1809 the Tyrol rebelled against their Bavarian rulers.
The Alde Garde always tries to find some side theatres of the "normal" wargames campaign so for one of our demos we chose 1809 but not the Danube campaign (how great this is) but we presented the 1809 part of the Tyrolean revolt. We have gathered some information that we share underneath.
First an introduction of the period with some books we have read, secondly pictures we have found about Hofer, clothing, battles and so one. We try to add some more information in the near future.
Introduction to the 1809 Tyrolean rebellion or (from Tyrolean perspective: a fight for freedom)
In 1805 France defeated Austria at the battle of Austerlitz and in december 1805 the Peace of Pressburg was signed.
One aspect of this peace treaty was that Bavaria acquired the Tyrol.
This meant a tremendous increase in land (250.000 square kilometers) and population (600.000) for the Bavarian ruler Max Joseph who became a king in 1806.
But the Tyrol, part of Austria since 1363, immediately resented the transfer of their land to Bavaria. This resentment became stronger when Bavarian laws were enforced on the Tyrolean who had lived according their own laws and traditions. Manifold changes were introduced when Bavarian government expanded its control over the region. Moreover the new Bavarian constitution was imposed upon the Tyrol in 1808.
Of course the Tyrolean resented the extra taxes introduced to pay for the Bavarian garrison but also the new administrative and political changes, the dissolution of monasteries, the introduction of conscription (which, after many complaints about the Tyrolean freedom, was abandoned), the manner in which Bavarians took over the official positions and the brutal way the Bavarian officials tried to “Bavarianise” the Tyrol.
All these measures lead to embitter the population and engendered distrust and hatred for the Bavarians and their King which is one of the reasons the following campaign sometimes was marked with deadly cruelty and enduring passion.
So, in 1809 the Tyrol rebelled against their Bavarian rulers.
The 1809 war theatry in the Tyrol
Andreas Hofer (one of many pictures of this main Tyrolean leader)
The 1809 Tyrolean oprising
The campaign in the Tyrol in 1809 can be divided in 3 phases.
April-mid May 1809
The outburst of the Tyrolean rebellion and the offensive of the Tyrolean against the occupying Bavarian forces in the Tyrol.
As Bavarian forces were reduced to strengthen the French/Allied army fighting against the Austrian main army, only meager forces were in Tyrol. So the Tyrolean were able to defeat those troops, free various cities (e.g. Innsbruck) and even attack the Bavarian homelands.
In total, the Tyrolean captured the astounding total of 2 generals, 130 senior and staff officers, 3.860 Bavarian and 2.050 French soldiers and 7 guns.
In May 1809 the first offensive to reconquer Tyrol started with French and Bavarian forces advancing.
As the Austrian troops, who had previously fought with the Tyroleans, received the order to withdraw to Italy, the Tyrolean defense collapsed and Innsbruck was regained by the Bavarians on the 19th of May 180A.
Napoleon thought that the rebellion was over, and so withdraw 2 Bavarian divisions to support again the French/Allied main army and only the Bavarian Division of Deroy remained in the now peaceful region: but this was a mistake.
Late May-September 1809
As Bavarian/French troops who had been brought in, were pulled back to the Grande Armee to fight the Austrian Army, the Tyrolean rose into revolt again on 29th May and renewed the struggle for Innsbruck (2nd Bergisel battle).
During the night of the 30th of May, the Bavarians retreated into the direction of Salzburg and to the safety of the guns of the fortress of Kufstein which was reached in the night of the 31st. The Bavarian forces were exhausted and had suffered many losses in this retreat.
So the end of the month saw the Bavarians evicted from the Tyrol for the second time.
In the period until July, only skirmishing took place, some insurgents and some Austrian troops invaded for a short period Bavaria but this were mostly small affairs.
After the armistice of Znaim, Napoleon sent again Bavarian and French troops, now under Marshall Lefebvre, to pacify the country. Innsbruck was again taken.
Some small battles occurred in which the Bavarians suffered a lot of casualties against, sometimes, an invisible foe. E.g. at the battle of Prutz (August 9th) the Bavarians lost 1.000 men and 2 guns and had to retreat in haste.
On August 13th, the third Bergisel battle took place outside of Innsbruck; once more the Bavarians had to retreat in the direction of Kufstein and Salzburg.
Again, skirmishing along the frontiers, small battles etc took place until end September.
October-December 1809
After the conclusion of the war with Austria on October 14th, Napoleon had a free hand to reconquer the Tyrol.
French/Bavarian forces, now under command of General de Division Drouet, were called to the Tyrol and now in large numbers.
They invaded the Tyrol from two sides and for the last time a battle at Bergisel was fought for the command of Innsbruck on November 1st.
Hofer had 9.000 men, the Bavarian/French forces amounted 2 full divisions with 24 guns. The Tyrolean were utterly defeated and disappeared into the mountains.
But it took until the end of November before all resistance had ceased. The Tyrolean rebellion was definitely over.
On January 28th 2010 Hofer was arrested and he was executed at Mantua on the 20th of February 1810.
The campaign in the Tyrol in 1809 can be divided in 3 phases.
April-mid May 1809
The outburst of the Tyrolean rebellion and the offensive of the Tyrolean against the occupying Bavarian forces in the Tyrol.
As Bavarian forces were reduced to strengthen the French/Allied army fighting against the Austrian main army, only meager forces were in Tyrol. So the Tyrolean were able to defeat those troops, free various cities (e.g. Innsbruck) and even attack the Bavarian homelands.
In total, the Tyrolean captured the astounding total of 2 generals, 130 senior and staff officers, 3.860 Bavarian and 2.050 French soldiers and 7 guns.
In May 1809 the first offensive to reconquer Tyrol started with French and Bavarian forces advancing.
As the Austrian troops, who had previously fought with the Tyroleans, received the order to withdraw to Italy, the Tyrolean defense collapsed and Innsbruck was regained by the Bavarians on the 19th of May 180A.
Napoleon thought that the rebellion was over, and so withdraw 2 Bavarian divisions to support again the French/Allied main army and only the Bavarian Division of Deroy remained in the now peaceful region: but this was a mistake.
Late May-September 1809
As Bavarian/French troops who had been brought in, were pulled back to the Grande Armee to fight the Austrian Army, the Tyrolean rose into revolt again on 29th May and renewed the struggle for Innsbruck (2nd Bergisel battle).
During the night of the 30th of May, the Bavarians retreated into the direction of Salzburg and to the safety of the guns of the fortress of Kufstein which was reached in the night of the 31st. The Bavarian forces were exhausted and had suffered many losses in this retreat.
So the end of the month saw the Bavarians evicted from the Tyrol for the second time.
In the period until July, only skirmishing took place, some insurgents and some Austrian troops invaded for a short period Bavaria but this were mostly small affairs.
After the armistice of Znaim, Napoleon sent again Bavarian and French troops, now under Marshall Lefebvre, to pacify the country. Innsbruck was again taken.
Some small battles occurred in which the Bavarians suffered a lot of casualties against, sometimes, an invisible foe. E.g. at the battle of Prutz (August 9th) the Bavarians lost 1.000 men and 2 guns and had to retreat in haste.
On August 13th, the third Bergisel battle took place outside of Innsbruck; once more the Bavarians had to retreat in the direction of Kufstein and Salzburg.
Again, skirmishing along the frontiers, small battles etc took place until end September.
October-December 1809
After the conclusion of the war with Austria on October 14th, Napoleon had a free hand to reconquer the Tyrol.
French/Bavarian forces, now under command of General de Division Drouet, were called to the Tyrol and now in large numbers.
They invaded the Tyrol from two sides and for the last time a battle at Bergisel was fought for the command of Innsbruck on November 1st.
Hofer had 9.000 men, the Bavarian/French forces amounted 2 full divisions with 24 guns. The Tyrolean were utterly defeated and disappeared into the mountains.
But it took until the end of November before all resistance had ceased. The Tyrolean rebellion was definitely over.
On January 28th 2010 Hofer was arrested and he was executed at Mantua on the 20th of February 1810.
Literature:
Some books we recommend:
John H. Gill - With Eagles to Glory
John H. Gill - 1809 Thunder on the Danube I: Abensberg
John H. Gill - 1809 Thunder on the Danube II: Aspern
John H. Gill - 1809 Thunder on the Danube III: Znaim
James R. Arnold - Crisis on the Danube
Other books:
Bernhard Wurzer - Tiroler Feiheitskampf
Karl Paulin - Andreas Hofer
LE P.CH.Clair - André Hofer et L'Insurrection du Tyrol en 1809
Various pictures of Hofer: A whole array of Tyrolean dress
Some books we recommend:
John H. Gill - With Eagles to Glory
John H. Gill - 1809 Thunder on the Danube I: Abensberg
John H. Gill - 1809 Thunder on the Danube II: Aspern
John H. Gill - 1809 Thunder on the Danube III: Znaim
James R. Arnold - Crisis on the Danube
Other books:
Bernhard Wurzer - Tiroler Feiheitskampf
Karl Paulin - Andreas Hofer
LE P.CH.Clair - André Hofer et L'Insurrection du Tyrol en 1809
Various pictures of Hofer: A whole array of Tyrolean dress
Pictures of battle scenes etc
Tyrolean flags
In the Bavarian army museum of Ingoldstadt we found some flags of tyrolean schützen companies. Probably these were taken by Bavarian troops in the 1809 fights. Underneath are pictures; not the best as these are taken through the glasspanels.
In the Bavarian army museum of Ingoldstadt we found some flags of tyrolean schützen companies. Probably these were taken by Bavarian troops in the 1809 fights. Underneath are pictures; not the best as these are taken through the glasspanels.
The Alde Garde played in 2009 part of the Tyrolean rising in 15mm (and planning to do that in 2019 again ( yes, we are planning ahead).
