Battle of Aspern–Essling

A battle fought near Vienna on 21–22 May 1809, in which Austrian forces under Archduke Charles repelled Napoleon’s attempt to cross the Danube.

Danube River: Europe’s second-longest river, flowing from Germany through Central and Southeastern Europe to the Black Sea. Napoleon’s exposed crossing over the Danube made supply and reinforcement depend on vulnerable bridges.
Napoleon: French military and political leader who became emperor in 1804 and ruled until 1814, then again briefly in 1815. He personally directed the French effort to establish a bridgehead north of the Danube.
War of the Fifth Coalition: The 1809 war in which Austria and Britain fought Napoleon’s French Empire and its allies. Aspern–Essling was a major Austrian success during this conflict.
Battle of Wagram: A major French victory over Austria fought near Vienna on 5–6 July 1809. Napoleon crossed the Danube again weeks later and defeated Archduke Charles at Wagram.
Lobau: A large Danube island east of Vienna that served as a French staging ground during the 1809 campaign. French forces used Lobau to assemble before crossing to the north bank.
Archduke Charles: Austrian field marshal and military reformer who commanded Habsburg forces during the Napoleonic Wars. His army attacked the French bridgehead and forced Napoleon to withdraw across the river.
Austrian Empire: A Central European empire ruled by the Habsburg dynasty from 1804 to 1867. Its forces launched the campaign that culminated in the defense of the Danube crossing.
Treaty of Schönbrunn: The treaty signed in October 1809 that ended the War of the Fifth Coalition between France and Austria. The eventual settlement followed Austria’s defeat after the renewed French campaign.
Pontoon bridge: A temporary bridge supported by floating boats or pontoons. French pontoon bridges linked Lobau to the north bank until Austrian attacks and flooding disrupted them.
André Masséna: French marshal who served in the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. He commanded French forces at Aspern and helped hold the western village against repeated assaults.

Linked from 4 pages

Austrian ArmyBroader topic: It was Napoleon’s first major battlefield defeat as emperor.