France. Napoleon I (1769-1821). Victory at the Battle of Castiglione, 1796.

Engraved by Carlo Lavy. Issued by Napoleon Bonaparte 1796. Iron 42 mm. Weight 28,7 gram. Ex. Pedersen Mynthandel, 2010. Rare!

Obverse
BATAILLE DE CASTIGLIONE, COMBAT DE PESCHIERA, two nude soldiers fighting with swords over dead body; LAVY in ground line.

Reverse
Crossed trumpets on wreath, À L'ARMÉE D'ITALIE in two lines above, LOI DU 27 · THERMIDOR AN 4ME. REP. in two lines below.

NAPOLEON I (1769-1821)
Napoleon Bonaparte (born Napoleone Buonaparte; 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821), later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French military commander and political leader who rose to prominence during the French Revolution and led successful campaigns during the Revolutionary Wars. He was the leader of the French Republic as First Consul from 1799 to 1804, then of the French Empire as Emperor of the French from 1804 until 1814, and briefly again in 1815. Napoleon's political and cultural legacy endures as a celebrated and controversial leader. He initiated many liberal reforms that have persisted through the years, and is considered one of the greatest military commanders in history. His campaigns are still studied at military academies worldwide. Between three and six million soldiers and civilians died in the Napoleonic Wars.

THE BATTLE OF CASTIGLIONE, 5 AUGUST 1796
The Battle of Castiglione saw the French Army of Italy under General Napoleon Bonaparte attack an army of the Habsburg monarchy led by Feldmarschall Dagobert Sigmund von Wurmser on 5 August 1796. The outnumbered Austrians were defeated and driven back along a line of hills to the river crossing at Borghetto, where they retired beyond the Mincio River. The town of Castiglione delle Stiviere is located 10 kilometres (6 mi) south of Lake Garda in northern Italy. This battle was one of four famous victories won by Bonaparte during the War of the First Coalition, part of the French Revolutionary Wars. The others were Bassano, Arcole, and Rivoli.

Castiglione was the first attempt by the Austrian army to break the French Siege of Mantua, which was the primary Austrian fortress in northern Italy. To achieve this goal, Wurmser planned to lead four converging columns against the French. It succeeded insofar as Bonaparte lifted the siege in order to have the manpower sufficient to meet the threat. But his skill and the speed of his troops' march allowed the French army commander to keep the Austrian columns separated and defeat each in detail over a period of about one week. Although the final flank attack was prematurely delivered, it nevertheless resulted in a victory.

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Fraktalternativ: Postnord frimärkt, alternativt Schenker spårbart/försäkrat. Samfraktar alltid.