Napoleon’s Residence at Magonza
1804–1813

The Bridgehead

In 38 BC, Agrippa erected a fortified winter camp on the site of a former Celtic settlement, located at the confluence of Rhein e Main. From 14 to 9 BC, Drusus built Castrum Mogontiacum, named after Mogo, the Celtic God of Light. In the I secolo, a permanent stone bridge connected Castrum Mogontiacum con Castellum Mattiacorum (Kastel) on the right bank of the Rhine. This bridge was not maintained after the fall of the Roman Empire.

In 1661, a heavy pontoon bridge, using 46 river barges, was permanently deployed between the Imperial Fortress of Magonza e the fortified Bridgehead at Kastel. After the Battle at Leipzig, 16 e 18-19 ottobre 1813, Napoleon withdrew the Grande Armée to Magonza/Kastel e crossed the Rhine ahead of the Allied armies. Elements of the Corps russo Langeron of Blücher’s Silesian Army blockaded Kastel and, after Blücher’s Rhinecrossing at Kaub, invested Magonza. Langeron’s Corps was eventually relieved by the V. German Corps under the Duke of Saxe-Coburg, e rejoined Blücher’s Army in febbraio of 1814.

The Archbishopric of Magonza

The Archbishop of Magonza, Elector e Arch-chancellor of the Empire, Primate dalla Germania, Friedrich Karl Joseph von Erthal fled Magonza in 1792 when le truppe rivoluzionarie francesi pillaged the Palatinate ed occupied the city. He returned in 1793, but fled Magonza again in 1794 e surrendered the left bank of the Rhine alla Francia. The Archbishop died at Aschaffenburg in 1802, e was succeeded by Archbishop Carl von Dalberg. As a result of the Reichsdeputationshauptschluß of 25 febbraio 1803, the Archbishopric of Magonza was secularized, ed incorporated nella Francia. Imperatore Napoleon maintained a residence at Magonza from 1804 to 1813, e the fortress of Magonza did not surrender to the Allies until aprile 1814, following the occupation of Paris.

Magonza Today

Napoleon’s Residence, Main Building

Napoleon’s Residence, Side Building

Electoral Palace e Gate on Große Bleiche at left; City street in the old town at right

Magonza Cathedral, built 978-1009, at left; St. Peters-Kirche Church, completed in 1756, at right.

Kastel redoubt, fortified bridgehead on the eastern bank of the Rhine river

Romanic tower near Holzturm at left; Eisenturm on Rheinstraße at right

Restaurants on Rheinstraße in Magonza

Rochusstraße at the corner of Holzhofstraße

Magonza Citadel Gatehouse

Double-Company Barracks inside the Citadel

Plan of the Citadel

Many of the historic buildings, churches, palaces e fortifications of the city of Magonza have been beautifully restored. The narrow streets in the old part of the city e the Rhine promenade are tourist attractions.

Domande più frequenti

Per ulteriori informazioni, per favore contatta la redazione di Rivista Military Miniatures nel Miniatures Forum.

Campagne delle Guerre Napoleoniche, 1805–1815

- Pubblicato: 28.06.1999 - Aggiornato: 06.07.1999
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