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the lion of the russian army - Florida State University

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CHAPTER III<br />

Against Macdonald:<br />

Battles on <strong>the</strong> Tidone and <strong>the</strong> Trebbia, 17 - 20 June 1799<br />

The stay in Turin proved decisive in deepening rifts within <strong>the</strong> Allied coalition.<br />

Suvorov believed in <strong>the</strong> legitimacy <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> monarchies and wanted to reestablish <strong>the</strong><br />

deposed rulers in <strong>the</strong> nor<strong>the</strong>rn Italy. In Turin, he proclaimed <strong>the</strong> restoration <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> House<br />

<strong>of</strong> Savoy under King Charles Emmanuel IV, reinstating <strong>the</strong> Piedmontese <strong>of</strong>ficials and<br />

establishing <strong>the</strong> Piedmontese <strong>army</strong>. 1 Austrian Chancellor Baron Franz von Thugut had<br />

different designs for <strong>the</strong> Piedmont and Suvorov’s actions exasperated him. Thugut<br />

wanted to reassert Austrian control over nor<strong>the</strong>rn Italy and feared Russia might claim <strong>the</strong><br />

area. Therefore, he took necessary measures to limit Suvorov’s authority. After capturing<br />

Turin, Suvorov intended to advance westward and complete <strong>the</strong> destruction <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> French<br />

<strong>army</strong>. He wanted to mobilize local forces and create a Piedmontese <strong>army</strong> that would<br />

support his forces in future operations. However, he soon received instructions <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

Aulic Council (H<strong>of</strong>kriegsrath) that put Piedmont under <strong>the</strong> Austrian administration and<br />

prohibited Suvorov from using Piedmontese forces. Suvorov was also ordered to turn<br />

back and seize <strong>the</strong> Quadrilateral fortresses <strong>of</strong> Verona, Legnago, Peschiera and Mantua. 2<br />

The Russian field marshal was furious over this interruption <strong>of</strong> his plans. He<br />

expressed his anger in a letter to Russian ambassador in Vienna, “If <strong>the</strong> H<strong>of</strong>kriegsrath<br />

commands <strong>the</strong> operations, <strong>the</strong>n <strong>the</strong>re is no need <strong>of</strong> me here and I wish to go home<br />

immediately. This cabinet decree has destroyed <strong>the</strong> order <strong>of</strong> all my operations…. Every<br />

1 Rodger, War <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Second Coalition, 162; Orlov, Study <strong>of</strong> Suvorov’s Military Operations,<br />

159-60; Petrushevsky, Generalissimo Prince Suvorov, 567-74.<br />

63

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