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{{Short description|1812 battle during the French invasion of Russia}}
{{Use shortened footnotes|date=May 2021}}
{{Infobox military conflict
|conflict= Battle of Valutino
|partof= the [[French invasion of Russia]]
|image=File:Battaglia di Valutino1.jpg
|caption=French infantry at the Battle of Valutino, by [[Christian Wilhelm von Faber du Faur]]
|date= 19 August 1812{{efn|7 August according to the old style}}
|place= Near [[Smolensk]], [[Russian Empire]]
|coordinates= {{coord|54.8231|N|32.2411|E}}
|result= Indecisive{{efn|The French captured the Russian positions, but were unable to prevent the corps from moving to the compound in Moscow.{{sfn|Егоршина|2023|p=259}}}}
|combatant1= {{Flagicon|First French Empire}} [[First French Empire|French Empire]]
|combatant2= {{Flagicon|Russian Empire}} [[Russian Empire]]
|commander1= {{Flagicon|First French Empire}} [[Michel Ney]] {{Flagicon|First French Empire}} [[Jean-Andoche Junot]] {{flagicon|First French Empire}} [[Charles-Étienne Gudin de La Sablonnière|Charles Gudin]]{{KIA}}
|commander2= {{Flagicon|Russian Empire}} [[Michael Andreas Barclay de Tolly|Barclay de Tolly]] {{Flagicon|Russian Empire}} [[Nikolay Tuchkov]]
|strength1= 35,000{{sfn|Bodart|1908}}
|strength2= 25,000{{sfn|Bodart|1908}}
|casualties1= 7,000{{sfn|Bodart|1908}}–9,000{{sfn|Егоршина|2023|p=259}}{{efn|8,800{{sfn|Palmer|2003|p=81}}}}
|casualties2= 6,000{{sfn|Bodart|1908}}{{sfn|Palmer|2003|p=81}}
}}
{{Campaignbox French invasion of Russia}}
{{OSM Location map
| coord = {{coord|54.6|29.5}}
| zoom = 4
| float = right
| nolabels = 1
| width = 304
| height = 120
| title = [[French invasion of Russia]]
| caption = {{legend|black|current battle}}{{legend|olive|Prussian corps}}{{legend|maroon|Napoleon}}{{legend|navy|Austrian corps}}

| label16 = Valutino
| mark-coord16 = {{coord|54.78|32.61}}
| mark-title16 = Junot in Valutino 19 August 1812
| shape16 = diamond
| shape-color16 = black
| label-color16 = black
| label-offset-x16 = -5
| label-offset-y16 = 8

| shapeD=n-circle
| shape-colorD=navy
| label-colorD=navy
| shape-outlineD=white
| label-sizeD = 12
| label-posD = right
| mark-sizeD=12
| label-offset-xD = 0
| label-offset-yD = 0

| label1 = Kowno
| mark-coord1 = {{coord|54.90|23.90}}
| mark-title1 = Kowno 24 June 1812: Napoleon crossed the border
| label-pos1 = left
| label-offset-y1 = 7
| label-offset-x1 = 10
| shape-color1 = dark red
| label-color1 = dark red

| label2 = Vilna
| mark-coord2 = {{coord|54.69|25.28}}
| mark-title2 = Vilnius June 1812: Napoleon Retreat 5 December 1812: Napoleon
| label-pos2 = top
| label-offset-x2 = 10
| label-offset-y2 = 4
| shape-color2 = dark red
| label-color2 = dark red

| label3 = Vitebsk
| mark-coord3 = {{coord|55.19|30.17}}
| mark-title3 = [[Battle of Vitebsk (1812)|Battle of Vitebsk]] 26 July 1812: Napoleon
| label-pos3 = top
| label-offset-y3 = 3
| shape-color3 = dark red
| label-color3 = dark red

| label4 =
| mark-coord4 = {{coord|54.77|32.034}}
| mark-title4 = [[Battle of Smolensk (1812)|Battle of Smolensk]] 16 August 1812: Napoleon November 1812: : Napoleon's retreat
| label-offset-x4 = -10
| label-offset-y4 = 10
| shape-color4 = maroon
| label-color4 = maroon

| label5 = Borodino
| mark-coord5 = {{coord|55.52|35.82}}
| mark-title5 = [[Battle of Borodino]] 7 September 1812: Kutuzov, Napoleon October 1812: Napoleon's Retreat
| label-pos5 = top
| label-offset-x5 = -10
| label-offset-y5 = 3
| shape-color5 = maroon
| label-color5 = maroon

| label6 = Moscow
| mark-coord6 = {{coord|55.75|37.63}}
| mark-title6 = [[French occupation of Moscow|Moscow]] 14 September to 19 October 1812: Napoleon
| shape-color6 = maroon
| label-color6 = maroon

| label7 = Maloyaro-
| labela7 = slavets
| mark-coord7 = {{coord|55.02|36.46}}
| mark-title7 = [[Battle of Maloyaroslavets]] 24 October 1812: Kutuzov, Napoleon
| shape-color7 = maroon
| label-color7 = maroon

| label8 = Berezina
| mark-coord8 = {{coord|54.32|28.35}}
| mark-title8 = [[Battle of Berezina]] 26–29 November 1812: Napoleon, Chichagov, Wittgenstein, Kutuzov only pursuit
| label-offset-x8 = -10
| label-offset-y8 = 10
| shape-color8 = maroon
| label-color8 = maroon

| label9 = Warsaw
| mark-coord9 = {{coord|52.24|21.01}}
| mark-title9 = Warsaw December 1812: Napoleon's retreat
| label-pos9 = bottom
| label-offset-y9 = -6
| shape-color9 = maroon
| label-color9 = maroon

| label10 = Tilsit
| label-pos10 = left
| mark-coord10 = {{coord|55.08|21.88}}
| mark-title10 = Tilsit 24 June 1812: Macdonald's Prussians crossed the border
| shape-color10 = olive
| label-color10 = olive
| shape-outline10 = white

| label11 = Riga
| mark-coord11 = {{coord|56.95|24.1}}
| mark-title11 = [[Siege of Riga (1812)|Siege of Riga]] 24 July – 18 December 1812: Macdonald's Prussians
| shape-color11 = olive
| label-color11 = olive
| shape-outline11 = white

| label12 = Tauroggen
| mark-coord12 = {{coord|55.25|22.29}}
| mark-title12 = Tauroggen 30 December 1812: [[Ludwig Yorck von Wartenburg|Ludwig Yorck]]'s Prussians signed the [[Convention of Tauroggen]]
| shape-color12 = olive
| label-color12 = olive
| shape-outline12 = white
| label-pos12 = top
| label-offset-y12 = 3

| label13 = Drohiczyn
| mark-coord13 = {{coord|52.40|22.65}}
| mark-title13 = Drohiczyn June 1812: Schwarzenberg's Austrians crossed the border
| shape-color13 = navy
| label-color13 = navy

| label14 = Gorodeczno
| mark-coord14 = {{coord|53.62|25.87}}
| mark-title14 = [[Battle of Gorodechno]] 12 August 1812: Schwarzenberg's Austrians
| shape-color14 = navy
| label-color14 = navy
| label-pos14 = left
| label-offset-x14 = 5
| label-offset-y14 = -2

| label15 = Pultusk
| mark-coord15 = {{coord|52.70|21.08}}
| mark-title15 = Pultusk December 1812: Retreat of Schwarzenberg's Austrians
| shape-color15 = navy
| label-color15 = navy
| label-pos15 = left
| label-offset-x15 = 4
| label-offset-y15 = -2
}}
The '''Battle of Valutino''' (also called the '''battle of Lubino'''){{efn|{{langx|ru|Битва у Валутиной горы||Battle of Valutino Mountain}}, {{langx|fr|Bataille de Valutino}}}} took place on 19 August 1812, between a corps of French and allied troops led by [[Michel Ney|Marshal Ney]], about 35,000 strong, and a strong rear-guard of [[Michael Andreas Barclay de Tolly|General Barclay de Tolly's]] Russian army of about 25,000,{{sfn|Bodart|1908}} commanded by the general himself. The Russians were strongly posted in marshy ground, protected by a small stream, about {{convert|20|km}} east of [[Smolensk]]. The French, attacking resolutely, captured the Russian position in the face of considerable physical obstacles.{{sfn|Palmer|2003|p=81}}{{sfn|Riehn|1990|pp=224-225}}

==Prelude==
[[Napoleon I of France|Napoleon]]'s hopes of trapping General Barclay's army were dashed when he discovered that the Russian force awaiting the French was a rearguard under [[Nikolay Tuchkov|General Tuchkov]]. Barclay's main force of three infantry and one cavalry corps was strung out near Smolensk, trying to get away from the French after the [[Battle of Smolensk (1812)|Battle of Smolensk]]. The rearguard then turned around to fight the French on the Stragan river.{{sfn|Palmer|2003|p=81}}{{sfn|Riehn|1990|pp=224-225}}

==Battle==
After a heavy bombardment, Ney launched an assault against the Russians, crossing the Stragan but failing to capture the crest. [[Joachim Murat|Murat]]'s cavalry attacks were bogged down in marshy ground and accomplished nothing. General [[Jean-Andoche Junot|Junot]]'s force was close to the battlefield and was urged to attack the Russians by Murat. Junot did not engage, and the opportunity for a decisive victory passed.{{sfn|Palmer|2003|p=81}}{{sfn|Riehn|1990|pp=224-225}}

When [[Napoleon]] heard of Junot's failure to attack, they had been friends since their early twenties, he is said to have shouted in frustration “[Junot] will now never earn his [[Marshal of the Empire|Marshal]]’s Baton!”

A few hours later, Ney launched the last French attack. General [[Charles-Étienne Gudin de La Sablonnière|Gudin]] led the assault and was hit by a cannonball, which removed one leg. He died three days later from infection. The French managed to capture the crest after hard fighting. By that point the majority of Barclay's army had escaped and was heading towards Lubino.{{sfn|Palmer|2003|p=81}}{{sfn|Riehn|1990|pp=224-225}}

==Aftermath==
The French suffered around 7,000-8,800 casualties.{{sfn|Bodart|1908}}{{sfn|Palmer|2003|p=81}} The Russians lost about 6,000.{{sfn|Bodart|1908}}{{sfn|Palmer|2003|p=81}} Napoleon was furious after the battle, realizing that another good chance to trap and destroy the Russian army had been lost.

==See also==
*[[List of battles of the French invasion of Russia]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

===Bibliography===
* {{cite book |last=Егоршина |first=Петрова |language=ru |script-title=ru:История русской армии |trans-title=The history of the Russian Army |location=Moscow |publisher=Edition of the Russian Imperial Library |date=2023 |isbn=978-5-699-42397-2}}
* {{cite book | last=Bodart | first=Gaston | date=1908 | title=Militär-historisches Kriegs-Lexikon (1618-1905) | url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_A0kNAAAAYAAJ | access-date=7 April 2021}}
* {{cite book | last=Palmer | first=Alan Warwick | date=2003 |orig-date=1967 | title=A brief history of Napoleon in Russia| url=https://archive.org/details/briefhistoryofna0000palm | access-date=7 April 2021}}
* {{cite book | last=Riehn | first=Richard K. | date=1990 | title=1812 : Napoleon's Russian campaign | publisher=McGraw-Hill | isbn=9780070527317 | url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780070527317 | access-date=7 April 2021}}

==External links==
* {{commons-inline}}

{{Sequence
| prev = [[First Battle of Polotsk]]
| list = Napoleonic Wars
| curr = Battle of Valutino
| next = [[Battle of Mesoten]]
}}

{{Napoleonic Wars}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Valutino 1812}}
[[Category:Conflicts in 1812]]
[[Category:Battles involving the Russian Empire]]
[[Category:1812 in France]]
[[Category:History of Smolensk Oblast]]
[[Category:August 1812]]
[[Category:Battles of the French invasion of Russia]]
[[Category:Battles inscribed on the Arc de Triomphe]]

Battle of Valutino - Revision history

imported>Marsal20 at 23:31, 16 November 2025