Historical Background
The clash of titans!
After being defeated at Aspern-Essling Napoleon crosses the Danube once more to face down Archduke Charles’ Hauptarmee on the Marchfeld plains. On the evening of July 5th, Napoleon attempts to dislodge Charles from his fortified position along the Russbach stream and the village of Wagram, but the attack is repulsed. Bernadotte’s Saxon corps, wearing white uniforms, suffered heavily from friendly fire. The next day, Napoleon planned to focus on the Austrian left at Markgrafneusiedl. However, Charles was planning a general offensive, and sent Klenau and Kolowrat’s corps on a flanking attack against Napoleon’s weak left flank, while his left under Rosenberg was to attack Davout. But Klenau and Kolowrat were delayed, forcing Charles to abort Rosenberg’s attack. As the Austrians occupied Aderklaa, Bernadotte and Massena launched successive assaults to retake the village, to no avail. The moment of crisis came when Klenau’s corps finally moved on Boudet’s isolated division guarding the bridgehead. Just like at Eylau, Napoleon threw his heavy cavalry reserve against the Austrian line to buy time while Massena redeployed to guard the French left. Klenau was driven back by the heavy batteries on Lobau Island guarding the bridgehead and Massena’s arriving troops. Informed that Davout had taken Markgrafneusiedl, Napoleon sent forwards Macdonald’s corps in a giant square to break the Austrian center. Macdonald’s attack came under murderous artillery and infantry fire and took thousands of casualties. The Austrians though, were exhausted and had no fresh reserves while Napoleon was still funnelling reserve divisions to fill the gaps in his line. Charles retreated his army in good order, leaving Napoleon in possession of the hard-fought and bloody field.
The stage is set. The battle lines are drawn and you are in command. Can you change history?
Battle Notes
Austrian Army
• Commander: Charles
• 5 Command Cards
• 3 Tactician Cards
French Army
• Commander: Napoleon
• 6 Command Cards
• 6 Tactician Cards
• Move First 
Victory
18 Banners
Special Rules
- Aderklaa is worth 2 temporary victory points to whichever side controls it. Wagram, Breitenlee, and Sussenbrunn are worth 1 victory point each for whichever side controls them. The Austrians begin with 3 victory banners.
- Aspern and Essling are each two temporary victory banners for the Austrians.
- The eight infantry units in Macdonald’s formation, when in adjacent contiguous hexes to Macdonald, are all ordered when any of the units in the formation are ordered. Regardless of the Command Card played, units in the formation may only move one hex. Regardless of the number of MacDonald infantry units ordered, only the number of MacDonald infantry units equal to the number on the Command card may battle. A unit may not be ordered to break away from the formation. However, if a unit is forced to retreat and is no longer in an adjacent contiguous hex, it is no longer considered part of the formation. Any unit ordered to form square is no longer considered part of the formation.
- The French have an off-board artillery battery on Lobau Island. It can be ordered to fire at any enemy unit on an edge hex from Aspern to Essling with two dice. Enemy units cannot attack the Lobau Island battery.
- The Portuguese units represent French-allied Saxon troops. Use Portuguese rules, except that the Saxon cavalry have four blocks each.
- If the French Guard Light cavalry forces the Austrian Lancers to retreat, it may acquire the “Lancer” rule whereby it rerolls flag rolls. Historically, the Polish Chevauxlegers of the guard defeated the Schwarzenberg Uhlans, after which they picked up the discarded lances and began using them. After hearing of this incident, Napoleon issued the Chevauxlegers lances.
- The Russbach Stream is fordable. Additionally, there are no movement or battle restrictions on the ford hex.