First Battle of Komárom (1849)
The First battle of Komárom was one of the most important battles of the Hungarian War of Independence, fought on 26 April 1849, between the Hungarian and the Austrian Imperial main armies, which some consider ended as a Hungarian victory, while others say that actually it was undecided. This battle was part of the Hungarian Spring Campaign. After the revolutionary army attacked and broke the Austrian siege of the fortress, the Imperials, having received reinforcements which made them numerically very superior to their enemies, successfully counterattacked, but after stabilising their situation, they retreated towards Győr, leaving the trenches and much of their siege artillery in Hungarian hands. By this battle the Hungarian revolutionary army relieved the fortress of Komárom from a very long imperial siege, and forced the enemy to retreat to the westernmost margin of the Kingdom of Hungary. After this battle, following a long debate among the Hungarian military and political leaders about whether to continue their advance towards Vienna, the Habsburg capital, or towards the Hungarian capital, Buda, whose fortress was still held by the Austrians, the second option was chosen.
First Battle of Komárom | |||||||
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Part of the Hungarian Revolution of 1848 | |||||||
The First Battle, a painting by Mór Than | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
Hungarian Revolutionary Army | Austrian Empire | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Artúr Görgei György Klapka János Damjanich |
Balthasar von Simunich Franz Schlik | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
Total: 18,884 - I. corps: 9,465 - III. corps: 9,419 - a part of VIII. corps: 4249 62 cannons Did not participate: VII. corps: 9,043 men 45 cannons |
Total: 33,487 - II. corps: 13,489 - III. corps: 12,088 - IV. (siege) corps Lederer division: 7910 108 cannons | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
Total: 800 |
Total: 671 33 dead 149 wounded 489 missing and captured 7 heavy siege cannons and mortars captured by the Hungarians |