Historedia
EuropeEvent

Battle of Chotusitz

When
1742
Where
Chotusitz, Bohemia
Episodes
1

On 17 May 1742, Frederick the Great's Prussian army engaged an Imperial force led by Charles of Lorraine near Chotusitz in Bohemia. Despite heavy casualties on both sides, the engagement is generally considered a Prussian victory, occurring during the First Silesian War.

Episodes

  1. 17 May 1742 · Chotusitz, BohemiaBattle of Chotusitz

    Prussian and Imperial forces clashed near Chotusitz in Bohemia, resulting in a generally accepted Prussian victory despite heavy mutual casualties.

Background and detail

Strategic Context. The battle occurred during the First Silesian War, a component of the wider War of the Austrian Succession. Following Frederick II's occupation of Silesia in December 1740 and his victory at Mollwitz in April 1741, hostilities continued with Austrian winter offensives and Prussian movements into Moravia.

The Engagement. An Imperial force of approximately 25,000 men under Charles of Lorraine advanced toward French-occupied Prague and encountered a Prussian army of roughly equal size commanded by Frederick the Great. By 10:30, Frederick's fresh infantry were deployed in a square of 24 battalions, firing into Austrian infantry outside Chotusice.

Outcome and Assessment. Casualties were heavy on both sides, and the battle had little impact on the war in general, but is generally considered a Prussian victory. The engagement also highlighted deficiencies in Prussian cavalry horsemanship, which became a focus for training after 1743.

People involved

Sources

  1. Battle of Chotusitz Wikipedia, revision of 2026-08-21

Machine-drafted from the cited Wikipedia passages and checked by a reviewing model, not by a human editor. Every passage cites the revision it was written from; dates and places follow those passages.