Napoleon Crossing the Alps Quiz / Test | Napoleonic Wars

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Searching for a way to conquer Italian lands in the north, Napoleon brought his forces to Martigny, Switzerland. Sharing its name with a breed of dog, which pass did Napoleon use?

Answer: Great St. Bernard Pass

The Great St. Bernard Pass connects the Swiss city of Martigny with the Italian city of Aosta, and this is the exact path that Napoleon used. Though developed today, there was very little infrastructure available to aid the French army's passage. The pass was the steepest and most dangerous, but it was the shortest route and would bring his armies closest to the Austrians once they arrived.

The dog breed St. Bernard is actually named after the St. Bernard Hospice, which is located on this path. Bernard of Menthon, an 11th-century Italian monk, created the hospice.

2. Though Napoleon was trying to enter Italy through the Alps, his army wasn't looking to attack Italian troops but those from Austria. Which other nation had paid Austria to raise their armies against the French?

Answer: United Kingdom

The Austrian army in Italy had consisted of around 140,000 men. When British and Austrian spies saw the reserve forces that Napoleon has assembled in Dijon, they mocked the seemingly pitiful effort. However, Napoleon had raised an army to cross the Great St. Bernard Pass unbeknownst to the allies.

3. A large Austrian army in Italy had caught a French army out of position and chased them to a nearby Italian city. The French forces were mere days from surrendering to the Austrian siege. However, Napoleon's plan was to catch these forces off-guard by crossing the Alps. Which western Italian city was it?

Answer: Genoa

If the Austrian army were to end the siege at Genoa, they would have likely been able to keep French forces at bay and block off their advances into Italy for a lot longer. However, Napoleon's strategy took the Austrians by complete surprise, and their armies were not prepared for the French advance. Eventually, Genoa fell, but Austria's need to secure the city caused its forces to be split and out of position.

4. French forces could have taken a more conventional route into Italy along the Mediterranean Sea. One problem was that their enemies' armies were prepared to meet them along this route and were planning to invade France from there with a large army. What other issue was there with this route?

Answer: British gunboats could have barraged them from the sea.

As Austrian forces prepared to invade France, their spies reported meager forces amassing in Dijon. Instead of taking a defensive strategy, Napoleon wanted to surprise the Austrians on Italian soil. His plan worked.

Had Napoleon gone the conventional route, he would have had no way to reach Italy except through the mountainous shore path on the Mediterranean. However, British gunboats were ready to attack if they were to try this, something Napoleon knew could stop his forward push.

5. Which of these weapons, vital to many French victories during the Napoleonic wars, did Napoleon's armies take across the Alps?

Answer: cannons

Bringing his cannons across the Great St. Bernard Pass was a unique challenge. At first, Napoleon tried cutting down fir trees, carving them out, and placing the cannons inside to be pulled by mules. This attempt failed. Napoleon then offered large sums of money to local peasants to carry them.

It took 100 peasants just to carry one gun over the path. Finally, he rallied his soldiers with appeals of nationalism, and the cannons were able to get across the steep pass.

6. While crossing the Alps, Napoleon told military bands to play music to keep up the troops' morale. For what reason did the military musicians start a drum roll?

Answer: When there was a hazardous section on the pass

Since the path was quite steep and narrow, drum rolls were played when soldiers reached a part of the pass that was particularly dangerous. The pass was starting to thaw, so it was a dangerous time to cross. If the snows melted too quickly, avalanches could cut off his army and kill many of his men. As such, Napoleon ordered his troops to cross when it was close to night as the snow was less likely to melt and cause problems. Music was instrumental in warning the soldiers when they were in possible danger.

The main reason the Austrians didn't expect the French to cross the Alps was not because the Alps were impossible to cross, but the current time of year where the snows might melt and cause avalanches made it such a risky gamble. It paid off for Napoleon as the weather cooperated with him. If it hadn't, his losses could have been devastating.

7. Once Napoleon's soldiers reached the top of the mountains, monks from a religious hospice helped supply what items to the tired troops?

Answer: wine, bread, and cheese

Though Napoleon was well-known for having plundered Italy for much of its art, the monks at the Hospice of St. Bernard didn't hand over those. Napoleon had requested the monks stock up on these goods and paid them for their troubles. The supplies were to be a surprise until the soldiers had reached the top; once they had completed the difficult climb, the soldiers got their reward before they were to descend down the other side.

8. As Napoleon rode his mule across the Alps, the young Swiss guide walking next to him had no idea who he was. After his successful crossing, Napoleon asked the guide what he wanted as a gift for helping. What did the guide ask for?

Answer: The mule Napoleon was riding upon

The guide asked for Napoleon's mule, which he gave the young Swiss man. Shortly after, a French official was ordered to help construct the guide a home in which he could live, which surprised the man greatly.

9. Once Napoleon's army finished crossing the Alps, they fought the Austrian general Michael von Melas and his forces in what famous encounter, a decisive victory for France?

Answer: Battle of Marengo

The Battle of Marengo was a decisive victory for France which pushed the Austrians out of Italy. The Austrians had forced Genoa to surrender, so they dispatched forces to attack the French in a surprise attack. However, the gambit failed and the French defeated the Austrian forces, helping Napoleon further consolidate political power as First Consul of France.

10. The famous painting "Napoleon Crossing the Alps" by Jacques-Louis David portrays Napoleon valiantly leading his troops atop a rearing horse. Five versions of this painting were eventually painted, but who commissioned the first?

Answer: Charles IV, king of Spain

As part of the diplomatic exchange of gifts, Charles IV offered the commission of the painting by Jacques-Louis David. Charles was looking to form a rapprochement with the First Consul. The painting of Napoleon would stay in the Royal Palace of Madrid in a hall filled with other gallant military heroes. Napoleon was so impressed with the painting that he commissioned Jacques-Louis David to paint three more versions of it.

Source: Author trident

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Napoleon Crossing the Alps Trivia Quiz

Charlemagne and Hannibal led grand armies across the Alps in their times. The great Napoleon was determined to follow in their footsteps.

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