In the Battle of Castelfranco Veneto (24 November 1805), two divisions of the French Army of Italy confronted an Austrian brigade led by Louis Victor Meriadec de Rohan-Guéméné.

But, caught between the divisions of Jean Reynier and Laurent Gouvion Saint-Cyr, Rohan surrendered his command after failing to fight his way out.

The Ulm Campaign of October 1805 resulted in an Austrian disaster when the Grande Armée of Napoleon enveloped and destroyed most of its units.

Afterward, only Michael von Kienmayer's fleeing corps and a newly arriving Russian army under Mikhail Kutuzov stood between Napoleon and the Austrian capital of Vienna.

One Austrian brigade led by General-major Prince Louis Victor de Rohan-Guéméné became separated from Archduke John's army.

Hoping to join Feldmarschall-Leutnant Johann von Hiller's wing of Archduke Charles' army in Italy, Rohan looked to the south.

Where the Brenta leaves the mountains, the Austrians surprised and ejected the French garrison of Bassano on 22 November.