✦ History

Part of Franco-Prussian War

Battle of Sedan

September 1, 1870 · Sedan, Ardennes

Result German victory

German armies surrounded MacMahon's Army of Châlons at Sedan. Napoleon III surrendered with his army, which led to the fall of the Second Empire in Paris on 4 September.

On the map Contemporaries

France

Germany

France
North German Confederation
Kingdom of Prussia
Kingdom of Saxony
Kingdom of Bavaria
Napoleon III Emperor of the French, Captured with his army Patrice de MacMahon Marshal, Commanded the Army of Châlons; wounded Auguste-Alexandre Ducrot military commander
Otto von Bismarck military commander Wilhelm I military commander Frederick III, German Emperor Crown Prince of Prussia, Commanded the Third Army Helmuth von Moltke the Elder Chief of the General Staff, Directed the encirclement Albert I of Saxony military commander Ludwig Freiherr von und zu der Tann-Rathsamhausen military commander

Strength and losses

Strength
120,000
Casualties
38,000
Guns
564
Strength
200,000
Killed
1,310
Wounded
6,443
Missing
2,107

Units

Army of Châlons Strength 120,000 French I Corps (1870)
Prussian Army of the Meuse (1870–1871) Prussian Third Army (1870) I Royal Bavarian Corps II Royal Bavarian Corps Guards Corps (German Empire) IV Corps (German Empire) V Corps (German Empire) XI Corps (German Empire) XII (1st Royal Saxon) Corps XIII (Royal Württemberg) Corps 10th Division (German Empire) 21st Division (German Empire) 22nd Division (German Empire) 23rd Division (German Empire) 24th Division (German Empire) 4th Royal Bavarian Division 7th Division (German Empire) 8th Division (German Empire) 9th Division (German Empire)