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During the Napoleonic wars Europe seemed to be moving along the axis West-East. There were two such direction. The main one to the north of the Alps across the German plain and along the Danube river and the Southern Passage from the Po river plain over the eastern brim of the Alps towards Dalmaitia and the Panonian plain. Today's Slovenia, then a loyal part the Austrian Empire lies exactly at the point where this Passage crosses the last ridges of the Alps. In the first coalition war the Southern Passage was the main direction of the advance and Napoleon with the main body of his troops marched up the Soca (Isonzo) river valley in 1797, destroying fortress of Kluze in the process. In the third coalition war present Slovenian territory was abandoned by Austrians without any fighting. But it again gained it's importance during the fourth coalition war. After the indecisive outcome of the battle of Aspen in 1809 the question was who will be the first to gather enough of reinforcement. To this avail French troops from Italy rushed towards Vienna, defeating some sporadic resistance on their way. The spots were a small number of defenders put a rather heroic defence were Naborje (Malborghetto) in Canale valley, Predel Pass, Col and Razdrto Pass. On the other hand Ljubljana, the present Slovenian capital, surrendered without any fight at all. In this race of reinforcements Napoleon was more successful and won the battle of Wagram. To fend off the reduced Austria the so-called Illyrian Provinces were established, comprising Tyrol, Krain (central Slovenia), central Croatia and Dalmatia with Ljubljana as the capital. In 1813 the last Governor, the notorious marshal Fouche evacuated Ljubljana and in a series of small battles Austrian (mainly Croatian) forces regained the Illyrian Provinces for Austria. With some exception of Gradiska (Gradisca) and Gorica (Gorizia, Gortz) both now on Italian side of the border all the fortifications of the province of Krain (Carniola, present central Slovenia) were dating back into the time of Turkish raids (15th, 16th and 17th century) and were highly inadequate. So during 1805-1809 some ramparts of wood and soil were hastily built at strategic spots to stop the French advance.

The battle of Razdrto Pass. After gaining the favourable
positions in the first day of the battle and assuring the passage
of the main force the French laid a siege until three days later
the Austrian crew surrendered.

The Razdrto Pass today with what's left of the 1809 ramparts
and some trenches of the newer date.

Austrian ramparts of 1809 defending Ljubljana from the West.

French ramparts built during 1809-1813 period to
protect Crnuce bridgehead just north of Ljubljana..

	Austrian rampart of 1809 at Debeli vrh, Sisenski hrib ridge, west of Ljubljana.
	Austrian rampart of 1809 at Debeli vrh, Sisenski hrib ridge, west of Ljubljana.
	Austrian rampart of 1809 on the southern slope of Sisenski hrib, west of Ljubljana.
	Austrian rampart of 1809 on Goli vrh, Razdrto with infantry trench (most likely WW1reserve line) dug into it.
	Austrian rampart of 1809 on Goli vrh, Razdrto with infantry trench (most likely WW1reserve line) dug into it.
	Austrian rampart of 1809 on Goli vrh, Razdrto with infantry trench (most likely WW1reserve line) dug into it.
	Austrian rampart of 1809 on Goli vrh. WW1 trench is seen here at it's foot.

copyright: Saso A. Jankovic, 2003 Sources: Dr. Josip Mal, Zgodovina slovenskega naroda, Mohorjeva drućba, Celje 1993 Bogo Grafenauer, Zgodovina slovenskega naroda, DZS, Ljubljana 1974 Franc Rupnik, Boj med Avstrijci in Francozi na Razdrtem, Koledar goriĽke Mohorjeve drućbe, Gorica 1927 Zgodovina v slikah, DZS, Ljubljana 1978 Bilten Francoskega kulturnega centra Charles Nodier, Ljubljana Damjana Fortunat-»ernilogar, BovĽke Kluće, Uprava RS za kulturno dediĽËino, 1996 Branko KoroĽec, Ljubljana skozi stoletja, Mladinska knjiga,1991

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