1-155-703 - Art Media/Heritage Images

'Crossing St Bernard', 15 May, 1800. Napoleon directing his troops through the Saint Bernard pass in the Alps. One of Bonaparte's first aims was to regain the territories lost in Italy. Only Massena remained on Italian soil, and he was trapped in Genoa which was under siege. With the Austrians forcing the French through Nice on the Cote d'Ázur, Bonaparte decided on a daring campaign that would see his army cross the Alps and, hopefully, surprise the enemy and cut them off from their homeland.