<P> The Battle of Marengo was fought on 14 June 1800 between French forces under Napoleon Bonaparte and Austrian forces near the city of Alessandria , in Piedmont , Italy . Near the end of the day , the French overcame Gen. Michael von Melas 's surprise attack , driving the Austrians out of Italy and enhancing Napoleon 's political position in Paris as First Consul of France in the wake of his coup d'état the previous November . </P>
where did the battle of marengo take place
near the city of Alessandria , in Piedmont , Italy