This Nessus' cloak of the First Coalition soon galled the limbs of the allies and rendered them incapable of sustained and vigorous action.

Yet they gained signal successes over the raw conscripts of France.

In July, 1799, the Austro-Russian army captured Mantua and Alessandria; and in the following month Suvoroff gained the decisive victory of Novi and drove the remains of the French forces towards Genoa.

The next months were far more favourable to the tricolour flag, for, owing to Austro-Russian jealousies, Massena was able to gain an important victory at Zurich over a Russian army.

In the north the republicans were also in the end successful.
Ten days after Bonaparte's arrival at Frejus, they compelled an Anglo-Russian force campaigning in Holland to the capitulation of Alkmaar, whereby the Duke of York agreed to withdraw all his troops from that coast.