While Ney's corps was fighting in Spain, a second VI Corps was formed in Italy during the War of the Fifth Coalition. At the end of April 1809, Napoleon authorized Eugène de Beauharnais to form the Army of Italy from the V Corps, VI Corps, and XII Corps. Eugène assigned General Paul Grenier to lead a VI Corps that consisted of the 8th Hussar Regiment and two infantry divisions under Generals Pierre François Joseph Durutte and Michel Marie Pacthod. As Pacthod had not yet arrived, Brigadier General Louis Jean Nicolas Abbé became acting commander during the Battle of Caldiero on 29 and 30 April and the Battle of Piave River on 8 May. Pacthod assumed leadership of his division in time to take part with Durutte in the Battle of Tarvis between 15 and 17 May 1809. On 25 May, Grenier led Durutte and the attached division of General Jean Mathieu Seras to victory in the Battle of Sankt Michael. At the Battle of Raab, Grenier directed the divisions of Durutte and Seras in the first line, while Pacthod's soldiers were placed in reserve. After the Austrians repulsed the opening attack, Pacthod's division was committed to the battle. Both Pacthod and Durutte fought at the Battle of Wagram. Durutte's division participated in the unsuccessful attack on the evening of 5 May. Both divisions were engaged on 6 May, with Pacthod's troops storming Deutsch-Wagram as Durutte's division moved up the Russbach plateau on their right.