The new French battleship Rivoli 74, built at Venice, was making its first trip down the Adriatic to try to fight back the steady British advance in the region. It was accompanied by the French brig Mercure 16, the Italian brigs Iena 16 and Mamalucco 8 and 2 small craft.

On 21 February 1812 the British battleship Victorious 74 and Weazel 18, which were heading to Venice, intercepted the Allied vessels and gave chase. On the 22nd they caught up near Grado.

Mercure quickly blew up after being fired on by Weazel and the 4 remaining smaller vessels fled. Victorious and Rivoli then had a 4-1/2 hour duel, joined in the last hour by Weazel before Rivoli surrendered. It had sustained almost 400 casualties. Victorious had 27 killed and 99 wounded, while Weazel had no casualties.

This was the last time a French battleship was in action in the Napoleonic Wars.