Austro-French Piedmontese War
Quick Summary
The Austro-French Piedmontese War, also known as the Second War of Italian Independence, occurred in 1859. This conflict was a pivotal event in the unification of Italy.1
The war began when Austria declared war on Piedmont in April 1859, following secret talks between Piedmont's Prime Minister Cavour and Napoleon III of France, who had formed an alliance. The French and Piedmontese forces achieved a victory at the Battle of Magenta on June 4, leading to their triumphant entry into Milan.23
The final major engagement was the bloody Battle of Solferino on June 24, 1859. Despite heavy casualties on both sides, the Franco-Piedmontese army ultimately prevailed, resulting in the annexation of most of Lombardy by Sardinia-Piedmont. However, Napoleon III, disillusioned with the war's progress and fearing Prussian intervention, arranged an armistice at the Conference of Villafranca in July 1859. This preliminary peace treaty ceded Lombardy to Piedmont but left Venetia under Austrian control, a compromise that Cavour found unacceptable.14
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AustriaNeoabsolutist era, 1849–60…which would in 1859 support Sardinia in its war of Italian unification against the Austrians.
Read More…which would in 1859 support Sardinia in its war of Italian unification against the Austrians.
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Czechoslovak historyNational awakening and the rise of constitutionalismHowever, Austria’s military defeat in 1859 by Sardinia, aided by France, revealed the weakness of the government. The defeat resulted in the loss of Lombardy, and the Bach government had to resign. In the October Diploma of 1860 and the February Patent of 1861, Francis Joseph…
Read MoreHowever, Austria’s military defeat in 1859 by Sardinia, aided by France, revealed the weakness of the government. The defeat resulted in the loss of Lombardy, and the Bach government had to resign. In the October Diploma of 1860 and the February Patent of 1861, Francis Joseph…
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FranceThe liberal years…Austrians into a declaration of war in April 1859, and Napoleon led his armies across the Alps. French victories at Magenta and Solferino were followed by a somewhat premature settlement in which the Austrians turned over the province of Lombardy to the Piedmontese. The campaign had aroused the passions of…
Read More…Austrians into a declaration of war in April 1859, and Napoleon led his armies across the Alps. French victories at Magenta and Solferino were followed by a somewhat premature settlement in which the Austrians turned over the province of Lombardy to the Piedmontese. The campaign had aroused the passions of…
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GermanyThe 1860s: the triumphs of Bismarck…defeat of Austria in the war against France and Piedmont had a profound effect on the German states. For one thing, the maintenance of the authoritarian regime in Vienna depended on respect for its military strength. Now that the Habsburg armies had shown themselves to be vulnerable, popular unrest in…
Read More…defeat of Austria in the war against France and Piedmont had a profound effect on the German states. For one thing, the maintenance of the authoritarian regime in Vienna depended on respect for its military strength. Now that the Habsburg armies had shown themselves to be vulnerable, popular unrest in…
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ItalyThe war of 1859In 1857 Italian nationalists founded the monarchist-unionist Italian National Society, which supported the policies of Cavour. Under the presidency of Manin and the vice presidency of Garibaldi, the society achieved wider appeal than it would have achieved under the exclusive leadership of…
Read MoreIn 1857 Italian nationalists founded the monarchist-unionist Italian National Society, which supported the policies of Cavour. Under the presidency of Manin and the vice presidency of Garibaldi, the society achieved wider appeal than it would have achieved under the exclusive leadership of…
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Camillo Benso, count di CavourStatesman of Camillo Benso, count di Cavour…Cavour agreed to provoke a European war against Austria in the following year. At the first suspicions of a secret agreement, the European powers—especially England—began a campaign to prevent the French and Piedmontese from carrying out their intentions, a campaign so intense that Cavour saw himself being dragged toward the…
Read More…Cavour agreed to provoke a European war against Austria in the following year. At the first suspicions of a secret agreement, the European powers—especially England—began a campaign to prevent the French and Piedmontese from carrying out their intentions, a campaign so intense that Cavour saw himself being dragged toward the…
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Franz JosephThe years of decision, 1859–70…the outcome of the impending war with Prussia. As the emperor considered it incompatible with the army’s honour to cede a province without fighting, war with Italy broke out despite the agreement. In later years, Franz Joseph characterized his policy of yielding territory with one hand while fighting for it…
Read More…the outcome of the impending war with Prussia. As the emperor considered it incompatible with the army’s honour to cede a province without fighting, war with Italy broke out despite the agreement. In later years, Franz Joseph characterized his policy of yielding territory with one hand while fighting for it…
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Napoleon IIIForeign policy as emperor…with Piedmont-Sardinia, he went to war against Austria in order to expel it from Italy. A promoter of technical warfare, he witnessed the success of his modernized artillery and of the military use of the captive balloon. The fact that at the victorious Battle of Solferino in June 1859 he…
Read More…with Piedmont-Sardinia, he went to war against Austria in order to expel it from Italy. A promoter of technical warfare, he witnessed the success of his modernized artillery and of the military use of the captive balloon. The fact that at the victorious Battle of Solferino in June 1859 he…
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RisorgimentoWith French help, the Piedmontese defeated the Austrians in 1859 and united most of Italy under their rule by 1861. The annexation of Venetia in 1866 and papal Rome in 1870 marked the final unification of Italy and hence the end of the Risorgimento.
Read MoreWith French help, the Piedmontese defeated the Austrians in 1859 and united most of Italy under their rule by 1861. The annexation of Venetia in 1866 and papal Rome in 1870 marked the final unification of Italy and hence the end of the Risorgimento.
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