Second Battle of Custoza

Austrian-Italian history [1866]

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July 16, 2026

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The Second Battle of Custoza, fought on June 24, 1866, was a significant engagement during the Austro-Prussian War and the Third Italian War of Independence. An Austrian army, led by Archduke Albert, decisively defeated a larger but poorly organized Italian army under King Victor Emmanuel II. Despite numerical superiority, the Italian forces suffered heavy losses due to repeated assaults broken by Austrian cavalry. This defeat contributed to Austria's eventual withdrawal from Italy due to combined Prussian and French pressure. The battle was part of Italy's broader struggle to end Austrian control over northern Italy.1

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battles of Custoza
In the second battle at Custoza, on June 24, 1866, four days after the Sardinian-dominated Kingdom of Italy declared war, the 80,000-man Austrian army, under Archduke Albert, defeated a disorganized, demoralized, and poorly led 120,000-man Italian army, under Victor Emmanuel II. In this battle, repeated Italian assaults…
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In the second battle at Custoza, on June 24, 1866, four days after the Sardinian-dominated Kingdom of Italy declared war, the 80,000-man Austrian army, under Archduke Albert, defeated a disorganized, demoralized, and poorly led 120,000-man Italian army, under Victor Emmanuel II. In this battle, repeated Italian assaults…
Read More

Italy
The acquisition of Venetia and Rome
…defeat both on land at Custoza (June 24) and at sea near Lissa (July 20). In July Garibaldi led a band of volunteers who cooperated with regular army units to achieve some moderate success near Trento, but the government ordered him to withdraw when Austria and Germany concluded an armistice.…
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…defeat both on land at Custoza (June 24) and at sea near Lissa (July 20). In July Garibaldi led a band of volunteers who cooperated with regular army units to achieve some moderate success near Trento, but the government ordered him to withdraw when Austria and Germany concluded an armistice.…
Read More