Britannica Sources used in this answer

What were the Five Days of Milan in 1848?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

People walk and shop inside the ornate Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan, Italy, with its glass-domed roof, decorative mosaics, and luxury store entrances. — Milan Shoppers in the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, Milan.

The "Five Days of Milan" (cinque giornate) refers to a celebrated uprising that took place from March 18 to 22, 1848, during the Revolutions of 1848. Driven by the Risorgimento—a movement for Italian unity and nationalism—the Milanese citizenry rose up against the oppressive Austrian rule in the kingdom of Lombardy-Venetia.12

During this insurrection, the people of Milan successfully liberated their city from Austrian forces for several months. The uprising was part of a broader wave of revolutionary activity across Italy, as insurgents in various regions sought to depose their foreign overlords and secure liberal constitutions.12

However, the victory was temporary. By August 6, 1848, the Austrian commander Joseph, Count Radetzky, regained control of Milan after the Piedmontese army, which had intervened to support the insurgents, suffered military defeats and withdrew. Despite this setback, the Five Days remain a landmark event in the history of Milan and the struggle for Italian independence.12