Battle of Magenta: Difference between revisions
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[[Image:Places of the 1859 Austro-Sardinian war.png|thumb|300px|Map of the 2nd Italian War of Independence]] |
[[Image:Places of the 1859 Austro-Sardinian war.png|thumb|300px|Map of the 2nd Italian War of Independence]] |
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The '''Battle of Magenta''' was fought on 4 June 1859 near the town of [[Magenta, Lombardy|Magenta]] in the [[Kingdom of Lombardy–Venetia]], a crown land of the [[Austrian Empire]], during the [[Second Italian War of Independence]]. It resulted in a French-Sardinian victory under [[Napoleon III]] against the Austrians under Marshal [[ |
The '''Battle of Magenta''' was fought on 4 June 1859 near the town of [[Magenta, Lombardy|Magenta]] in the [[Kingdom of Lombardy–Venetia]], a crown land of the [[Austrian Empire]], during the [[Second Italian War of Independence]]. It resulted in a French-Sardinian victory under [[Napoleon III]] against the Austrians under Marshal [[Ferenc Gyulay]]. |
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Napoleon III's army crossed the [[Ticino River]] and outflanked the Austrian right forcing the Austrian army under |
Napoleon III's army crossed the [[Ticino River]] and outflanked the Austrian right forcing the Austrian army under Gyulay to retreat. The confined nature of the country, a vast spread of orchards cut up by streams and irrigation canals, precluded elaborate manoeuvre. The Austrians turned every house into a miniature fortress. The brunt of the fighting was borne by 5,000 [[grenadier]]s of the French Imperial Guard, still mostly in their [[First French Empire|First Empire]] style of uniforms. The battle of Magenta was not a particularly large battle, but it was a decisive victory for the Franco-Sardinian alliance. [[Patrice de MacMahon]] was created Duke of Magenta for his role in this battle, and would later go on to serve as [[President of France|President]] of the [[French Third Republic]]. |
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==Prelude to Battle== |
==Prelude to Battle== |
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From 1 June through 3 June, the French and Piedmontese pursued the Austrian 2nd Army to the [[Ticino River]], the border between Lombardy and Piedmont. The Austrians set up a defensive position at Magenta, utilizing the [[Naviglio Grande]], which could be crossed only at four bridges. |
From 1 June through 3 June, the French and Piedmontese pursued the Austrian 2nd Army to the [[Ticino River]], the border between Lombardy and Piedmont. The Austrians set up a defensive position at Magenta, utilizing the [[Naviglio Grande]], which could be crossed only at four bridges. Gyulay had available 68,000 men, composed of the I,II, III and VII Korps. The French had about 50,000 men, while [[Manfredo Fanti]] added another 12,000. Camou had crossed the [[Ticino (river)|Ticino]] during the [[Battle of Turbigo]], followed by MacMahon. MacMahon, Camou and Espinasse crossed the canal on bridges at [[Bernate Ticino]] and [[Boffalora sopra Ticino]], placing them north of Magenta.<ref name=FS/> |
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==Battle== |
==Battle== |
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At noon, MacMahon encountered elements of [[Prince_Eduard_Franz_of_Liechtenstein|Liechtenstein]]'s II Korps. The [[Imperial_Guard_(Napoleon_III)|Imperial Guard Corps]] made contact with the Austrians from Buffalora to Magenta. At 2pm, the [[Zouave|Guard Zouaves]] crossed the canal with boats, establishing a bridgehead. [[Eduard Clam-Gallas]] informed |
At noon, MacMahon encountered elements of [[Prince_Eduard_Franz_of_Liechtenstein|Liechtenstein]]'s II Korps. The [[Imperial_Guard_(Napoleon_III)|Imperial Guard Corps]] made contact with the Austrians from Buffalora to Magenta. At 2pm, the [[Zouave|Guard Zouaves]] crossed the canal with boats, establishing a bridgehead. [[Eduard Clam-Gallas]] informed Gyulay of the French attack, who sent [[Edmund,_Prince_of_Schwarzenberg|Schwarzenberg]]'s III Korps from [[Robecco sul Naviglio]], threatening the French right flank. [[François_Certain_de_Canrobert|Canrobert]] arrived in time to reinforce the Guard. From 3.30 through 5.30pm, MacMahon launched an attack against the Austrian I and II Korps. By 6.30pm the Austrians began a fighting withdrawal, while the French advanced into Magenta and beyond. By 10pm, the Austrian 2nd Army was withdrawing toward [[Abbiategrasso]].<ref name=FS/> |
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==Aftermath== |
==Aftermath== |
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On 8 June, [[Napoleon III]] and [[Victor Emmanuel II]] entered Milan, then [[Brescia]] a few days later. On 23–25 May, [[Prince Napoléon Bonaparte]]'s V Corps landed at [[Livorno]], and then entered Florence a week later, followed by [[Parma]], and [[Modena]]. |
On 8 June, [[Napoleon III]] and [[Victor Emmanuel II]] entered Milan, then [[Brescia]] a few days later. On 23–25 May, [[Prince Napoléon Bonaparte]]'s V Corps landed at [[Livorno]], and then entered Florence a week later, followed by [[Parma]], and [[Modena]]. |
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According to Frederick Schneid, "The defeat at Magenta spelled the end for |
According to Frederick Schneid, "The defeat at Magenta spelled the end for Gyulay. He withdrew his army to the [[Chiese (river)|Chiese River]] east of Milan, and resigned on June 16."<ref name="FS">{{cite book |last1=Schneid |first1=Frederick |title=The Second War of Italian Unification 1859–61 |date=2012 |publisher=Osprey Publishing |location=Oxford |isbn=978-1849087872 |pages=46–51}}</ref> |
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== Legacy == |
== Legacy == |
Latest revision as of 22:39, 24 March 2024
Battle of Magenta | |||||||
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Part of the Second Italian War of Independence | |||||||
The Battle of Magenta by Gerolamo Induno, 1861 (Musée de l'Armée, Paris) | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
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Commanders and leaders | |||||||
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Strength | |||||||
49,945 infantry[2] 1,207 cavalry 87 guns |
58,183 infantry[3] 3,435 cavalry 152 guns | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
707 killed 3,223 wounded 655 missing Total: 4,585 |
1,368 killed 4,358 wounded 4,500 missing Total: 10,226 |
The Battle of Magenta was fought on 4 June 1859 near the town of Magenta in the Kingdom of Lombardy–Venetia, a crown land of the Austrian Empire, during the Second Italian War of Independence. It resulted in a French-Sardinian victory under Napoleon III against the Austrians under Marshal Ferenc Gyulay.
Napoleon III's army crossed the Ticino River and outflanked the Austrian right forcing the Austrian army under Gyulay to retreat. The confined nature of the country, a vast spread of orchards cut up by streams and irrigation canals, precluded elaborate manoeuvre. The Austrians turned every house into a miniature fortress. The brunt of the fighting was borne by 5,000 grenadiers of the French Imperial Guard, still mostly in their First Empire style of uniforms. The battle of Magenta was not a particularly large battle, but it was a decisive victory for the Franco-Sardinian alliance. Patrice de MacMahon was created Duke of Magenta for his role in this battle, and would later go on to serve as President of the French Third Republic.
Prelude to Battle
[edit]From 1 June through 3 June, the French and Piedmontese pursued the Austrian 2nd Army to the Ticino River, the border between Lombardy and Piedmont. The Austrians set up a defensive position at Magenta, utilizing the Naviglio Grande, which could be crossed only at four bridges. Gyulay had available 68,000 men, composed of the I,II, III and VII Korps. The French had about 50,000 men, while Manfredo Fanti added another 12,000. Camou had crossed the Ticino during the Battle of Turbigo, followed by MacMahon. MacMahon, Camou and Espinasse crossed the canal on bridges at Bernate Ticino and Boffalora sopra Ticino, placing them north of Magenta.[4]
Battle
[edit]At noon, MacMahon encountered elements of Liechtenstein's II Korps. The Imperial Guard Corps made contact with the Austrians from Buffalora to Magenta. At 2pm, the Guard Zouaves crossed the canal with boats, establishing a bridgehead. Eduard Clam-Gallas informed Gyulay of the French attack, who sent Schwarzenberg's III Korps from Robecco sul Naviglio, threatening the French right flank. Canrobert arrived in time to reinforce the Guard. From 3.30 through 5.30pm, MacMahon launched an attack against the Austrian I and II Korps. By 6.30pm the Austrians began a fighting withdrawal, while the French advanced into Magenta and beyond. By 10pm, the Austrian 2nd Army was withdrawing toward Abbiategrasso.[4]
Aftermath
[edit]On 8 June, Napoleon III and Victor Emmanuel II entered Milan, then Brescia a few days later. On 23–25 May, Prince Napoléon Bonaparte's V Corps landed at Livorno, and then entered Florence a week later, followed by Parma, and Modena.
According to Frederick Schneid, "The defeat at Magenta spelled the end for Gyulay. He withdrew his army to the Chiese River east of Milan, and resigned on June 16."[4]
Legacy
[edit]A dye producing the colour magenta was discovered in 1859, and was named after this battle,[5] as was the Boulevard de Magenta in Paris.
References
[edit]- ^ Ambès, Intimate Memoirs of Napoleon III: Personal Reminiscences of the Man and the Emperor, 1912, p. 148.
- ^ Brooks 2009, p. 37.
- ^ Brooks 2009, p. 38.
- ^ a b c Schneid, Frederick (2012). The Second War of Italian Unification 1859–61. Oxford: Osprey Publishing. pp. 46–51. ISBN 978-1849087872.
- ^ Cunnington, C. Willett, English Women's Clothing in the Nineteenth Century, Dover Publications, Inc. New York 1990, p. 208
Bibliography
[edit]- Brooks, R. (2009). Solferino 1859: The Battle for Italy's freedom. Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84603-385-8.