Invasion of the Papal States 1860

With the military success of the Sardinian sponsored expedition of the Thousand Redshirts growing and its leader, Giuseppe Garibaldi, threatening to march on Rome, the Sardinian government, led by Prime Minister Camillo Cavour, approached Napoleon III of France to discuss the future of the remaining Papal States. Cavour was able to convince him that the only way to save Rome was to allow Sardinia to annex the Marche and Umbria and then march to Naples to link up with the Redshirts and prevent an advance on Rome. With French approval given, Sardinia prepared to invade the remaining Papal States.

The invasion began on September 11, 1860. The Papal States, under Pius IX, expected military intervention from France as well as Austria, unaware of either the acquiescence of France or the extent of Austrian weakness from after its defeat in 1859. Without such assistance, the prospects were grim. A papal army under General La Moriciere was dispersed at Castelfidardo on September 18th and the remaining Papal troops were subsequently forced to surrender, after a short siege, at Anacona on September 29th. Sardinia duly annexed the conquered territories, leaving Pius IX in control of only the area around Rome – under the protection and guarantee of Napoleon III. The Sardinian forces then proceeded south to link up with the Thousand Redshirts to complete the defeat of the Two Sicilies.

References

Clodfelter, 303-4; COW34; Kohn, 235-6.

Category

Inter-State War

Region

Western Europe

Belligerents

Sardinia, Papal States

Dispute

Territory, Governance

Initiation Date

September 11, 1860

Termination Date

September 29, 1860

Duration

19 days

Outcome

Negotiated Settlement
(Sardian victory)

Fatalities

Total: 1,000
Papal: 700
Sardinia: 300

Magnitude

3.0