First Italian War of Independence 1848-1849

Numerous popular uprising took place in cities throughout Europe in 1848; nationalist sentiment favoring uniting the Italian peninsula dominated the intentions of the leadership in Italy. In this context, King Charles Albert contributed to the cause of Italian unification, under the leadership of the kingdom of Sardinia (also known as Sardinia-Piedmont, or Piedmont), by modernizing his government (granting a liberal constitution, the Albertine Statute, on March 4, 1848) and fighting against Austrian authority in Italy during the First War of Independence of 1848-49.

On March 23, 1848, Sardinia declared war on Austria. It was a risky decision, but prospects for a national war seemed promising; and Charles Albert wanted to seize the initiative in the effort to unify the Italian peninsula in order to preclude republican and democratic domination of the nationalist movement. Annexing Parma and Modena, whose rulers had been driven out by liberal uprisings, the Sardinians won a few more victories before suffering reverses.

Initially, the Papal States (under Pope Pius IX), Grand Duchy of Tuscany (under Grand Duke Leopold II), and the Kingdom of the Two Sicillies (under Ferdinand II) all sent troops to northern Italy to support the Sardinian army. However, this support for the Sardinian war was not firm. The Pope withdrew support of the Papal States on April 29th, expressing reluctance at supporting a nationalist movement that might alienate the many Catholics in the Austrian Empire. Ferdinand II of Two Sicillies withdrew on May 15th mainly because of need to combat the concurrent revolt on Sicily. Leopold II of Tuscany remained in the war during 1848 but liberal agitation within the state resulted on him fleeing on February 18, 1849 after attempting negotiations with the Austrians (and ultimately being restored in 1849 with the help of Austria).

Sardinia enjoyed military successes against the Austrian Empire through the beginning of June 1848. A month of inactivity, brought about by the confusing political conflicts between the various Italian states and shifting foreign alliances, allowed the Austrians to reorganize and mount a vigorous counter-offensive. On July 24, 1848, the Sardinian army, under the leadership of Charles Albert, suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of the 82-year-old Austrian veteran of the Napoleonic Wars, Field Marshal Joseph Radetzky. A series of military defeats followed and the Sardinians withdrew from Milan (in Lombardy) – the inspiration for the nationalist movement – on August 6th, abandoning the city and its liberal revolutionaries to the mercy of the returning Austrians. Sardinia was forced to agree to the Salasco armistice by Austria, on August 9th. The terms of the treaty required Sardinia to abandon Lombardy.

In the months following the armistice, Austrian forces continued to fight to reestablish their rule and restore deposed royals. Resistance to the Austrians, by volunteer Italian nationalist forces, persisted although at a reduced scale. Meanwhile, republican and nationalist factions within Sardinia agitated ever more strongly for a renewed war with Austria. King Charles Albert denounced the armistice with Austria on March 12, 1849, and returned to the battlefield.

References

Clodfelter, 295; COW10; Kohn, 233-234; EB - Battle of Custoza; EB - Battle of Novara.

Category

Inter-State War

Region

Western Europe

Belligerents

Sardinia, Austria, Papal States, Two Sicilies, Tuscany, Modena and Reggio

Dispute

Territory, Governance

Initiation Date

March 23, 1848

Termination Date

August 9, 1849

Duration

1 year, 4 months, 18 days
(505 days)

Outcome

Imposed Settlement
(Austrian victory)

Fatalities

Total: 7,500
Austria: 3900
Sardinia: 3,400
Tuscany: 100
Modena and Reggio: 100

Magnitude

3.9