Battle of Palestro

Coordinates: 45°18′44″N 8°32′46″E / 45.31222°N 8.54611°E / 45.31222; 8.54611
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Battle of Palestro
Part of
zouaves at the Battle of Palestro. Painting by Luigi Norfini, 1863.
Date30-31 May 1859
Location
Palestro, Italy
Result Franco-Sardinian victory
Belligerents
Sardinia
Second French Empire French Empire		  Austrian Empire
Commanders and leaders
Victor Emmanuel II Friedrich Zobel
Strength
14,000
Second French Empire 1,000		 14,000
Casualties and losses
101 2,000

The Battle of Palestro was fought on 30–31 May 1859 between the Austrian Empire and the combined forces of the Kingdom of Sardinia-Piedmont and France. The Franco-Piedmontese forces were victorious. It was fought just south to Palestro, a town in what is now the province of Pavia in northern Italy. It was believed that the Battle of Palestro was the last European battle in which a European Monarch rode into battle, that being King Victor Emmanuel II, who directly entered the fray with the Austrians.[1]

Background

Bersaglieri troops of the 4th Piedmontese Division

Po river from Pavia to Piacenza. Gyulay had assigned Zobel's VII Korps responsibility for the Sesia sector. However, on 30 May, four Piedmontese divisions had established a bridgehead across the Sesia, occupying Palestro, Vinzaglio, and Confienza. This included Enrico Cialdini's 4th Division, Giovanni Durando's 1st Division, and Mollard's 3rd Division. François Certain de Canrobert's III Corps, Adolphe Niel's IV Corps, MacMahon's II Corps, and the Imperial Guard advanced in support of the Piedmontese.[2]

Battle

On 31 May, Zobel counterattacked with two of his VII Korps divisions, and Szabo's brigade from II Korps, which was repulsed. A defining moment came when the

3rd Zouaves, accompanied by Victor Emmanuel II, crossed the canal, attacking the Austrian left flank, forcing their withdrawal toward Robbio.[2]

The 4th Piedmontese Division under general

Zouaves
Regiment under Colonel Chabron, who attacked the left flank of the Austrian contingents. The Zouaves were able to reach the enemy's artillery, defended by the 7th Tirolese Hunters Regiment. Then they launched a bayonet attack against the four infantry battalions of the 12th Regiment "Archduke William".

French Zouaves de la Garde in Italy, 1859

According to Frederick Schneid, "The allied army was now in force on the east bank of the Sesia in Lomellina. Applying Jomini's advice, the divisions of the Piedmontese Army comprised the blocking force, permitting the French army to march unimpeded to Novara.[2]

Aftermath

Emperor

Feldmarschall Heinrich von Heß had arrived from Vienna in time to witness Gyulay's defeat, and the 2nd Army's retreat into Lombardy. On 3 June, Gyulay was ordered to take any and all action to defend the frontier. Gyulay thus held the line from Magenta to Abbiategrasso.[2]

References

  1. ^ The Battle of Palestro
  2. ^
    ISBN 9781849087872
    .

External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Battle of Palestro.

45°18′44″N 8°32′46″E / 45.31222°N 8.54611°E / 45.31222; 8.54611

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