Battle of Magenta


Battle of Magenta
Part of the Second Italian War of Independence
The Italian camp at the Battle of Magenta
The Italian camp at the Battle of Magenta
Date 4 June 1859 [1]
Location Magenta, present-day Italy
Result Franco-Sardinian victory
Belligerents
Flag of France Second French Empire
 Sardinia		  Austrian Empire
Commanders
Flag of France Emperor Napoleon III
Flag of France Marechal Mac-Mahon		 Flag of Austrian EmpireFeldmarschall Ferencz Gyulaj
Strength
59,100 infantry
91 guns		 125,000 infantry[2]
Casualties and losses
657 dead
3,858 wounded		 1,368 dead
4,538 wounded
4,500 captured
v • d • e
Montebello – Varese – San Fermo – Palestro – Magenta – Treponti – Solferino
Map of the Second Italian War of Independence

The Battle of Magenta was fought on June 4, 1859 during the Second Italian War of Independence, resulting in a French-Sardinian victory under Napoleon III against the Austrians under Marshal Ferencz Gyulai.

It took place near the town of Magenta in northern Italy on June 4, 1859. Napoleon III's army crossed the Ticino River and outflanked the Austrian right forcing the Austrian army under General Gyulai to retreat. The battle of Magenta was not particularly large, but it was a decisive victory for the French-Sardinian forces. Marie Edme Patrice Maurice de MacMahon (1808-1893) was created Duke of Magenta for his role in this battle, and later served as President of the French Republic.

It should be noted that the Franco-Piedmontese coalition consisted in overwhelming majority of French troops (1100 Piedmontese and 58.000 French). Their victory can therefore be considered as mostly a French victory.

Aftermath

The colour magenta, discovered in 1859, was named after this battle[3], as was the Boulevard de Magenta in Paris.

References

  1. ^ Intimate Memoirs of Napoleon III: Personal Reminiscences of the Man and the Emperor - Page 148 by Ambès - 1912
  2. ^ The Library of Historic Characters and Famous Events of All Nations and All Ages - Page 77 by Ainsworth Rand Spofford
  3. ^ Battle of Magenta on the Magenta city's official website

External links

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Coordinates: 45°27′22″N 8°48′7″E / 45.45611°N 8.80194°E / 45.45611; 8.80194







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