Damon Mcknight
The Kingdom of Lombardy–Venetia was a constituent land of the Austrian Empire from 1815 until 1866. The region of Lombardy was lost to Austria after the Second Italian War of Independence and the defeat at the Battle of Solferino in 1859. By the Treaty of Zurich, Austria was forced to cede Lombardy to the French Emperor Napoleon III, who then ceded it to the Kingdom of Sardinia. The loss of Lombardy reduced the number of Italian speakers in the Austrian Monarchy, who were already one of the smallest language groups.
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Lombardy ceded to France in 1859
The Kingdom of Lombardy–Venetia was a constituent land of the Austrian Empire from 1815 until 1866. It was created by the Congress of Vienna in recognition of the Austrian House of Habsburg-Lorraine's rights to the former Duchy of Milan and the former Republic of Venice.
In 1859, Austria was defeated by the combined armies of France and Sardinia in the battles of Magenta and Solferino. This marked the end of the Second Italian War of Independence, which had begun in April 1859. Following the war, Austria was forced to cede Lombardy up to the Mincio River to the French Emperor Napoleon III by the Treaty of Zurich.
Napoleon III had agreed to support Sardinia's efforts to expel Austria from Italy in return for territorial compensation in the form of the Duchy of Savoy and the County of Nice. The French Emperor immediately passed Lombardy to the Kingdom of Sardinia and the embryonic Italian state.
The loss of Lombardy in 1859 was a significant blow to the Austrian Empire, and the crown of Lombardy was brought to Vienna. The Kingdom of Lombardy–Venetia finally dissolved in 1866 when its remaining territory was incorporated into the recently proclaimed Kingdom of Italy following the Third Italian War of Independence.
Exploring the Austrian Alps: A Breathtaking Adventure
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Austria's defeat at the battles of Magenta and Solferino
The Battle of Magenta took place on 4 June 1859 near the town of Magenta in the Kingdom of Lombardy-Venetia. Napoleon III's army crossed the Ticino River and outflanked the Austrian right, forcing the Austrian army under Marshal Ferenc Gyulay to retreat. The French and Piedmontese pursued the Austrian 2nd Army, and by 10 pm on 4 June, they were withdrawing toward Abbiategrasso. The battle was a decisive victory for the Franco-Sardinian alliance.
Following their defeat at Magenta, the Austrian army, now led by Emperor Franz Joseph I, retreated eastward. On 24 June, they unexpectedly clashed with the Franco-Piedmontese army, of approximately equal size, in and around Solferino, four miles southeast of Castiglione delle Stiviere. The battle took place near the villages of Solferino and San Martino, south of Lake Garda between Milan and Verona. The Austrian army was personally led by Emperor Franz Joseph and consisted of the 1st Army, containing four corps (II, III, IX, and XI) and the 2nd Army, containing four corps (I, V, VII, and VIII). The French army, personally led by Napoleon III, was divided into four corps plus the Imperial Guard, and the Sardinian army had four divisions on the field. The battle was particularly gruelling, lasting over nine hours and resulting in over 2,386 Austrian troops killed, 10,807 wounded, and 8,638 missing or captured. The Austrian forces were able to hold their positions all day against repeated French attacks, but the French reserves eventually broke through the Austrian centre, forcing a general retreat of both Austrian armies.
As a result of their defeat at Solferino, Austria had to cede Lombardy up to the Mincio River to the French Emperor Napoleon III by the Treaty of Zurich, who immediately passed it to the Kingdom of Sardinia and the embryonic Italian state. This marked a significant step towards the unification of Italy.
Austria's Political Leanings: Left or Right Wing?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The Kingdom of Lombardy–Venetia
The new state was a fiction, however, because the two regions remained separate, each subject to the central ministries in Vienna. Milan lost its role as a capital, most of the Napoleonic administration was dismantled, and the centralizing authority of Vienna became dominant. In October 1820, the Carbonari in Milan were attacked, and some were deported.
The local administration was Italian in language and staff, but the Austrian authorities had to cope with the Italian unification (Risorgimento) movement. After a popular revolution on 22 March 1848, known as the "Five Days of Milan", the Austrians fled from Milan, which became the capital city of a Governo Provvisorio della Lombardia (Lombardy Provisional Government). The next day, Venice also rose against Austrian rule, forming the Governo Provvisorio di Venezia (Venice Provisional Government). The Austrian forces under Field Marshal Joseph Radetzky, after defeating the Sardinian troops at the Battle of Custoza (24–25 July 1848), entered Milan (6 August) and Venice (24 August 1849), and once again restored Austrian rule.
The region of Lombardy was ceded to France in 1859 after the Second Italian War of Independence, which then immediately ceded it to the Kingdom of Sardinia. The Kingdom of Lombardy–Venetia was finally dissolved in 1866 when its remaining territory was incorporated into the recently proclaimed Kingdom of Italy following the kingdom's victory against Austria in the Third Italian War of Independence. The territory of Venetia and Mantua was formally transferred from Austria to France, and then handed over to Italy on 19 October 1866, for diplomatic reasons; a plebiscite marked the Italian annexation on 21–22 October 1866.
Supra MKV: Austrian-Made?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The Treaty of Zurich
The first treaty was between France and Austria, which reaffirmed the terms of the preliminary peace, re-established peace between the two emperors, and ceded Lombardy to France. However, the fortresses of Mantua and Peschiera were excluded from this cession and remained under Austrian control.
The second treaty was between France and Sardinia, and it involved France ceding Lombardy to Sardinia. This was a significant development for Italian nationalism, although it was also a disappointment as other states like Venice and Tuscany remained under Austrian influence.
The third treaty was signed by all three powers and re-established a state of peace between Austria and Sardinia. Additionally, the treaty included an agreement between France and Austria to work towards a confederation of Italian states, including Venice, under the honorary presidency of the Pope. However, this never came to fruition.
The Unification of Austria and Hungary: A Historical Overview
You may want to see also
Explore related products
![The House of Habsburg - A Short History of Austria from 1232 to 1792 [Quintessential Classics] (Illustrated)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91pUwHF6+ML._AC_UL320_.jpg)
The Italian unification movement
The context in which the unification movement emerged was shaped by the French Revolution, Napoleon's rule, and the subsequent Congress of Vienna, which sought to restore monarchical power and balance in Europe. The Kingdom of Lombardy-Venetia, a crown land of the Austrian Empire, became a focal point of tension. The Austrian emperor ruled Lombardy-Venetia in personal union, with day-to-day governance delegated to viceroys appointed by the Imperial Court in Vienna. However, the local administration used Italian as its official language, and Italians held positions in the civil service.
The Risorgimento was characterised by revolutionary uprisings, political reforms, and the emergence of nationalist organisations. Giuseppe Mazzini, an intellectual and advocate of nationalism, founded Young Italy in 1831, seeking to unify the Italian states under a republican government. While Mazzini's movement faced suppression and exile, it inspired a new wave of nationalist revolts. Vincenzo Gioberti proposed a unified Italy under the rule of the pontiff, while the Bandiera brothers advocated for an independent, democratic Italian republic with Rome as its capital.
The biennium 1848-1849 marked the apex of the revolutionary movement, with uprisings across the Italian peninsula, including in Sicily, Piedmont-Sardinia, Lombardy, and Venetia. However, these uprisings lacked coordination and were hindered by ideological rivalries and dynastic divisions. While the Austrian forces under Field Marshal Joseph Radetzky suppressed the revolts in Milan and Venice, the legacy of these revolutionary efforts paved the way for cautious diplomacy led by Count Camillo Benso di Cavour, prime minister of Piedmont-Sardinia.
Cavour played a pivotal role in the unification process by using the threat of potential revolutionary resurgence to persuade conservatives that a united Italy under the House of Savoy would bring stability. With French military support, Cavour provoked a conflict with Austria, leading to the Second Italian War of Independence in 1859. As a result, Austria was forced to cede Lombardy to Piedmont-Sardinia, marking a significant step towards unification.
In conclusion, the Italian unification movement was a complex and protracted process driven by various political, social, and military forces. The Risorgimento, with its revolutionary ideals and diplomatic manoeuvres, laid the foundation for the establishment of the Kingdom of Italy in 1861, with King Victor Emmanuel II assembling the first Italian Parliament in Turin. The movement's legacy continued beyond the proclamation of the kingdom, as administrative reforms and the adoption of a common monetary system further solidified the unification of the Italian nation.
Austria-Hungary's Fateful Decision to Declare War on Russia
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Austria lost Lombardy in 1859 after the Second Italian War of Independence and the defeat in the Battle of Solferino.
After Austria lost Lombardy, it was ceded to France and then immediately passed to the Kingdom of Sardinia and the embryonic Italian state.
The crown was brought to Vienna and was restored to Italy after the loss of Venetia in 1866.
