New Italian offensive Third Italian War of Independence

battle of bezzecca



the naval battle of lissa

the course of war, however, turn in italy s favour prussian victories in bohemia, decisive battle of königgrätz on 3 july 1866. austrians compelled redeploy 1 of 3 army corps italy vienna. remaining austrian forces in theatre concentrated defenses around trentino , isonzo.

on 5 july 1866, italian government received news of mediation effort napoleon iii settlement of situation, allow austria receive favourable conditions prussia, and, in particular, maintain venice. situation embarrassing italy, forces had been beaten in battle date. austrians redeploying more , more troops vienna defend against prussians, la marmora urged take advantage of force s numerical superiority, score victory, , improve situation italy @ bargaining table.

on 14 july, during council of war held in ferrara, new italian war plans decided, according following points:

cialdini lead main army of 150,000 troops through venetia, while la marmora, 70,000 men, tie down austrian forces in quadrilatero;
the italian navy, commanded admiral carlo di persano set sail ancona objective of seizing trieste.
garibaldi s volunteers (named cacciatori delle alpi ), reinforced division of regular infantry, advance trentino, eventual objective of capturing province s capital, trento.

cialdini crossed po on 8 july, advancing udine on 22 july without encountering austrian army. in meantime, garibaldi s volunteers had advanced brescia in direction of trento in invasion of trentino, winning battle of bezzecca on 21 july. cialdini s , garibaldi s advances overshadowed, however, unexpected defeat of italian navy @ battle of lissa on 20 july.

the italian gains remained rather limited , cessation of austro-prussian hostilities, austrians looked ready send reinforcements italy. unwilling risk defeat , facing risk of being severely outnumbered austrian reinforcements, italians compelled come peace table. on 9 august, garibaldi ordered in telegraph army high command evacuate trentino. reply obbedisco ( shall obey ) , became famous in italy after. cessation of hostilities agreed @ armistice of cormons signed on 12 august, followed treaty of vienna on 3 october 1866.