Battle of Novara (1849)

Battle during the First Italian War of Independence

For other battles of Novara, see Battle of Novara (disambiguation).

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Battle of Novara

Part of the First Italian War of Independence

Radetzky and his staff at the battle of Novara. Painting by Albrecht Adam (1855)
| Date| 23 March 1849

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Location|

Novara, Kingdom of Sardinia
(present-day Italy)

45°25′53″N 8°42′58″E﻿ / ﻿45.43139°N 8.71611°E﻿ / 45.43139; 8.71611
Result|

Austrian victory

* Abdication of Charles Albert

Belligerents
Sardinia|  Austria
Commanders and leaders
Wojciech Chrzanowski|  Joseph Radetzky
Strength
59,000
(as per Bodart, 54,200 infantry, 4,800 cavalry, and 116 cannons)|  41,000
(as per Bodart, 36,300 infantry, 4,700 cavalry, and 144 cannons involved)
Casualties and losses
[1]
1,378 killed
2,181 wounded
2,387 captured|  [2]
466 killed
1,670 wounded
521 missing or captured

* v
* t
* e

First Italian
War of Independence

* Milan
* Goito Bridge
* Castelnuovo
* 1st Governolo
* Osoppo
* Peschiera [it]
* Pastrengo
* Santa Lucia
* Cornuda
* Curtatone & Montanara
* Goito
* Monte Berico
* 2nd Governolo
* Vicenza
* Custoza
* Trentino
* Papal States
* Volta Mantovana
* Mestre
* Mortara
* Novara
* Brescia
* Tuscany
* Velletri
* Rome

Revolutions of 1848 in the Italian states

* Sicilian revolution of 1848
* Five Days of Milan
* Republic of San Marco
* Roman Republic

The Battle of Novara (or Battle of Bicocca; Bicocca being a borough of Novara) was one of the battles fought between the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Sardinia during the First Italian War of Independence, within the era of Italian unification. Lasting the whole day of 22 March 1849 and ending at dawn on 23 March, it resulted in a severe defeat and retreat of the Piedmontese (Sardinian) army.

## Overview

[edit]

An uneasy armistice made in 1848 between Austria and Sardinia lasted less than seven months, before Charles Albert, King of Sardinia, denounced the truce on 12 March 1849. The Austrian army took the military initiative in Lombardy. Under the command of Field Marshal Joseph Radetzky von Radetz, it seized the fortress town of Mortara.

The seizure of Mortara led to a battle between Austrian and Piedmontese troops at Novara, 28 miles (45 km) west of Milan. 41,000 Austrians faced 59,000 Piedmontese and thoroughly routed their opponent as they had at the Battle of Custoza the previous year. Piedmont also suffered from a lack of support from the smaller Italian states. General Girolamo Ramorino was accused of disobeying orders before the Battle of Novara, and, that same year, he was executed.

The Piedmontese were driven back to Borgomanero at the foot of the Alps, and the Austrian forces occupied Novara, Vercelli and Trino, with the road to the Piedmontese capital, Turin, lying open to them.

## Aftermath

[edit]

Albrecht Adam, Die Schlacht bei Novarra (The Battle of Novara), 1858

Austrian general Baron Julius von Haynau subdued Brescia, 54 miles NE of Milan, and Charles Albert abdicated in favor of his son Victor Emmanuel, who would later become the first king of a unified Italy. Friedrich Engels wrote "that, after this defeat, a revolution and proclamation of a republic in Turin is expected, arises from the fact that the attempt is being made to prevent it by the abdication of Charles Albert in favour of his eldest son."[3] A Piedmontese Republic was not created, though a Roman Republic had already been proclaimed in February, and there existed a Venetian Republic as well. Charles Albert exiled himself to Oporto, Portugal, and died shortly thereafter.

A peace treaty was signed on 9 August. Piedmont was forced to pay an indemnity of 65 million francs to Austria. A reenactment of the battle occurs every year.[4] The Austrian frigate Novara, which went on a round-the-world scientific expedition between 1857 and 1859, was named after this Austrian victory.[5]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Pinelli 1857, p. 145.
2. ^ K.k. 1850, p. 72.
3. ^ Engels, Friedrich (April 1849). "The Defeat of the Piedmontese". Neue Rheinische Zeitung. Archived from the original on 27 April 2014. Retrieved 8 August 2018 - via marxists.org.
4. ^ Novara Risorgimentale 2007 Archived November 25, 2005, at the Wayback Machine
5. ^ The Austrian Imperial Frigate SMS Novara Archived 2005-06-15 at the Wayback Machine

### Works cited

[edit]

* Bodart, Gaston (1908). Militär-historisches Kriegs-Lexikon (1618–1905). Retrieved 4 March 2023.
* Der Feldzug der österreichischen Armee in Italien im Jahre 1849: Kriegsbegebenheiten bei der kaiserlich österreichischen Armee in Italien vom 20. März bis 1. April 1849 (in German). aus der kaiserlich königlichen Hof- und Staatsdruckerei. 1850.
* Pinelli (1857). Piemont's Militair-Geschichte vom Frieden von Aachen bis auf unsere Tage (in German).

## External links

[edit]

* Battle of Novara, Forces in the Field, lastoria.org

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