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.
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, as was the Boulevard de Magenta
in Paris.
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