294 Chapter 3
MID#3326
Dispute Number: 3326
Date(s): January 6, 1853 to March 16, 1853
Participants: 300 Austria-Hungary/325 Italy
Outcome (and Settlement): Unclear (None)
Fatalities: None
Narrative: This dispute occurred between the First and Second Italian Wars for
Independence. On January 3, 1853, the central administration of government had reor-
ganized itself, and rather than voting in the prince of Piedmont as the military tutor,
who was a friend of the papal states and under the control of Austria, the locals voted
in a friend to the liberals. This lead to the actions on January 6, when the Italian gov-
ernment to the south of Lombardy-Venetia began to mobilize its national guard. An
uprising in Milan occurred on February 6, but was successfully put down by Austrian
police forces by March 16.
Coding changes: Start Date changed from January 3, 1853. End Date changed from
March 12, 1853.
MID#115
Dispute Number: 115
Date(s): January 29, 1859 to July 11, 1859
Participants: 255 Germany, 300 Austria-Hungary/220 France, 325 Italy
Outcome (and Settlement): Victory for side B (Negotiated)
Fatalities: >999 deaths
Narrative: The Second Italian War of Independence was the successor to the Austro-
Piedmontese War (MID#19). The Kingdom of Sardinia’s attempts at Italian statehood
necessarily brought the state into conflict with Austria, which controlled Lombardy
and other important parts of modern-day Italy.
Undaunted, Piedmontese Prime Minister Camillo Benso pursued this aim, hoping
to learn from the lessons of his predecessor Charles Albert. A major European ally
was deemed necessary for success, and as a result, Sardinia entered the Crimean War
on the side of the allies in order to get in the good graces of the major players of
Europe. France and Sardinia then signed a secret treaty (the Plombieres Agreement of
July 20, 1858) pledging their support in a “defensive” effort. This was formalized at
the Treaty of Turin on December 10.
The terms of the alliance called for French intervention in a “defensive” effort,
meaning that Piedmont essentially had to bait Austria into invading, and the Italian
National Society was enlisted to arouse anti-Austrian sentiment, which it did. On
April 23, 1859, Austria sent an ultimatum to Piedmont, demanding disarmament.
Sardinia refused, and Austria declared war. France declared war on Austria the same
day. The joint allied efforts proved too much for Austria’s Franz Joseph to handle.
France won the important battle at Magenta, and the allies secured an important vic-
tory as well in Solferino on June 24. Austria tried for a negotiated settlement. France,
unsure if it could make any real incursions into the Austrian Quadrilateral, relented.
An armistice was signed at Villafranca on July 11, and the Treaty of Zurich was