298 Chapter 3
Narrative: This was a dispute in Tuscany related to the broader cause of Italian
unification and occurred in the backdrop of the year of revolutions in Europe (1848).
Austria-Hungary remained the greatest nemesis to Italian unification, a sentiment that
was in full effect among parts of the Italian states by this time. However, Austria
occupied parts of modern day Italy by this time and remained a strong presence in
daily life. Much of their royal family (Habsburg-Lorraine) had positions in the Ital-
ian states, including Leopold II, Grand Duke of Tuscany. When he was forced out of
Florence, Austrian reprisal was almost certain. His retreat from Florence is connected
to the other uprisings in central Italy, specifically in Rome (see MID#175). When the
republican sentiments that led to the “triumvirate”—the government of the Roman
Republic—turned their eyes west to Florence, Leopold II fled for Siena (January 31).
He later arrived in Gaeta on February 21.
Austrian reprisal seemed to be a certainty, prompting some conciliatory ges-
tures from the Tuscan republicans that had affected his deposing. The character
of Tuscan politics was notoriously feeble and indecisive. Leopold II was not that
unpopular and the Tuscans feared what war with the Austrians might bring. The
Tuscans contacted him about a return, but an Austrian invasion had already been
decided. Leopold II played an active role in getting the Austrians to invade but
had hesitations on the eve of the event. He pleaded with the Austrian army led by
Baron D’Aspre to be discreet and confine the invasion to certain areas where the
radical threat was strongest.
D’Aspre’s troops ultimately entered Florence on May 25, wearing olive branches
in their caps as a purposeful mockery of the idea that the Austrians were coming in
peace. Leopold II returned to his position in July of that same year. He tried to find a
middle ground between the Austrians and popular sentiment in Florence before fall-
ing more in line with the Austrians. He acquiesced to D’Aspre’s demands to keep
an occupation force, concluding a military convention in April 1850 to keep 10,000
Austrian troops in Tuscany. Austria occupied Tuscany until 1855.
Coding changes: End Date changed from May 25, 1849.
300 Austria-Hungary/339 Albania
MID#3348
Dispute Number: 3348
Date(s): October 14, 1915 to February 24, 1916
Participants: 339 Albania, 345 Yugoslavia/255 Germany, 300 Austria-Hungary, 355
Bulgaria, 640 Turkey
Outcome (and Settlement): Unclear (None)
Fatalities: None
Narrative: This dispute concerns the disposition of Albania during World War I.
Bulgaria was finally coaxed into entering the war on the side of the Central Powers
and attacked Serbian forces from two directions beginning on October 14, 1915. The
Serbs went into full retreat through Montenegro and through Albania. Weather sty-
mied the pursuing Central Powers forces but also was disastrous for the withdrawing