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| Italian campaigns of the War of the Austrian Succession | |
|---|---|
| Conflict | Italian campaigns of the War of the Austrian Succession |
| Partof | War of the Austrian Succession |
| Date | 1740–1748 |
| Place | Italy, including Kingdom of Naples, Duchy of Milan, Kingdom of Sardinia, Duchy of Parma, Papal States |
| Result | Territorial adjustments under Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle |
Italian campaigns of the War of the Austrian Succession
The Italian campaigns of the War of the Austrian Succession were a series of interconnected operations between 1740 and 1748 involving Habsburg and Bourbon dynasties, Savoy-Sardinia, Bourbon Naples, and other Italian states; they formed a decisive southern front of the pan-European War of the Austrian Succession. The fighting encompassed rivalries between Charles Emmanuel III, Charles (later Charles III of Spain), French and Austrian commanders, and culminated in the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle which reshaped Italian sovereignty.
The wars in Italy grew out of the dynastic crisis triggered by the death of Emperor Charles VI and the Pragmatic Sanction contested by Frederick II of Prussia, Philip V of Spain, Louis XV of France, and the Bavaria claimant Charles Albert of Bavaria. Italian aims were driven by Bourbon ambitions to recover the Spanish Kingdom of Naples and Kingdom of Sicily under Don Carlos and by Habsburg desires to retain the Milanese possessions and the Kingdom of Sardinia balance of power. Diplomatic alignments featured the Quadruple Alliance breakup, the Family Compact, and shifting pacts such as the Convention of Turin and the Treaty of Worms that involved Great Britain, Kingdom of Sardinia, and the Habsburg Monarchy.
Primary belligerents included the Habsburg Monarchy, the Kingdom of Spain, the Kingdom of France, and Kingdom of Sardinia. Key commanders on the Austrian side included Prince Lobkowitz, Count Otto Ferdinand von Traun, and Maurice de Saxe when French forces intervened; Bourbon-side leaders included Don Carlos and Count of Montemar, with strategic direction from Cardinal Fleury and ministers in Versailles. Savoyard forces were led by Charles Emmanuel III, while British contingents cooperating in Italy were influenced by Duke of Argyll and diplomats such as Henry Pelham and Lord Carteret in coordination with Vienna envoys. Local Italian rulers involved included the Pope Benedict XIV and ruling houses of Duchy of Parma, Grand Duchy of Tuscany, and Republic of Genoa.
The early stage saw campaigns in Kingdom of Naples, Kingdom of Sicily, and the Duchy of Milan as Bourbon forces seized Naples and Sicily in the War of the Polish Succession aftermath leading into 1740–1742 operations. Notable actions included the Battle of Campo Santo (1743), clashes at Chiari, the Velletri, and the Battle of Bassignana (1745). The Siege of Genoa (1746) and the Capture of Nice (1744) marked French-Savoyard contestation of Ligurian coasts, while Austrian victories at Bitonto (1734) earlier set precedents for fighting over southern Italy. The 1742–1744 phase featured the Convention of Turin and the Battle of Campoformido (1743) influences, with the 1746–1747 campaigns culminating in the occupation of Milan and maneuvering before the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle (1748). Naval engagements involving the Spanish Navy, Royal Navy, and French Navy affected supply lines to Naples and Sicily.
Diplomacy in Italy ran parallel to fighting: the Convention of Turin (1742) brought Kingdom of Sardinia closer to the Habsburg Monarchy against France, while the Treaty of Worms (1743) formalized Anglo-Savoyard-Austrian cooperation with British subsidies and the promise of territorial compensation. The Second Family Compact tied Spanish and French dynasties, influencing Don Carlos's claims on Parma and Piemonte. Papal mediation by Pope Benedict XIV and influence from Cardinal de Fleury and Madame de Pompadour affected peace prospects, with diplomats like Sir John Lindsay and Count Kaunitz negotiating terms later reflected in the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle.
Armies in Italy comprised regulars from Habsburg regiments, French infantry and cavalry, Spanish tercios remnants, and Sardinian militia; mercenary contingents included troops from the Holy Roman Empire and German principalities such as Hesse-Kassel. Siegecraft used techniques from the Vauban school, while field tactics incorporated linear infantry formations, cavalry charges by Carabiniers, and artillery deployment by pioneers influenced by engineers like Villard de Honnecourt followers. Supply routes relied on Alpine passes such as the Col de Tende, coastal convoys along the Ligurian Sea, and riverine movements on the Po River, contested by naval squadrons and subject to seasonal constraints.
The campaigns caused fiscal strain on the Duchy of Milan and depopulation in contested zones, with requisitions, billeting, and disease outbreaks affecting urban centers including Milan, Genoa, Turin, and Naples. Social unrest manifested in riots and food shortages in port cities like Livorno, while elites in Florence and Parma negotiated protection through treaties and payments to occupying forces. Cultural exchanges occurred as military bands and court entourages spread influences from Versailles, Madrid, and Vienna to Italian courts, affecting patronage of artists linked to Rococo and composers associated with Opera Buffa.
The Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle (1748) confirmed Don Carlos's renunciation of claims to Parma and secured Bourbon control of Naples and Sicily until later realignments, while the Duchy of Milan reverted to Habsburg administration; Kingdom of Sardinia gained diplomatic prestige but limited territorial compensation. The settlements set the stage for later conflicts including the Seven Years' War and the Napoleonic Wars, and influenced reform efforts by administrators such as Enlightened absolutism proponents in Vienna and Madrid. The Italian balance of power would continue to attract great power rivalry until the 19th-century Risorgimento reshaped the peninsula.
Category:Wars involving Italy Category:War of the Austrian Succession