Armistice of Villafranca facts for kids

The Armistice and Preliminaries of Villafranca were important agreements signed on July 11, 1859. They took place in Villafranca di Verona, a town in Veneto, Italy. These agreements were made between France and Austria. They officially ended the Austro-Franco-Sardinian War. For Italy, this war is known as the Second Italian War of Independence.

Why the War Stopped

After some very tough battles, like the Battle of Magenta on June 4 and the Battle of Solferino on June 24, Napoleon III, the Emperor of France, decided to stop fighting. He suggested an armistice (a ceasefire) on July 8. He also asked to meet with the Austrian Emperor, Franz Joseph I, on July 11.

Even though Napoleon III's army was winning, he was worried. The Battle of Solferino had caused a huge number of deaths and injuries, almost 40,000 soldiers. He didn't want to continue fighting through the autumn and winter. The Austrian army was strongly dug in at their forts, known as the Quadrilateral.

Also, Napoleon III was getting bad news from France. People back home were very unhappy with the war. French Catholics, who usually supported the Emperor, were especially worried. They feared for the Papal States and the Pope's independence if Austria was completely defeated in Italy. On top of that, people in Germany were starting to feel against France. The Austrians had support there. Prussia had many soldiers ready near the Rhine River, and France had moved many of its own troops away.

What Was Agreed At Villafranca

During the meeting in Villafranca, some key decisions were made:

• Austria agreed to give up Lombardy to France. However, they kept the cities of Mantua and Peschiera.
• France then gave Lombardy to the Kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia.
• It was decided that an Italian confederation (a group of states working together) would be formed. The Pope, Pius IX, would be its leader.
• Veneto, another region, would remain under Austrian control but would be part of this new Italian confederation.
• The rulers of Modena, Parma, and Tuscany, who had been forced out by revolutions, would get their thrones back.

Reactions to the Agreement

Cavour, the Prime Minister of Piedmont-Sardinia, was not asked for his opinion before these agreements were made. He was so upset that he resigned on July 10. King Victor-Emmanuel II of Piedmont-Sardinia agreed to the terms "personally." This meant he left room for his government to change its mind later.

These agreements, called the Preliminaries of Villafranca, were later officially confirmed. This happened with the Treaty of Zurich on November 11, 1859.

Images for kids

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  Major sites of the Austro-Sardinian War 1859

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  Battle of Montebello

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  Garibaldi leads his Hunters of the Alps in the Battle of Varese

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  Giuseppe Garibaldi led his volunteers to major victories against the Austrians, such as in the Battles of Varese and Como.