Battle of Francavilla facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of Francavilla |
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| Part of the War of the Quadruple Alliance | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 Holy Roman Empire |
 Spanish Empire |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Count of Mercy Friedrich von Seckendorff |
Marquis of Lede | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 21,000 | 29,000 | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 3,100 killed or wounded | 2,000 killed or wounded | ||||||
The Battle of Francavilla was an important battle fought on June 20, 1719. It happened near the town of Francavilla di Sicilia in Sicily, Italy. This battle was a key part of the War of the Quadruple Alliance, where Spain fought against Austria.
Why the Battle Happened
After the Spanish navy was badly beaten in the Battle of Cape Passaro in August 1718, about 30,000 Spanish soldiers were stuck on the island of Sicily. Their leader was the Marquis of Lede.
At first, the Austrian army was busy fighting another war in the Balkans. This war ended with the Treaty of Passarowitz in July 1718. Once that war was over, Austria could send more soldiers to Sicily.
The Austrians tried to attack the Spanish from Naples. However, their first attempt failed when they lost the Battle of Milazzo in October 1718. They did manage to hold a small area near Milazzo.
By June 1719, a large and experienced Austrian army arrived. There were about 24,000 soldiers led by the Count de Mercy. The British navy helped them cross the Messina Strait to Sicily.
The Spanish army had stopped trying to capture Milazzo. They moved to a stronger position near the village of Francavilla di Sicilia. This spot was good for defense because it had a river and a monastery on a hill nearby.
The Battle Begins
On the morning of June 22, the Austrian army attacked the Spanish positions. The Spanish had built strong defenses. The Austrians attacked in three main groups, called columns.
- The first column tried to take the fortified village of Francavilla three times. Each time, the Spanish pushed them back.
- The second column managed to capture the trenches at the bottom of the monastery hill. But they couldn't get past the second line of Spanish defense. During this part of the battle, Count de Mercy, the Austrian commander, was wounded.
- The third column attacked the Spanish on their left side. They pushed the Spanish off a hill called San Juan. However, the Spanish fired back heavily, forcing the Austrians to retreat and hide in a ditch. Many Austrian soldiers were hurt here, including General Holstein, who was leading the attack.
The Spanish artillery, which means their cannons, played a very important role. It was led by the Marquis of Villadarias. The cannons caused a lot of damage and confusion among the Austrian soldiers.
The fighting lasted all day, until evening. A counterattack by the Spanish cavalry, or horse soldiers, ended any hope of an Austrian victory. The Austrians had to pull back. They left behind about 3,100 soldiers who were either killed or wounded. The Spanish lost about 2,000 soldiers.
What Happened Next
Even though the Austrians lost, the Marquis de Lede, the Spanish commander, did not chase after them. This gave the Austrians time to recover from their defeat.
Later, the Austrians surrounded the city of Messina. They attacked it nine times before it finally fell. The war continued for a while longer.
The war officially ended when the Treaty of The Hague (1720) was signed on February 17, 1720. As part of the peace treaty, the Spanish soldiers had to leave Sicily. The British Navy helped transport them back to Spain. The island of Sicily then became a possession of Austria.
See also
In Spanish: Batalla de Francavilla para niños
