Battle of Mileto facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of Mileto |
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| Part of the War of the Third Coalition | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 France |
 Kingdom of Sicily |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Jean Reynier |
Louis of Hesse-Philippsthal |
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| Strength | |||||||
| 5,000 | 5,000 | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| unknown but light | 1,633 and 6 guns | ||||||
The Battle of Mileto was an important fight during the War of the Third Coalition. This war was a big conflict in Europe. The battle happened on May 28, 1807, in a region called Calabria in southern Italy.
The fight was part of an effort by the Kingdom of Sicily to take back its lands in mainland Italy. These lands were known as the Kingdom of Naples. The battle ended with a clear win for the French army, led by General Jean Reynier.
Why the Battle Happened
In 1806, King Ferdinand IV of Naples joined a group of countries against Napoleon I. Because of this, France invaded his kingdom. King Ferdinand and his family had to escape to the island of Sicily. This made the area a battleground between France and Britain. Both countries wanted to control the Mediterranean Sea.
The royal family of Naples, called the Bourbons, teamed up with Britain. The British Royal Navy protected Sicily. Meanwhile, Napoleon made his brother, Joseph Bonaparte, the new king of Naples. Joseph was king until 1808, when Joachim Murat took over.
From Sicily, the Bourbons and British tried to start a rebellion. They encouraged local people to fight against the new French rulers. These uprisings made things hard for the French. The French responded with harsh actions, led by Captain Charles Antoine Manhès.
King Ferdinand and his wife, Maria Carolina of Austria, still wanted to rule Naples. Maria Carolina especially hated France. This was because her sister, Marie Antoinette, was executed during the French Revolution. Maria Carolina chose Louis of Hesse-Philippsthal to lead the Bourbon army.
In 1806, Louis defended a city called Gaeta against the French. In May 1807, he landed in Calabria. His goal was to finally defeat the French. He had about 3,500 regular soldiers. He also had many local fighters, called massisti. The French army, with about 5,000 men, gathered at Monteleone (now Vibo Valentia).
The Battle of Mileto
Before the battle, General Reynier spoke to his French troops. He reminded them of an earlier defeat. He told them they could get revenge because of the enemy's mistakes.
The Bourbon army tried to land on the coast near Tropea. But the local guards stopped them. Attempts to start a big uprising inside the country also failed. These uprisings were led by local fighters and some Bourbon soldiers.
Philippsthal and his army moved to Mileto on May 26, 1807. Records from both sides show that the Bourbon army made mistakes. Colonel Vito Nunziante and other officers warned Philippsthal. They told him to move from Mileto because his position was not good for a fight. But he did not listen.
The French attacked at 4:30 AM on May 28. They attacked on the hills of Nao and Pizzinni, which overlooked Mileto. The fighting then moved to the edge of the town. Soldiers fought with rifles and bayonets among the houses and fields. The battle was very bloody. The Bourbon army was completely defeated. They were chased all the way to Reggio Calabria. About 10,000 soldiers fought in total. Many of them were killed.
The battle changed when the Bourbon cavalry (soldiers on horseback) attacked. But the French infantry (soldiers on foot) pushed them back. The Bourbon cavalry then ran back towards their own army. This caused panic among the Bourbon soldiers. The local fighters started to run away in a rush. The French army and cavalry chased them. As they ran, the local fighters even stole from their own Bourbon allies. The defeat became a total disaster.
Later, people realized why the Bourbons lost so badly. Their army was not set up well for a big battle. It was still organized in an old way. This kind of army could stop small rebellions. But it was not strong enough to face the French. The French army was well-organized and had many experienced soldiers. These soldiers had won many battles in the French Revolutionary Wars and Napoleonic Wars. Also, the British army, which had helped the Bourbons win a previous battle at Maida, was not there this time.
The original Bourbon plan was to divide their army into five groups. These groups would surround the French. At the same time, they hoped the local people would rise up and help them destroy the French. But for different reasons, this plan never happened. This led to their defeat at Mileto.
After the Battle
Even though the Bourbons lost, the battle left many places on the mainland where people still resisted the French. Because of this, Napoleon decided to give up his plan to capture Sicily.
The Battle of Mileto changed the power balance that was set at Maida the year before. It made sure that France controlled Calabria until 1815. In 1815, King Ferdinand IV was put back on the throne by the Congress of Vienna.
Later, Murat tried to take back Naples but failed. He was shot at Pizzo on October 13, 1815. In 1816, the kingdoms of Naples and Sicily were joined together again. Ferdinand IV became King Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies.
