Siege of Villafranca (1744) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Siege of Villafranca |
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| Part of the War of the Austrian Succession | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 Kingdom of Spain Kingdom of France |
 Kingdom of Sardinia Great Britain |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Infante Philip Prince of Conti |
Vittorio Francesco Filippo of Savoy (POW) Thomas Mathews |
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| Strength | |||||||
| 30,000 | 8,000 | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 2,820 casualties | 1,500 dead or wounded 1,830 captured |
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The Siege of Villafranca was a battle that happened from April 14 to April 27, 1744. It was part of a bigger conflict called the War of the Austrian Succession. Armies from Spain and France were moving towards the Kingdom of Sardinia. They attacked strong defenses in the Villafranca pass. These defenses were held by soldiers from Britain and Sardinia.
The attacks by the French and Spanish were not very successful at first. However, the defenders lost many soldiers. This forced them to leave the port of Villafranca. A small group of soldiers stayed behind. They surrendered on April 27.
Contents
What Was Happening in Italy?
The year 1744 started with problems for Spain in Italy. In the south, Austrian forces were pushing back the Spanish army. The city of Naples was in danger.
Britain had a very strong navy in the Mediterranean Sea. They joined the side of Austria. The Royal Navy caused trouble for Spain's allies. They also stopped Spanish ships carrying war supplies.
The city of Genoa was blocked by British ships. Switzerland closed its borders, so no troops could pass through. Infante Philip marched his army through France. He easily took over Savoy. But he couldn't get enough supplies. This stopped him from moving forward against the Sardinians in the Alps mountains.
On February 22, the navies of France and Spain fought the British near Toulon. The French and Spanish won this battle. Admiral Matthews' British fleet had to retreat. This meant that France and Spain temporarily controlled the sea.
Supplies quickly reached Philip's army. Then, 20,000 French soldiers joined Philip's 20,000 Spanish soldiers. This combined army was led by Louis François I, Prince of Conti. Their goal was to break through into Lombardy. They wanted to join up with the Spanish army in the south.
On April 1, the French and Spanish armies crossed the Var River. They moved into Nice, which they took without a fight. Villafranca was their next target.
The Battle of Villafranca
The Sardinian soldiers were led by Vittorio Francesco Filippo di Savoia, who was the Marquis of Susa. He was the brother of King Charles Emmanuel III. They built strong defenses along the high ground of Villafranca.
A Strong Defense Position
The natural defenses were very good. The attackers had to climb over rocks and steep cliffs. They were in plain sight of the Sardinian guns. The fortified camp had more than 80 cannons. These cannons came from English ships in the harbor. They were set up in eleven different gun positions. The Sardinian army had fourteen battalions of infantry, which are groups of foot soldiers.
Meanwhile, Admiral Matthews returned to the area. He brought British soldiers, marines, and artillery experts. They joined the Sardinian defense on the heights. Their guns were aimed at the French. Britain had only recently declared war on France. Voltaire, a famous writer, joked that "even in the Alps we could still find Englishmen to fight us."
The Attack Begins
Conti's first attack was on April 14. But it was stopped because of a storm. Finally, Conti launched a big attack on the fortified camp of Villafranca. This happened on the night of April 19 to 20, 1744.
At the start of the battle, the French and Spanish quickly took control of the Collet de Villefranche. They captured or destroyed five Sardinian battalions. The commander, the Marquis of Susa, was taken prisoner. He was replaced by the Knight of Cinzano.
The French and Spanish forces then tried to take Mont Gros, Mont Rouge, and Mont Leuze. These were key positions for Villafranca's defense.
Defenders Fight Back
However, the defenders, led by their new commander, managed to stop the attack. A Swiss unit called the Kalbermatten regiment, fighting for Sardinia, defended Mont Leuze very well. By four in the afternoon, the situation was stable. Conti had used all his available soldiers.
Cinzano then had a chance to attack the Collet de Villefranche again. They took back this important position. It controlled the road to Nice. This operation was mainly done by grenadier companies, who are special soldiers. It was a complete success. By evening, the Sardinians were back in their original positions.
The Retreat
The defenders had suffered many losses. Over 1,000 were dead or wounded, and 1,500 were taken prisoner. The French and Spanish lost less than 3,000 soldiers, with 433 captured.
With only about 5,000 soldiers left who could fight, Cinzano decided to leave the fortified camp. The British navy helped them. On the evening of April 21, the soldiers were put onto 33 ships. Four British warships protected them. At dawn on April 22, the fleet left the port.
The Montalbano fort was abandoned. But Cinzano left 340 soldiers in the Citadel of Villafranca. These soldiers surrendered on April 27.
What Happened Next?
Prince de Conti realized that taking the Ligurian Riviera area would take many months of fighting. So, he decided to attack the Alps in July instead. This action helped them break through the Italian front. It also led to the siege of the city of Cuneo.
