Treaty of Casalanza facts for kids
The Treaty of Casalanza was an important agreement signed on May 20, 1815. It officially ended the Neapolitan War, a conflict involving the Kingdom of Naples (which was then led by Napoleon's brother-in-law) and the powerful Austrian Empire along with Great Britain.
This treaty was signed in a special house called a "patrician villa." This was a large, fancy home owned by the Lanza family. That's why the treaty is called "Casalanza," which means "Lanza House" in Italian. The house was located in a town called Pastorano in southern Italy, in the region of Campania.
Why the Treaty Was Needed
The Neapolitan War ended badly for the Kingdom of Naples. Their king, Joachim Murat, who was Napoleon's brother-in-law, suffered big defeats at the Battle of Tolentino and the Battle of San Germano. After these losses, King Murat had to escape to Corsica.
With the king gone, General Michele Carascosa took charge of the Neapolitan army. He knew they couldn't fight anymore, so he asked for peace. This led to the signing of the Treaty of Casalanza.
Who Signed the Treaty
Several important people signed the treaty:
- Pietro Colletta: He signed for General Michele Carascosa and the Neapolitan army. He was a "plenipotentiary," which means he had full power to make decisions and sign on behalf of his leader.
- Adam Albert von Neipperg: He signed for the Austrian forces. He was also a plenipotentiary, representing the main Austrian commander, Frederick Bianchi.
- Lord Burghersh: He was the English minister, or representative, in Florence and signed for Great Britain.
What the Treaty Decided
The terms of the Treaty of Casalanza were quite fair to the defeated Neapolitans, especially considering they had lost the war.
- All the Neapolitan generals were allowed to keep their military ranks.
- The borders of the Kingdom of Naples stayed exactly the same.
- The main point was that the old king, Ferdinand IV of Naples and Sicily, would return to the throne. He was the king before Napoleon's influence.
- All prisoners of war had to be returned.
- Most Neapolitan soldiers in different cities had to give up their weapons.
However, there were three cities that were exceptions: Ancona, Pescara, and Gaeta. These cities were surrounded by British and Austrian ships, so General Carascosa couldn't control them. These three cities eventually surrendered. The siege of Gaeta lasted the longest, finally ending in August, which was even after Napoleon's final defeat at the famous Battle of Waterloo.
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