Battle of Varese
- When
- 1859
- Where
- Varese, Lombardy
- Episodes
- 1
The Battle of Varese occurred on 26 May 1859 in Lombardy during the Second Italian War of Independence. Giuseppe Garibaldi's Hunters of the Alps defeated Austrian forces commanded by Karl von Urban. The engagement resulted in an Austrian defeat that facilitated Italian advances toward Como and forced the Austrians to maintain troops on the northern front.
Episodes
Background and detail
Background. The battle was part of the Second Italian War of Independence, also known as the Franco-Austrian War. Garibaldi led the Hunters of the Alps, an Italian volunteer formation, against Austrian troops. The conflict took place in Lombardy, where Garibaldi's forces had already captured major cities including Varese and Como.
Engagement. On the morning of 26 May, Karl von Urban arrived at Varese. Garibaldi had already established two robust defensive lines in the area. The engagement resulted in a victory for the Hunters of the Alps, marking a significant success for Garibaldi's volunteers against the Austrian forces.
Consequences. The Austrian defeat at Varese allowed the Hunters of the Alps to move towards Como. It also obliged the Austrians to keep troops on the northern part of the front. This strategic flanking movement was conducted from 27 May through 29 May 1859.
People involved
- Giuseppe Garibaldi · Leader of the Hunters of the Alps
- Karl von Urban · Leader of the Austrian troops at Varese
Sources
- Battle of Varese Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-21
- Giuseppe Garibaldi Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-25
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