Battle of Francavilla
| date | June 20, 1719 |
|---|---|
| place | Francavilla di Sicilia |
| output | Spanish victory |
| Parties to the conflict | |
|---|---|
| Commander | |
| Troop strength | |
| 21,000 | 29,000 |
| losses | |
|
3,100 injured and dead |
2000 injured and dead |
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The Battle of Francavilla took place on June 20, 1719 near Francavilla di Sicilia . The Spanish army under Juan Francisco de Bette , Marquis de Lede defeated the Imperial Army under Claudius Florimund Mercy .
prehistory
While the imperial army in Syrmia was preparing for a war against the Turks, the Spaniards occupied the lost possessions in Sardinia and Sicily in 1717 and 1718, contrary to the provisions of the Treaty of Utrecht .
After the end of the War of the Spanish Succession , the Kingdom of Sardinia to Austria and Sicily was awarded to the Duke of Savoy. On August 2, 1718, the emperor signed a new alliance with England against the illegal act on the part of Spain, which the Duke of Savoy also joined on September 16 ( war of the quadruple alliance ).
As early as July 1, 1718, a strong Spanish fleet had appeared off Palermo and on the following day put a strong army under Juan Francisco de Bette, Marquis de Lede at Mondello and Ficarazza ashore. The English admiral George Byng had sailed with a squadron from England on June 12 and appeared off Naples on August 1 . On August 11, 1718, the Spanish fleet under Admiral Antonio Castaneta was defeated at Cape Passaro , on the southern tip of Sicily. As a result, the army, which had previously landed on Sicily, was cut off from the sea connections, but retained its combat strength because it could also supply itself from the land. The imperial occupation in the citadel of Messina surrendered to the Marquis de Lede on September 29, 1718 on free retreat.
From October 13th, the British fleet landed on Genoa and Reggio, an Austrian corps of 8,000 men under the Viceroy of Naples, Count Wirich Philipp von Daun on the coast of Sicily. On October 15, 1718, the Spaniards were able to beat their opponents at Milazzo . However, the Austrians kept a small bridgehead near Milazzo and were able to strengthen themselves successfully in winter. At the end of January 1719, the Spanish army in Sicily, which was also further strengthened, numbered around 30,000 soldiers, the Austrians are said to have only been 18,000 strong. By June 1719 the Austrians were able to strengthen themselves to 21,000 men with British help. The Count of Mercy, appointed Austrian commander in April, prepared in mid-June to attack the positions taken by the Spaniards near Francavilla.
Course of the battle
The Imperial attack was carried out in three columns on the morning of June 20th. Lieutenant Field Marshal von Seckendorf and the Count of Wallis formed the left flank, Feldzeugmeister Zum Junge and his corps stood in the middle of a valley. The departments of Field Marshal-Lieutenant Eck and the Marquis of Roma had to cross the Fiumara, embrace the right flank of the enemy and then storm the dominant heights of the Alcantara valley. Count Mercy wanted to cut off the Spaniards from their rear connections at Taormina . Seckendorf first came across the Spaniards near Francavilla, and the center of the Spaniards, which was based on a well-fortified monastery, also attacked with great impetuosity.
The heat of the day and the overexertion of the troops forced the Austrians to retreat to the heights beyond the Fiumara, where the enemy in the position at Francavilla was further observed. The Marquis de Lede, however, held his own in his positions. Mercy was wounded in the head by a shotgun shot and felt compelled to break off the undecided battle. Marquis de Lede did not pursue the Austrians and gave them the opportunity to quickly recover from their tactical defeat.
consequences
On June 30, the Austrians succeeded in seizing Taorminas almost without a fight. At the beginning of July, Field Marshal Lieutenant Zum Junge took over the supreme command of the imperial family, who on the 16th were able to open the coastal path by taking the Fort of St. Alessio. The Austrians then besieged Messina, which capitulated on July 20th.
The war was only ended by the Treaty of The Hague on February 17, 1720, when the Spanish troops had to evacuate Sicily and were transported home by the British Navy. The regained island of Sicily came into Austrian possession and was united with the Kingdom of Naples, while Sardinia now fell to Savoy .
literature
- Ruggiero Caldarera: La battaglia di Francavilla 20 giugno 1719. Tip. ed. dell 'Etna, Catania 1900.
Individual evidence
- ^ David G. Chandler: The Art of Warfare in the Age of Marlborough. 2nd edition, Spellmount, Staplehurst 1990, p. 305. All statistics from Chandler.