Battles & Campaigns · 1859
Armistice of Villafranca
Villafranca di Verona, Veneto, Italy
What happened
Emperor Napoleon III of France and Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria agreed the armistice, and King Victor Emmanuel II of Sardinia also signed. France and Sardinia had beaten Austria at Magenta and Solferino. The two emperors met at Villafranca and agreed that Austria would give up Lombardy but keep Venetia. Napoleon III made the deal without consulting his Sardinian allies.
Why it matters
Why it matters: It ended the Second Italian War of Independence. Sardinia's prime minister Cavour resigned in protest.
What came next
The Treaty of Zürich confirmed it in November 1859. Central Italian states soon joined Sardinia, and France received Nice and Savoy in 1860.
Did you know?
Victor Emmanuel signed only 'for all that concerns me', limiting his promise.
Timeline
- 24 June 1859Battle of Solferino.
- 11 July 1859The two emperors meet at Villafranca.
- 12 July 1859The armistice is signed.
- 24 March 1860Treaty of Turin.