Battles & Campaigns · 1859
Battle of Palestro
Palestro, Province of Pavia, Italy
What happened
Four Piedmontese divisions crossed the Sesia River and took Palestro and nearby villages. The next day Zobel counterattacked but was driven back. French Zouaves, joined by Victor Emmanuel II, crossed a canal and struck the Austrian side, forcing a retreat.
Why it matters
The Piedmontese troops shielded the French army, letting it march freely to Novara. It was part of the Second Italian War of Independence.
What came next
A few days later the armies met at Magenta, and then at Solferino on 24 June 1859.
Did you know?
It is believed to be the last European battle in which a European monarch rode into the fight himself.
Timeline
- 30–31 May 1859Battle of Palestro.
- 4 Jun 1859Battle of Magenta.
- 24 Jun 1859Battle of Solferino.