Battles & Campaigns · 1815
Battle of Tolentino
Tolentino, Marche, Italy
What happened
When Napoleon returned from exile in 1815, Murat, king of Naples, declared war on Austria. Pushed back toward Ancona, he tried to defeat Bianchi's corps near Tolentino. After two days of fighting around Rancia Castle, Murat broke off the battle when he heard of other Austrian advances.
Why it matters
Why it matters: It was the decisive battle of the Neapolitan War and an Austrian victory. It led to the return of the Bourbon king, Ferdinand I, to Naples.
What came next
The Treaty of Casalanza ended the war on 20 May 1815, and Ferdinand I became king again two days later. Murat fled Naples.
Did you know?
Bianchi was captured early in the fighting, but Hungarian hussars freed him almost at once.
Timeline
- 2 May 1815Battle of Tolentino begins.
- 3 May 1815Murat breaks off and retreats.
- 20 May 1815Treaty of Casalanza.
- 22 May 1815Ferdinand I replaces Murat as king.