Description
In the 1840s, Italy was a patchwork of states. The North was ruled by the Austrian Empire, the South by the Spanish-descended monarchy of the Two Sicilies. Over the next two decades, after wars led by Savoy/Piedmont and volunteers such as Garibaldi, an independent Kingdom of Italy emerged. These conflicts saw foreign interventions and shifting alliances among minor states, and attracted a variety of local and foreign volunteers.
This second volume in a two part series covers the armies of the Papal States; the duchies of Tuscany, Parma, and Modena; the republics of Rome and San Marco (Venice) and the transitional Kingdom of Sicily; and the various volunteer movements. These varied armies and militias wore a wide variety of highly colourful uniforms which are brought to life in stunning, specially commissioned, full colour artwork from Giuseppe Rava.
Introduction: overview of 'Second War of Independence' (1859); Garibaldi's rising in the South (1860); events of 1861–66; and 'Third War of Independence' (1866–70)/ Chronology/ 1866 campaign: battle of Custoza, and naval clash off Lissa/ Conquest of Rome from Papal forces, 1870/ The Papal army, 1848–70: organization, uniforms, weapons, and tactical performance/ The minor states' armies, 1848–70: organization, uniforms, weapons and tactical performance of forces of Grand Duchy of Tuscany, Duchy of Parma and Duchy of Modena/ Patriots and volunteers: organization, uniforms, weapons and tactical performance of Italian patriots and foreign volunteers, 1848–70, particularly (1848–49) Roman Republic, San Marco Republic and Kingdom of Sicily, and (1848–61), Garibaldi's Redshirts and others/ Select Bibliography/ Plate Commentaries.
