ORDER OF BATTLE // June 4, 1859
Battle of Magenta
Estimated force strength by side, with confidence labels per surviving record.
Forces engaged
2 sides catalogued · combined 108,128 estimated
France
49,945
Medium-confidence figure
Austria
58,183
Medium-confidence figure
Battle context
The Battle of Magenta on 4 June 1859 produced a decisive French-Sardinian victory over the Austrian army under Marshal Gyulay in the Kingdom of Lombardy–Venetia. Napoleon III's crossing of the Ticino River and outflanking of the Austrian right forced Gyulay into retreat, opening the way into Lombardy. Though not large in scale relative to other engagements of the war, the battle's outcome materially advanced the Franco-Sardinian campaign to contest Austrian control of northern Italy. Patrice de MacMahon, whose role was significant enough to earn him the title Duke of Magenta, later rose to serve as President of the French Third Republic, linking this engagement to subsequent French political history.
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