Battle of Solferino

E49593

The Battle of Solferino was a major 1859 clash in the Second Italian War of Independence whose horrific casualties inspired Henry Dunant to advocate for humanitarian reform, ultimately leading to the creation of the Red Cross and the Geneva Conventions.


Statements (44)
Predicate Object
instanceOf battle
historical event
aftermath Armistice of Villafranca
cession of Lombardy to France and then to Sardinia
alsoKnownAs Battaglia di Solferino
belligerent Austrian Empire
Kingdom of Sardinia
Second French Empire
casualties tens of thousands killed and wounded
causeOf humanitarian reform in warfare
combatantStrength large Austrian army
large Franco-Sardinian army
commander Franz Joseph I of Austria
General Ludwig von Benedek
Marshal François Certain de Canrobert
Marshal Patrice de MacMahon
Napoleon III
Victor Emmanuel II
conflict Second Italian War of Independence
countryAtTime Austrian Empire
date 1859-06-24
followedBy Armistice of Villafranca
inspired Henry Dunant
creation of the International Committee of the Red Cross
development of the Geneva Conventions
foundation of the Red Cross movement
inspiredWork A Memory of Solferino
legacy key reference point in international humanitarian law history
symbol of the need for neutral humanitarian aid in war
location Kingdom of Lombardy–Venetia NERFINISHED
Lombardy
Solferino
notableFeature chaotic and inadequate medical care for wounded soldiers
large-scale use of rifled muskets and artillery
partOf Italian unification
Second Italian War of Independence
precededBy Battle of Magenta
result Franco-Sardinian victory
scale one of the largest battles in Europe between Waterloo and World War I
significance contributed to the unification of Italy
decisive battle of the Second Italian War of Independence
theatre Italian theatre of the Second Italian War of Independence
typeOfEngagement pitched battle
year 1859

Referenced by (6)
Subject (surface form when different) Predicate
Battle of Solferino ("Battaglia di Solferino")
alsoKnownAs
A Memory of Solferino
describesEvent
Kingdom of Sardinia ("Second Italian War of Independence")
event
Henry Dunant
influencedBy
A Memory of Solferino
mainSubject
Henry Dunant
witnessed

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