The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic wars raged in Italy for 23 years. In that time; no fewer than eight campaigns involving hundred of thousands of troops were mounted in the Italian peninsula; as France and Austria struggled over this secondary; but still vitally important theater of war. As Frederick Schneid demonstrates in this groundbreaking work; control of Italy was rightly seen by Napoleon as an important means of applying strategic pressure on the Austrians; while simultaneously providing security for France's vulnerable southern flank. As the first in-depth consideration of the struggle for strategically key region; this book places the Italian campaigns into their proper historical context.Beginning with a geo-strategic overview of the Italian peninsula and its place in French and Austrian calculations; Schneid moves on to a careful consideration of the major campaigns that began in 1805; 1809; and 1813. These include studies of the battles at Caldiero; Wagram; and Mincio. The book also provides appendices with complete orders of battle for each campaign.
#3030110 in Books Penn State Press 2012-11-29Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 10.00 x .86 x 8.00l; 2.44 #File Name: 0271053836220 pages
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