Custozza, Battle of

In the Seven Weeks' War, Austrian victory over the Italians 24 June 1866. Italy had allied with Prussia against Austria at the start of the war and set out to recover Venice. Their advance was halted by the defeat at Custozza, 20 km/12 mi southwest of Verona, northern Italy, but the war eventually ended with Austria having to cede Venice to the Italians.

An army led by Victor Emmanuel and the Marquis de La Marmora advanced east to confront an Austrian army advancing west from Venice under command of the Archduke Albert. The two met at Custozza, where the Italians put up a spirited defence against successive Austrian attacks. Had La Marmora used his reserves, he would probably have won the battle, but he was outmanoeuvred by the Archduke, and after about nine hours of combat the Italians collapsed.