The "Radetzky March", Op. 228, (German: Radetzkymarsch; pronounced [ʁaˈdɛtskiˌmaʁʃ] ) is a march composed by Johann Strauss (Senior) which was first performed on 31 August 1848 in Vienna to celebrate the victory of the Austrian Empire under Field Marshal Joseph Radetzky von Radetz (the piece's namesake) over the Italian forces at the Battle of Custoza, during the First Italian War of Independence. It has been noted that its tone is more celebratory than martial, but nevertheless it soon became popular among regimented marching soldiers.