Third Italian War of Independence | |||||||||
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Part of the wars of Italian unification and the Austro-Prussian War | |||||||||
Austrian Uhlans charge Italian Bersaglieri during the Battle of Custoza. Painting by Juliusz Kossak | |||||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||||
Kingdom of Italy Supported by: Prussia | |||||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
Johann II | |||||||||
Strength | |||||||||
Mincio Army
Total: 120,000 men Po Army
Total: 80,000 men Garibaldi's forces
Total: 20,000 men Total: 220,000 men |
South Army
Liechtenstein Army Total: 80 men Total: 130,000–190,000 men | ||||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||||
11,197[1]
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9,727[2]
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The Third Italian War of Independence (Italian: Terza guerra d'indipendenza italiana) was a war between the Kingdom of Italy and the Austrian Empire fought between June and August 1866. The conflict paralleled the Austro-Prussian War and resulted in Austria conceding the region of Venetia (present-day Veneto, Friuli, and the city of Mantua, the last remnant of the Quadrilatero) to France, which was later annexed by Italy after a plebiscite. Italy's acquisition of this wealthy and populous territory represented a major step in the Unification of Italy.