Custozza

a village in Lombardy, Italy, 20 km southwest of Verona; two battles were fought in this region.

(1) During the Austro-Italian War of 1848–49 on July 25, 1848, the Italian Army (44,000 men), under the command of the Sardinian king Charles Albert, because of inadequate leadership, was defeated by the Austrian Army (52,000 men), under the command of Field Marshal Joseph Radetzky; after this, on August 9, Charles Albert concluded an ignominious truce.

(2) During the Austro-Italian War of 1866 a battle occurred on June 24 between the Italian Army (107,000 men and 192 guns), under the command of the Italian king Victor Emmanuel II (the chief of army staff, General La Marmora, was actually in command) and the Austrian Army (75,000 men and 178 guns), under the command of Archduke Albert. The battle proceeded with variable success, depending on the numbers of the forces coming from the interior. The Austrians, concentrating their superior forces at Custozza, hurled back the Italians but did not pursue them, and this saved the Italian Army from being totally routed. The defeat at Custozza forced Italy temporarily to give up launching another offensive on Venice.