Siege of Turin

The Siege of Turin was a major military event in 1706. It took place during the War of the Spanish Succession. This war began because King Charles II of Spain died in 1700. He had no children to inherit his throne. He named Philip of Anjou as his heir. Philip was the grandson of the French King Louis XIV. This caused a conflict between France and the Grand Alliance. The Grand Alliance included several nations working together. The fight in Northern Italy was very important for controlling territory.

A siege is a military tactic used to surround a city. The goal is to cut off supplies and force a surrender. In 1706, the French army surrounded Turin. Turin was the capital of the Duchy of Savoy. By this time, France occupied most of the Duchy. Only the city of Turin remained under Savoyard control. The French siege operations began on June 2, 1706. The French army was led by Louis de la Feuillade. He aimed to capture the city to secure French power in the region.

Turin had a very strong defense system. The city was divided into an outer area and a central fort. This central fort is called a citadel. The citadel had been improved using designs by a famous engineer named Vauban. Much of the citadel was actually underground. This included tunnels used for counter-sapping operations. Counter-sapping is the act of digging tunnels to find and stop enemy tunnels. The French tried to use mines to break into these tunnels.

One soldier named Pietro Micca became a famous hero during this siege. On August 31, the French tried to break into a tunnel under the citadel. To stop them, Micca exploded a mine. This action prevented the French from entering the tunnel. He died in the process. Because of his actions, the citadel remained protected. Many years later, Micca became a symbol of Italian patriotism. His story was even used in a 1938 film.

Prince Eugene of Savoy led the relief forces to help Turin. A relief force is an army sent to break a siege. Eugene was a very skilled and fast commander. He marched his army 200 miles in just 24 days. During this march, his troops crossed four major rivers. He also moved through lines drawn between mountains and the sea. On August 29, he reached Carmagnola. There, he joined forces with Victor Amadeus II of Sardinia. Together, they formed a powerful Allied force.

The final battle happened on September 7, 1706. The Allied army concentrated at a place called Collegno. The French forces were spread out along their defenses. Prince Eugene divided his army into eight different columns. He used these columns to attack the French lines. After a heavy exchange of artillery fire, the Allies launched a general assault. The fighting was very fierce. Eventually, the French lines broke. The French were forced to withdraw from Northern Italy. They abandoned their heavy siege artillery during the retreat.

The numbers from the siege show how intense the fighting was. The French suffered about 10,000 losses, including deaths from disease. The garrison defending the city lost about 4,500 people. In the final battle, French casualties ranged from 7,000 to 9,000. This included many prisoners. The Allied forces lost between 3,500 and 4,800 people. This victory allowed Victor Amadeus II to recover most of his land in Piedmont. However, France held some of his lands until 1713.

The Siege of Turin had lasting effects on European politics. The war in Italy ended with the Convention of Milan in 1707. This agreement was signed by France, Savoy, and the Emperor. It changed which countries controlled parts of Italy. Even today, the siege is remembered in Turin. There is an annual parade to honor the event.

In 2004, workers building a parking lot found 22 skeletons. Scientists believe these were soldiers from the 1706 siege. These discoveries help us connect with the real people of the past.