Battle of Staffarda

The battles of Staffarda (August 18th 1690) in Italy is one of the bloodiest battles of the conflict which opposed Louis XIV to the duke of Savoy, Victor-Amédée II, which had refused to yield the Citadelle Turin to king de France as a sign of fidelity. She concludes herself by a French victory over the Ligue from Augsburg.

The battle proceeded close to the Abbaye of Staffarda, a place of a great historical value and cultural, from which it draws its name. Victor-Amédée II awaited the arrival of the imperial troops, which could have modified the exit of the battle and the fate even of the duchy, but when he learned the effective number of the troops from Nicolas de Catinat, only 18 000 men, he thought of being able to face it without assistance of Spain. The general Eugene of Savoy, like the marquis de Louvigny, ordering Spanish troops, were not of the same opinion. But Victor-Amédée, listening to only his enthusiasm, attacked immediately.

The ground was muddy and unhealthy. Desired Victor-Amédée to align his troops on two rows, making pass the right wing on a marshy ground and that of left at the edge of the Po. The center of the troops was consisted of the fine flower of the Spanish and Piedmontese cavalry. It made occupy the farms around Staffarda. Contrary, he did not judge necessary to control an old dam, however important to touch the French side. He left too much free space between the farms, which would have made it possible Catinat to penetrate the Piedmontese lines.

Catinat ordered with its dragon S to cross the troops posted to defend the farms: the Piedmontese one were impressed by the enemy projection, and had to be withdrawn. Victor-Amédée fought without slackening to take again his positions, but from now on the general of San Silvestre had succeeded in involving himself in the middle of the battle field, and the exit of the conflict seemed irrevocable. While that occurred, Catinat ordered with the second line to advance: the impact was so hard that it dispersed the Savoyard face and Victor-Amédée had to order the retirement.

The retirement of the Savoyard army was defended by the Guards and the Carabinier S of Savoy, while the large one of the troop was folded up on Carignano and Moncalieri.

The Piedmontese one and the Spaniards lost 4000 men, 1200 were made prisoners and 1500 were wounded. Among the losses, eleven guns and much of flags. Benefitting from success, Catinat occupied Savigliano and Saluzzo.

Sources

External bond

brigadedesavoie.free.fr

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