Battle of Velletri (1744)

The Battle of Velletri occurred on 12 August 1744 in the War of the Austrian Succession, between Austria and the Kingdom of Naples. After seizing Velletri in a nighttime attack and capturing much of King Charles' royal entourage, the Austrian army joined battle with Charles' army outside the city.

Battle of Velletri
Part of the War of the Austrian Succession
Charles VII of Naples at the Battle of Velletri by Camillo Guerra. Oil on canvas (1850).
Date 12 August 1744 Location Velletri (present-day Italy) Result Spanish-Neapolitan victory Austrian invasion of the Kingdom of Naples crippled
Belligerents
Kingdom of Naples Kingdom of Spain	Habsburg Monarchy
Commanders and leaders
Charles VII of Naples Duke of Castropignano Comte de Gages	Prince of Lobkowicz
Strength
12,000	10,000
Casualties and losses
Less than half of those of the enemy	2,000 dead 2,000 captured

The Austrians were rapidly thrown back and retreated north toward Rome with Charles in pursuit.

Legacy

Act 3 of the drama Don Álvaro o la fuerza del sino Ángel de Saavedra, Duke of Rivas, and the opera La forza del destino by Giuseppe Verdi, based on Saavedra's play, is set during the Battle of Velletri.

Notes

References

• Levillain, Philippe (2002), The Papacy: An Encyclopedia, Routeledge, ISBN 0-415-92230-5