The Treaty of Zurich is signed between France, Austria, and Piedmont-Sardinia

Representatives met in Zurich in August and September to formalize the agreement to end the war between France, Piedmont-Sardinia, and Austria. The final details were little changed from the earlier armistice in July and the document was signed in Zurich. Piedmont-Sardinia received Lombardy but, to the great disappointment of Italian nationalism, other states like Venice or Tuscany remained under Austrian control or influence. (By John Osborne)
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Representatives of Austria, France, and Piedmont-Sardinia meet in Zurich to negotiate a permanent end to the war in Italy

In July, the Emperor Napoleon had met with the Emperor of Austria in the Italian town of Villafranca and agreed an cease-fire in the increasingly bloody war between France, Piedmont-Sardinia, and Austria. Representatives met in Zurich in August and September to formalize the agreement worked out earlier. The final details were little changed from the earlier armistice. Piedmont-Sardinia received Lombardy but to the great disappointment of Italian nationalism, other states like Venice or Tuscany remained under Austrian control or influence. (By John Osborne)

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Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria and Emperor Napoleon III of France sign an armistice at Villafranca in Italy

Emperor Napoleon, fearing further advances against Austria would involve the German Confederation in the conflict, met the Emperor of Austria in the Italian town of Villafranca and agreed a ceasefire. The main terms of the armistice outraged Napoleon's Italian allies, since the central Italian rulers overthrown during the war were to be restored to power, halting the popular drive to unification of Italy. In reality, turning back the Italian clock proved unworkable and Modena, Palma, and Tuscany became part of Piedmont-Sardinia in 1860. (By John Osborne)

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Empress Eugenie of France, detail

Scanned by
New York Public Library
Notes
Cropped, sized, and prepared for use here by John Osborne, Dickinson College, December 4, 2008.
Image type
engraving
Use in Day View?
No
Courtesy of
Humanities and Social Science Library, New York Public Library
Permission to use?
Yes
Original caption
Empress Eugenie
Source citation
Historical and Public Figures Collection, NYPL Digital Gallery
Source note
Original image at NYPLDigitalGallery

Empress Eugenie of France

Scanned by
New York Public Library
Notes
Cropped, sized, and prepared for use here by John Osborne, Dickinson College, December 4, 2008.
Image type
engraving
Use in Day View?
No
Courtesy of
Humanities and Social Science Library, New York Public Library
Permission to use?
Yes
Original caption
Empress Eugenie
Source citation
Historical and Public Figures Collection, NYPL Digital Gallery
Source note
Original image at NYPLDigitalGallery

Jean Henri Dunant, detail

Scanned by
Library of Congress
Notes
Cropped, sized, and prepared for use here by John Osborne, Dickinson College, December 4, 2008.
Image type
photograph
Use in Day View?
No
Courtesy of
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division
Permission to use?
Public
Original caption
Jean Henri Dunant (1828-1910) Swiss author and philanthropist, founder of the Red Cross Society (an early photograph)
Source citation
Farm Security Administration-Office of War Information Photograph Collection, Library of Congress

Jean Henri Dunant

Scanned by
Library of Congress
Notes
Cropped, sized, and prepared for use here by John Osborne, Dickinson College, December 4, 2008.
Image type
photograph
Use in Day View?
No
Courtesy of
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division
Permission to use?
Public
Original caption
Jean Henri Dunant (1828-1910) Swiss author and philanthropist, founder of the Red Cross Society (an early photograph)
Source citation
Farm Security Administration-Office of War Information Photograph Collection, Library of Congress

Battlefield carnage inspires Henri Durant to found what will become the International Red Cross

Swiss businessman Jean Henri Dunant witnessed the sufferings of the thousands of wounded left on the battlefield in the heavy thunderstorms that followed the Battle of Solferino. He organized local volunteers to help but more importantly became determined to ensure that such sufferings be mollified in the future. From his efforts grew both the Geneva Conventions and the foundation of the International Red Cross at a meeting on February 17, 1863, also in Geneva. In 1901, Dunant received the first Nobel Peace Prize awarded. (By John Osborne)
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Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria and Emperor Napoleon III meet in battle at Solferino in Italy

With the Emperors of Austria and France present on the battlefield and in nominal command, the French and Piedmont-Sardinian forces defeated the Austrians at the Battle of Solferino in northern Italy. More than 200,000 men were engaged in a nine-hour battle made worse at its close by heavy thunderstorms. Both armies suffered around three thousand killed and more than 10,000 wounded while the French and Italians captured more than 8000 Austrians. This was the last full battle of the war and within three weeks an armistice was called. This would also be the last major battle in history where heads of state were in direct command on the battlefield on both sides. (By John Osborne)
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Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria takes personal command of his armies in Italy

Defeat at the Battle of Magenta saw the Austrian withdraw across eastern Lombardy leaving the capital city of Milan to the French and Piedmont-Sardinian forces. Emperor Franz Joseph I dismissed Count Guylai, the defeated Austrian commander, and took personal command of his armies. (By John Osborne)
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