Chapter 146: Liberation of Italy (Part 1)

After discussing these matters, Napoleon continued to inspire his troops. He told them, "In Italy, you'll find greedy and ruthless nobles and clergy everywhere. The former have accumulated immense wealth through centuries, if not millennia, of exploiting their people unjustly. The latter have gathered staggering riches by selling indulgences and amassing guilt on an unprecedented scale across all of Europe.

Now, they use this ill-gotten wealth to oppose us because they fear the revolutionary France. They fear that revolutionary France will become a beacon of democracy and freedom for all of Europe. They are afraid that those people they've oppressed for hundreds, even thousands of years, those they've trampled on like mud, will rise just as our fellow citizens in France did and overthrow these oppressors.

My brothers, this wealth originally belonged to the people, especially that of the clergy, and it belongs to all of Europe, including the French people. It was meant to be used for the liberation of the European people, but now it's being used to suppress their freedom. Can this continue?

So, we should march into Italy, seize this wealth, and use it where it rightfully belongs. We'll confiscate the assets of the reactionary nobles and clergy, distribute a portion to the local commoners to gain their support, and use the rest, including gold, silver, and various artworks, to fund our military operations and reward our heroes."

These words certainly boosted the morale of the officers, as it essentially meant they'd share in the wealth by going to Italy, enjoying food, and claiming gold, just like Robin Hood. As for the soldiers' morale, the officers present reassured them, explaining that once they understood the significance of this mission, they would be on board. After all, going to Italy meant good food.

The next phase was pre-battle training. New, allegedly diverted firearms quickly reached the hands of the soldiers.

"Are these all rifled barrels? Are we going to hunt wild boars in the Alps?" Many soldiers had this question when they received the new weapons initially. However, after the "Bonaparte Research Institute" technicians demonstrated how to use these new firearms with custom ammunition, the soldiers' skepticism turned to enthusiasm.

"This is excellent, anything with the 'Bonaparte' brand is top-notch! Look at 'Bonaparte Little Melon,' and this 'Bonaparte Rifle'—compared to these, the government-issued ones are just fire sticks! Why didn't they give us these rifles earlier instead of selling them to the Americans?"

"Is it because these rifles are more expensive?" another soldier speculated.

The "technicians," anticipating this question, responded, "Yes, they are somewhat more expensive. After all, the barrels have to be rifled, and the ammunition is custom-made. If we calculate based on the price we export them to the Americans with over a 100% profit, they become significantly pricier. But I've heard that the purchase price for your old rifles wasn't much lower than our offer to the government. You know, we always keep our prices low for weapons sold to our country's army. As for why the government refused to buy our rifles, we don't know. Maybe they didn't trust these innovative gadgets."

The "technicians" were instructed not to directly blame the government but to subtly guide the conversation. As for the soldiers, they weren't naïve and could easily pick up the implied message.

"Oh, if only they'd grease some palms, we would have had these rifles long ago! I'm sure there's some dirty business going on," one soldier immediately said.

"Even if they are pricier, these weapons could save many lives. For a few coins, they left us with these lousy sticks. I say some heads in the government should roll," another soldier said.

"Bouvier, you can't spread such talk in the camp; you need to amend your words," Captain Stanislas Joubert interjected. But his tone wasn't too stern, because deep down, Private Auguste Bouvier's words reflected his own sentiments.

"Alright, Captain," Bouvier scratched his head and said, "You're right. I'll correct my previous statement about the government. Some people in the government don't deserve the guillotine."

The soldiers burst into laughter, and even Captain Stanislas Joubert couldn't help but join in.

"Alright, alright. Without that mouth of yours, you'd have been promoted to sergeant long ago..."

After receiving the new weapons, Napoleon organized his army for more targeted training, such as collective shooting at targets 400 yards away and precise marksmanship at 300 yards. Napoleon had consistently increased the ratio of light infantry in his army, making it easier to adapt to these new firearms.

After nearly a month of preparation, Napoleon led his forces westward toward Italy. One month later, in November 1795, Joseph received the first war report from Napoleon. His army had crossed the Alps in winter, entered Piedmont, and engaged Austrian and Sardinian forces.

To navigate the mountainous terrain, they left behind most cannons weighing over six pounds. However, the winter campaign was unexpected, and the lack of response from the Austrian and Sardinian forces caught them off guard.

Historically, by April 1796, when Napoleon crossed the Alps, Austria and Sardinia had prepared an army of 80,000 soldiers to face Napoleon's 40,000. Yet, the lack of coordination between the two allies almost led to a different outcome.

The unexpected winter campaign took both the Austrian and Sardinian forces by surprise. In this scenario, the lack of manpower proved beneficial for Napoleon. Austrians had around 20,000 troops in Italy and were scattered throughout the region, making centralization difficult.

Sardinia, with a better response, could quickly mobilize around 50,000 troops, although their distribution was dispersed across the nation. Napoleon's army, equipped with Minié rifles, improved firepower significantly. It enabled them to conduct small, specialized operations, given that their size and firepower allowed for better security. In contrast, the Austrians and Sardinians couldn't pose a significant threat with dispersed forces.

Marshal Jean-Baptiste Jourdan wrote to Victor Amadeus III, King of Sardinia, requesting immediate action and concentrating their troops. However, their efforts took time, and Jourdan's subsequent letter advised patience and avoiding a hasty battle with the French.

However, the French didn't attack the Sardinian positions, bypassing them and infiltrating the plains of Piedmont. French troops began to sweep the estates of nobles across the countryside, confiscating whatever portable riches they could find. Some nobles who couldn't escape were captured and held trials in their own estates, establishing "revolutionary courts." Nearby peasants were gathered to witness the hanging of these nobles. French soldiers then publicly burned the nobles' land deeds and declared that these lands would be distributed for free to the peasants cultivating them.

Napoleon was aware that the mere redistribution of land wasn't sufficient to gain the support of the baffled Italian peasants. Still, for now, these actions would prevent them from opposing him. The raids on these estates also temporarily solved the issue of supplies.

Sardinia was not naïve; they began preparing for scorched earth tactics when Napoleon's forces entered the Piedmont plain. Still, their preparations were slow compared to the fast advance of the French troops. Napoleon's scorched earth tactics were more brutal and creative.

French soldiers destroyed the dikes and water supply networks, turning fertile plains into wetlands. Trenches were dug on roads, and trees were felled. The entire region turned into an impassable swamp.

As Sardinian and Austrian troops arrived, they realized it was impossible to intercept the French army, as the French had already moved away, leaving behind nothing useful.

Sardinia lost most of its army, around 30,000 troops, during this campaign of winter 1795, but they still had troops ready and were gathering them around Turin, preparing for a siege. Yet, the French army entered the city with unexpected ease, catching Sardinians off guard.

The siege of Turin was quick, as the defenses were weak due to a shortage of defenders and supplies. In April 1796, Turin fell into French hands.

Victor Amadeus III of Sardinia fled with his family. His nephew, the Duke of Aosta, surrendered and was taken captive, along with his sister-in-law, Maria Teresa, to France, while the rest of the royal family and loyal nobles escaped to Spain. To ensure a more comfortable journey, the Duke and Duchess of Aosta offered to cover their expenses. After reaching the border, Napoleon, who had been polite throughout the journey, handed the Aosta couple some French coins and said, "Keep the change."

As the rulers fled, Piedmontese cities were instructed to cooperate with the French army. Napoleon managed the region well; he issued decrees to relax oppressive taxation and promoted industries. These steps aimed to gain the support of locals, but the true objective was to strip wealth from the clergy and the nobles.

Yet, despite their initial reluctance, many wealthy and influential families in the area found it more convenient to cooperate. They had, after all, benefited from Sardinian oppression and believed that siding with France was a less risky option.

The strategic actions taken by the French army in this winter campaign essentially isolated Sardinia and Austria. They ended up dividing the combined armies, making them easier to deal with, while capturing the economically vital regions of the Plain of Piedmont, the heart of Sardinia. Napoleon, utilizing the Minié rifle's superior range and accuracy, could engage in skirmishes without requiring a large, continuous line of supply.

In a letter to Joseph, Napoleon claimed his advances, although successful, were costly due to the long supply line. He expected that he would need Joseph to apply diplomatic pressure to persuade Austria to back down or, if possible, force them to negotiate.

Meanwhile, Napoleon, aware of the circumstances in the Austrian Netherlands, desired to recruit Joseph's diplomatic skills to initiate peace talks. However, he was cautious about involving his brother directly in the military operations.

Joseph replied to his brother, acknowledging the gravity of the situation and assuring him that he would use his diplomatic skills to the utmost.

While Napoleon was campaigning in Italy, Joseph Bonaparte began his role as the French ambassador in Madrid. The threat of a French invasion loomed large, and many in Spain were aware that war with France was inevitable. Therefore, Joseph's diplomatic mission was to delay that eventuality while securing Spain's support.

To gain Spanish support, he initially offered a deal. In exchange for Spain's neutrality, France would promise not to interfere with Spain's expansion in Portugal, Brazil, and the Rio de la Plata region, a gesture welcomed by many in the Spanish court.

However, King Charles IV and his son Ferdinand VII remained skeptical of the French, even as their country struggled with an economic crisis. Spanish ambassadors in Vienna and London began negotiations for a possible alliance with Austria or Britain, prompting Joseph Bonaparte to take a more aggressive stance.

Determined to bring Spain under French influence and aware of Napoleon's plan to remove King Charles IV in the future, Joseph initiated a campaign of propaganda, using contacts in the Spanish court. His efforts painted a picture of an alliance between Spain and France as a great opportunity to revitalize Spain's declining power and economy.

In the following months, Joseph Bonaparte actively sought to control the influence of other foreign powers in Spain, limiting their ability to undermine the alliance with France. British and Austrian diplomats found their efforts less effective as Joseph increasingly controlled the levers of power.

While facing opposition from various Spanish factions, Joseph skillfully managed to steer the country toward a pro-French alliance. In the latter half of 1795, Spain formally declared its neutrality in the ongoing conflicts in Europe, a significant victory for France.

Joseph, during his time in Madrid, took several steps to strengthen the French-Spanish relationship. He worked with Spain's government to modernize its army and implemented reforms to improve the country's finances. His work on a bilateral treaty, the Treaty of Pardo, solidified the alliance between France and Spain, even though he had to make substantial concessions to secure Spain's support.

By the end of 1795, Napoleon Bonaparte's campaign in Italy was progressing well, as he successfully captured key territories in Piedmont and defeated or isolated the Austrian and Sardinian armies. Joseph Bonaparte, in Madrid, secured Spain's neutrality and eventual alliance with France, marking significant developments in Napoleon's European strategy. These successes paved the way for further expansion of the French Empire in the years to come.

The French Revolution and its impact on Europe were ongoing. As Napoleon expanded the French sphere of influence, he faced challenges and opportunities on multiple fronts. In Italy, the campaign had just begun, and in Spain, the alliance was taking shape. Meanwhile, tensions with other European powers, especially Austria and Britain, remained unresolved, foreshadowing further conflicts and diplomatic maneuvers. Napoleon's strategic vision, along with his family members' support and diplomatic skills, played a crucial role in shaping the course of history.