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To understand the Siege of Turin, it’s essential to start with some contextual information. Upon the death of Charles II of Habsburg of Spain without heirs in 1700, France and Austria contested the conquest of the Spanish kingdom.

Leopold I of Habsburg and Louis XIV of France both laid claims to Spain. Both were married to the sister and half-sister of Charles II, respectively. The Habsburgs considered themselves legitimate heirs as they belonged to the same ruling dynasty in Spain. The French, on the other hand, referred to the will of Charles II, which left the kingdom to Philip of Bourbon, grandson of Louis XIV. This context sparked what is known as the War of Spanish Succession.

The European geopolitics of the time placed the Duchy of Savoy at the center of the war. It bordered France to the west and the Spanish-owned Lombard territories to the east. If the French had won, Piedmont would have been completely surrounded by the kingdom of Louis XIV, with little chance of future survival and independence.

Vittorio Amedeo II, supported by Prince Eugene of Savoy, commander of the Austrian troops, decided in 1703 to ally with the Habsburgs to maintain the balance at the state’s borders. This, of course, angered the French. Acknowledging the situation, in 1705 they moved towards Turin with a massive army intending to conquer it.

Defense and attack strategy

The defense of the city was organized by Antonio Bertola, with the support of all the citizens. He reinforced the Citadella, expanding the network of underground tunnels and creating secure and protected positions for the riflemen. The reinforcement work continued throughout the winter. About 10,000 men were recruited and trained. They were divided into royal battalions and Piedmontese battalions, cavalry, artillerymen, and miners. By the spring of 1706, Turin was probably the best-fortified city in all of Europe.

The attack plan was initially devised by the French marshal Sebastien Le Prestre de Vauban. An expert in siege techniques, he suggested a lateral attack on the city, fearing the extensive network of tunnels of the Citadel. However, he never took part in the military offensive on the field. This role was assigned to General Duke de la Feuillade, who disregarded the advice and decided to attack frontally.

The siege of Turin: prologue

The siege began on May 14, 1706. Arrived with about 44,000 soldiers, the French more than four times the size of the Piedmontese army.

A picturesque coincidence immediately infused enthusiasm among the people of Turin. Two days earlier, a solar eclipse occurred. This was considered an excellent omen for the Piedmontese, as Louis XIV was known as the Sun King, and the eclipse indicated his defeat.

The entire city actively participated in the defense. Food came from city gardens, accumulated supplies, or farms near the Po River. After about a month of siege, on June 8, the French general Feuillade offered Duke Vittorio Amedeo II the chance to leave Turin unharmed to avoid being targeted. It is said that the duke responded with a famous phrase, encouraging the population to resist: “My lodging is where the battle is fiercest.”

A few days later, on July 17, the duke left Turin with 4,000 soldiers. The goal was to carry out disruptive actions in occupied Piedmont to distract the French from the siege. Feuillade pursued him with an army of 10,000 men. However, when Vittorio Amedeo took refuge in Val Pellice, the French suspended the pursuit and returned to Turin on July 20. They deemed it too risky to continue in unfamiliar and rugged territory.

The siege of Turin: Pietro Micca

In August, despite excellent preparations and strenuous resistance, the people of Turin began to suffer. The siege of Turin was becoming increasingly tight. The French managed to block supplies coming from outside the city. Gunpowder and explosives were scarce. Between August 13 and 14, the French, despite heavy losses, managed to penetrate one of the tunnels of the Citadella. The defenders managed to blow up the tunnel at the last moment, just in time to save Turin and bury the enemy.

On August 24, the French launched another offensive on the Citadella with 38 companies of grenadiers. Turin defended itself again, but it cost the lives of over 400 people.

Between August 29 and 30, the French troops once again managed to penetrate an underground tunnel of the Citadella. On this occasion, the city was saved by the heroic act of Pietro Micca, who sacrificed himself in the explosion of an underground tunnel to stop the attackers.

The siege of Turin: the vow

However, a French victory seemed imminent. Even the Duke of Orleans, captain of the French army, arrived in Turin to witness the capitulation.

The Piedmontese still had a resource, perhaps underestimated by the army of Louis XIV. Prince Eugene of Savoy, head of the Austrian troops, was marching to aid Turin with about 20,000 soldiers. He camped at the end of August in Villastellone, not far from the city. He then went to meet Vittorio Amedeo II.

On September 2, they climbed the hill of Superga to get an overview of the city and the disposition of the French troops. Here, Vittorio Amedeo II made the famous vow and they prepared their battle plan. They decided to conquer the castle of Pianezza to interrupt the French ammunition supply chain. The plan continued with the attack of Prince Eugene’s troops in the northwest area of the city, where the enemy seemed weaker and more vulnerable. Additionally, without adequate supplies from Pianezza, they would not be able to resist such a large army.

The siege of Turin: Maria Bricca

This is where Maria Bricca comes into play. Born as Maria Chiaberge, she married Valentino Bricco in 1705, who was twenty years older than her. She had her first child during the siege in June 1706. She died in 1834 at the age of 49.

Prince Eugene learned that Maria Bricca lived near the castle of Pianezza. Additionally, she had served as a cook inside the castle. It is said that she knew a secret passage to access the castle. On the night of September 5-6, 1706, Maria Bricca guided, or at least gave detailed directions to, the Austrian troops who managed to sneak into the castle. They burst into the banquet hall, killing and capturing many French. Most importantly, they interrupted the supply of weapons and ammunition to the troops besieging Turin. This event was of great importance for the continuation of the fight.

Siege of Turin: epilogue

September 6. The Savoyard troops positioned themselves between the Dora and Stura rivers. September 7 marked the final battle!

Prince Eugene’s plan involved a breakthrough on the right flank by the Prussian infantry commanded by Prince Leopold I of Anhalt-Dessau. The French resistance was tenacious, but on the fourth attempt, the breakthrough succeeded, thanks in part to the lack of ammunition among the enemies, due to the significant contribution of Maria Bricca.

The French cavalry’s counterattack was easily repelled. In fact, the Piedmontese attacked again, forcing the enemies to flee beyond the Po River. Incidentally, Vittorio Amedeo II also participated in this offensive.

The siege was over. Vittorio Amedeo II and Prince Eugene of Savoy re-entered Turin through Porta Palazzo. They were greeted with a solemn Te Deum of thanksgiving in the Turin Cathedral.

Ending

The clash resonated throughout Europe. Therefore, it is worth remembering some numbers:

• 44,000 French soldiers against about 10,500 Turin defenders
• The losses were significant: 3,000 men among the Austro-Piedmontese and 6,000 French casualties. Additionally, about 7,700 French died from their wounds.
• It is estimated that during the siege, the French launched 95,000 cannonballs, 21,000 bombs, and about 28,000 grenades on Turin.
• Some of these cannonballs are still visible in Piazza San Carlo, Monte dei Cappuccini, and on the dome of the Consolata.
• At the beginning of the siege, the people of Turin could count on 1,800 various rifles (with bayonets and without), over 200 muskets, 350 cavalry muskets, 20 carbines, and various ammunition.
• It is estimated that the Franco-Spanish forces had 250 cannons and 60 mortars.
• The French also used incendiary balls called boulet-rouges. These were launched into areas of the city most susceptible to fires.
• The siege of Turin lasted 117 days.
• Some historians consider the siege of Turin the beginning of the Risorgimento.
• In 2006, on the occasion of the third centenary, the battle was reenacted with a large historical reconstruction involving historical associations from all over Europe.