Report
Category
Manuscripts and documents
Date
20 May 1799
Materials
Paper
Measurements
310 x 220 mm
Place of origin
Italy
Order this imageCollection
Attingham Park, Shropshire
NT 608922
Summary
Document in Italian, dated 20th May 1799. A Report of events at Oneglia.
Full description
Document in Italian. A morale-boosting report of events at Oneglia (a town in northern Italy) on 20th May 1799. The report praises the people of Oneglia for their perseverance and bravery in the war against the ‘ferocious Republicans’, as well their loyalty to God. It suggests that God rewarded the people’s faith by sending the Austro-Russian army to help them fight off the Republicans and liberate Italy from its ‘wicked enemies’. The report recounts the victory of the people of Oneglia who killed 300 enemies with only 30 deaths among their ranks, thanks to the unexpected help of Count Suvorov of Russia. While the Republicans are still resisting Suvorov’s strong force, there is hope that they will surrender. The people of Oneglia are praised for their courage, zeal and willingness to fight and die for the king. The enemy has threatened the Catholic religion in Italy and deposed the king. However, the report glorifies the Italian victory over the supposedly invincible French army and suggests that the king will soon be reinstated thanks to the allied army. The report inspires hatred of Italy’s enemies, namely the French Republican army, and expresses gratitude for the assistance received from the Austro-Russian army. A rough translation: Report of what happened at Oneglia on 20th May 1799 Amid the tumult of the war, at the mercy of the ferocious Republicans, in the grip of their malevolent positions, this city never stopped, and the province directed its gaze and addressed all its vows to the Revered, its sovereign, and hoped for his glorious return. Italy’s misfortunates were at their peak; when the benevolent God, tired of suffering such oppression and insulted to see his altars desecrated and crushed in the most offensive ways, and the breaking of his holy law, in the most unexpected time and way, helped us against the armies from the north, by uniting and forming the invincible Austro-Russian army, winning everywhere and liberating Italy from its wicked enemies. At this time, when the Piedmont provinces bordering Lombardy were dissolved by the tyrannical rule, this population could no longer contain itself. The armed countrymen rained down upon this city en masse, they drove the French away, and after several days, came to blows with the bordering Ligurian region, the patriots, and the French numbering 1500, they achieved victory, killing 300 enemies, and this with the loss of only around 30 of our countrymen. In the meantime, couriers have been sent to Count Suvorov [Alexander Suvorov, Russian military leader], Commander in Chief who, together with almost all of Piedmont, overturned the shameful rule under which we suffered, at a time when we thought there was no hope of assistance or unity. In this situation, it was necessary for him to stabilise communications with Piedmont for half of the occupation of the parish church and, to that effect, he dispatched himself with an impressive force of around 3000 men with 2 cannons, but the enemy still resists although holed up in that country. We hope, however, that on this night, they will have to surrender and then we must extend the line of our forces on the Riviera of Ponente and carry out the most important operations. The energy of this population, its unconquered courage in the face of the attacks gained the admiration of the same enemies; all were ready to fight until the end and to die for the king at any moment. The official commander, the members of the city, the deputies of the province are all full of zeal for a good cause and are tireless in their service and notoriously well known for their aversion to republican principles. The manifesto, published in Oneglia from the commander general of the Austro-Russian army, with the following content was to be linked to the report: Brave Troop of Piedmont The whole word trembles with horror to see the French, without any declaration of war, driving the king of Sardinia from the throne of his ancestors, seizing his states, and destroying the religion. The army of his majesty the emperor, king of the Romans and that of his majesty the emperor of all of Russia has beaten and dispersed the French army in Italy which boasted invincibility. This allied army is now in Piedmont to restore the good king. Soldiers of Piedmont, abandon those banners, stained by the most nefarious crimes, and reunite yourselves with your liberators to bring the great work of the redemption of Italy to its end. Officials and soldiers will conserve their ranks and their salary. They will not serve an oath except to the king of Sardinia, and they will not be employed except in Italy. Count Alessandro Suvorov, the Commander General of the allied army, field marshal of His Majesty the emperor of the Romans, and His Majesty the emperor of all of Russia.
Provenance
Attingham collection; bequeathed to the National Trust with the estate, house and contents of Attingham by Thomas Henry Noel-Hill, 8th Baron Berwick (1877-1947) on 15th May 1953.