The Battle of Novara occurred as part of the Italian Wars of Independence, with the aim of liberating northern Italy from Austrian control. The Kingdom of Sardinia, under King Charles Albert, had made multiple attempts to dislodge the Austrians from Italy, leading to a series of confrontations. By early 1849, however, the tide began to turn against the Piedmontese forces, as the Austrians, commanded by Field Marshal Joseph Radetzky, regrouped and reinforced their troops, becoming more determined than ever to maintain control of the region.

The battle was characterized by fierce fighting, with around 50,000 troops engaged on each side. Despite initial hopes for victory among the Piedmontese ranks, Radetzky’s superior tactics and artillery ultimately overwhelmed the Sardinian forces. The battle turned into a rout after a prolonged struggle. The Austrian artillery proved decisive in breaking the Piedmontese lines, leading to chaos among their ranks and eventually forcing a retreat. The aftermath of the battle saw thousands of French Piedmontese soldiers killed and wounded.

In the wake of the defeat, Charles Albert announced his abdication of the throne, paving the way for his son Victor Emmanuel II, who would later become an important figure in the unification of Italy. The Battle of Novara set back the movement for Italian unification significantly, reaffirming Austrian control over much of northern Italy until the later successes of the unified Italian state in the 1860s.