MAGENTA, a town of Lombardy, Italy, province of Milan, 16 m. W. of it by rail, 364 ft. above sea-level, in the midst of rice fields. Pop. (1931), 12,639. It manufactures silks and matches.
Magenta was the scene of a battle on June 4, 1859, between the Franco-Sardinians under Napoleon III. and Austrians com manded by Gyulai. Hearing from a spy that the Austrians were ready to oppose a crossing between Pavia-Piacenza, Napoleon adapted Jomini's plan—flank march from Alessandria to Novara, turning the enemy's right on Novara-Milan road. The Allies reached Novara on June 1. Gyulai retired next day over the Ticino, though Napoleon was unaware of which side of the river the enemy was standing. He therefore ordered a Guard division to occupy Trecate on June 3, sending over MacMahon with a Guard division at Turbigo. Making for Magenta, June 4, he was to draw to his sector strong hostile forces, thereby easing Napoleon's advance over Ticino. The Sardinians were to follow MacMahon, but the roads being blocked, only one division reached him at the close of battle. The I., III. and IV. Corps were left around Novara. The Allies numbered 140,000 men with 291 guns, the Austrians 112,000 with 400 guns. However, only
52,00o French and 6o,000 Austrians actually participated in this day's fighting. Early on June 4, Napoleon, ascertaining that the Austrians were across the Ticino, realized that he would be unable to use the bulk of his forces, the roads being everywhere congested. Millinet's Guard division reached San Martino at 10 A.M., heavy fighting ensuing, but he was not to advance over the canal till MacMahon approached. He was supported by a division III. Corps. Both faced the Austrian I. and II. Corps. MacMahon began his march at 9 A.M., capturing Bernate at noon and approaching, later, Buffalora, was brought to a standstill. At Ponte Vecchio severe fighting occurred, troops of the III. and IV. Corps confronting III. and VII. Austrian corps. At 4 P.M. Mac Mahon advanced again, Buffalora being captured, while the Guards from San Martino also participated. At Ponte Vecchio fierce fighting continued, but only after Magenta fell did Gyulai give orders to evacuate it, seeing the exhausted state of his troops of the right wing. Both opponents bivouacked on the field, the Austrians retreating eastwards in the early hours of the morning.