RADETSKY, JOHANN JOSEPH IV'Eszmi., Count of Radetz, and an Austrian field marshal, was born at Tzrebnitz, in Bohemia, in Nov., 1766; and in 1784 entered the Austrian military service as a cadet in a Hungarian cavalry regiment, making his first campaign against the Turks in He took part in the Austrian wars with Napo leon, brilliantly distinguished himself, and rose to the rank of lieut. field-marshal. •After the conclusion or peace, he was stationed mostly in Hungary; but the threatening aspect of affairs in Italy caused him to be sent to take the command of the Austrian army in Lombardy; hostilities were, however, deferred, and Radetsky seized this opportunity of putting Verona in a complete state of defense. The emperor Ferdinand, on his acces sion in 1836, acknowledged Radetsky's ,numerous and valuable services by raising him to the rank of field-marshal. The rebellion at last broke out suddenly in 1848, and Radetsky was forced to retire from Milan and continue his retreat to Verona (April 2). His departure was the signal for a general insurrection, only the renowned Quadrilateral (q.v.) and the citadel of Ferrara remaining in the hands of the Austrians; and the revolt of Venice cut off all Radetsky's communications except that to the Tyrol. The Pied montese army had now effected the passage of the Mincio (May 7), and closely invested i . • Pescinera, thus Radetsky's position an extremely critical one. He had only 50,000 men to oppose to the Piedmontese army of 41,000 men around Peschiera, a corps of observation 6,000 strong near ?rlantua, a body of 4,000 guarding the passage of the Mincio, the Roman army of 14,000 men holding the s. bank of the Po, and an army of Venetian insurge7nts, numbering 15,000, in his rear. Being thus unable to take the offen sive, he waited anxiously for the re-enforcements which he expected by the Illyrian fron tier, and which, after defeating the Venetian and Roman armies which attempted to stop their progress, joined him at Verona, on May 22. The Austrians now assumed the
offensive, and marched ou Mantua, defeating the Italians in two bloody conflicts nt 2dontanara and Curtatone, but were in turn signally vanquished at Goito by Charles Albert, who gained by this victory, the immediate surrender of Pesehiera (May 29), mid rendered Radetsky's position more critical than ever. But the gallant Sardinian was no match for Hadetsky in generalship, for he wasted his time before Mantua till Radetsky had raised an army of 82,000 men, with which he drove the king (July 22 and 23) back, defeated hint at Custozza (July 25), pursued him closely, converted his retreat into a disorderly flight, and again defeated him under the walls of Milan (Aug. 4). The Ring was now besieged in Milan, but (Aug. 6) a six months' armistice was agreed to, and war was not resumed by the Piedmontese till Mar., 1849. Radetsky was this time better prepared, and at once invaded Piedmont; after a successful brush with the enemy at Vigevano (Mar. 21), he totally routed them at Novara (Mar. 23), after an obstinate con flict of six hours' duration. Peace was now concluded with Piedmont, and Radetsky next besieged Venice, which surrendered after a long siege (Aug. 23). Ile was then appointed governor-general of Lombardy and Venice, and ruled with absolute authority till his retirement on Feb. 28, 1857, suppressing all Insurrections and disturbances with the utmost rigor. lie died at Milan, Jan. 5, 1858, at the age of 91 years. He bore the character of a brave soldier and consummate, tactician, and, strange to say, acquired all his European reputation after he had passed his 80th year.