A battle fought in Lombardy, between the French and the Sardinians on one side and the Austrians on the other. The Italian patriotic movement known as the Risorgimento had been offered French military support at a meeting (1859) at Plombières between Napoleon III and Cavour. When war broke out, the French and Sardinian forces defeated the Austrians in a disorganized fight at Magenta, which opened the way to the occupation of Lombardy and Milan. Two weeks later it was followed by the decisive battle of Solferino.