"Why are the Italian Wars of Independence neglected?" Topic

The Italian Wars of Independence are woefully under-represented in the war gaming hobby. Why?

a. They went on for too many years.
b. Garibaldi just doesn't inspire me.
c. The Italian … what?
d. ________________________________

c

Are they? I mean think about it, there is a dedicated rule-set for them (the excellent 1859). There are good ranges, and from looking at the net there are several players who have collections.

Obviously they will not become mainstream or popular in the English-speaking world, but those who want to play them are not going to face some of the issues other 19th century wars (Third Carlist War, Serbo-Bulgarian, Greco-Turkish of 1897 etc).

I think they are in fine shape. We have rules, miniatures in 6m 15 and 28mm.

I've played it. I even have a Papal Army. I think the lack of more than a small number of English-language sources is part of it.

d. Possibly the history of that age. Italian forces lost most battles until the addition of French and Prussian troops. If there were a historical moment for people to gravitate toward?.?.? Maybe there would be a larger following.

E. hard to get up the energy to paint the Italian army at Custozza, just to see them get whipped.

f. Many, many other wars that are more appealing during that period. Colonials, the American Civil War, and the bigger brother Euro fights like the Franco-Prussian.

What is it with the Italians? Get over it, you already have a 1000+ years of gaming dedicated to you, don't get greedy. Romans aren't enough?! Move on.

In my ignorance I always thought of the whole Garibaldi thing as more of a political thing rather than a military thing.

Wee there that many battles then?

Probably the same reason that the Balkan Wars and (until recently) the South American Wars of Liberation – not enough people know they existed

I think the lack of more than a small number of English-language sources is part of it.

I agree this is a large part of it, and perhaps hand in hand is that most people think each of the discrete wars within the Risorgimento comprised only one battle of note. This is perhaps true with the Third War (1866), but the first two wars had several battles of ideal size for miniatures gaming.

d. It happened during the summer and they were all on holiday.

Kidding aside, it sounds like an interesting period.

Revolutionary biscuits of Italy
Rise up out of your box!

YouTube link

JohnG

I would agree with KTravlos, although I'm looking for some decent 15mm Bersaglieri to go along with my OldGlory15s. As for vtsaogames, I'm right in the middle of a massive Austrian 1859 army painting project, please don't get me so discouraged!

G. The hipster gamers are all too busy already painting armies for conflicts that you probably haven't heard of.

Wow, there are more wars in europe in the 19th century than the Napoleonic ones??

It is hard to avoid the Italian Wars of Independence once you start on mid nineteenth century wars. Fielding an army who make the Austrians look good is very enjoyable.

Pick a more obscure period to complain about.

I'd also second Mallen's statement about lack of English-language resources. Aside from an Osprey and the Freikorps booklet, there isn't much out there. I have gone through great effort to cobble together the resources for my collection. I am slowly putting together 10mm Garibaldini and Papal forces for Mentana and hope to find suitable proxies for the Neapolitans.

PAR:
I think that the Neapolitan line infantry wore greatcoats and shakos in the Austrian manner. It must have been nice wearing those in Sicily and the Volturno Rivers in the summer.

One more general comment: Most people that paint and game this theater and time period have, to paraphrase Mario Puzo, "a love of disaster that is almost Sicilian."

No Vikings or Horatio Gates.

Once you paint up French and Austrians for 1859 you have more than half of what you need for 1866 Austro-Prussian war and the Franco-Prussian War. You get more out of painting up Prussians to play in the other conflicts than painting up Italians. (Yes Neapolitan would be a better choice than Italians for them and they don't win any battles by themselves also).

Mallen, they were all copying the French with those wool greatcoats worn over their wool tunics (I start sweating just thinking about it). And the French started this fashion while fighting in North Africa. Go figure!

I have a Garabaldini force, Austrian 1859 AND 1866, Neapolitans, Papalini, French too – Mirliton, Battle Honours, Foundry. I enjoyed the hard work; info digging, figure sourcing and adapting, revising of painting errors etc. Most do not.For me it was 'romantic' to discover the realities behind my school books. For most, the period is no longer covered at school.

H. Locally I would not get any opponents for it.

I. Too many other periods and/or conflicts which are further up the food chain.

J. Not interested enough to read up on it.

K. Not worth the investment of my time and resources.