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Welcome to the Age of Napoleon.

Episode 32, The Fate of Italy.

Thanks for joining me.

We left off last time in the fall of 1796, the besieged Fortress City of Montuag. the Vermser had led two attempts to relieve Mantua. He had succeeded in reaching the city both

times, but failed to actually break the siege. Now Vermser himself was trapped behind the walls, along with most of his field army.

Conditions inside the city were getting desperate.

There were now over 20,000 Austrian troops living on supplies meant for 10,000.

But Vienna had not given up hope.

Almost as soon as the gates of Mantua closed behind Vermser's troops, the Austrians began organizing a new field army

for a third attempt to relieve the city.

That means it's time to meet Napoleon's next opponent, Field Marshal Baron Joseph

Alvenci von Borberich.

Alvenci was 61 years old. He was a Hungarian from Transylvania, the very furthest southeastern corner of the Habsburg Empire.

Generations of his ancestors had been on the front lines of Austria's struggles against the Ottoman Empire.

The Alvinchee family was noble, but not particularly rich or powerful.

They had little but their reputation, hard won in service to the emperor.

A pretty typical background for a pre-revolutionary European Army officer.

Joseph was groomed for military life from boyhood and joined the army as a cadet at the age of 14.

He fought through the seven years war with distinction, rising quickly through the ranks.

After the war,

Alvinche became associated with the Ascendant Reform faction

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