The war of the Spanish Succession

When the war of the Spanish Succession broke out in 1701, France and Spain drew up on one side, the Austrian Empire and England on the other. After a few ups and downs the duke of Savoy sided with the Austrians driving France to the decision of occupying his duchy.

The invasion of the Duchy of Savoy

After the first surprise attack of the French troops at San Benedetto Po in 1703, the Piedmontese lost a long series of lands and fortresses: the whole Savoy, Susa, Vercelli, Ivrea, Nizza.
In the summer of 1704 the road to Turin seemed irremediably open. But two things intervened in favour of the town: fortress of Verrua that blocked the advance of enemies for six months, and then the hesitation of the French general La Feuillade, who decided to postpone the siege till springtime, let Turin strenghten its defences and assemble more than 10.500 men.