| Cesare Airaghi | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | October 4, 1840 |
| Died | March 1, 1896 (aged 55) |
| Place of birth | Milan, Lombardy–Venetia, Austria |
| Place of death | Adwa, Tigray, Ethiopia |
| Allegiance |
 Piedmont-Sardinia Kingdom of Italy |
| Service/branch |
Sardinia Army Royal Italian Army |
| Years of service | 1859 – 1896 |
| Rank |
 Colonel |
| Battles/wars | |
Cesare Airaghi was an Italian colonel and war hero who participated in several conflicts during the 19th-century. Airaghi participated at the Second Italian War of Independence, the Third Italian War of Independence and the First Italo-Ethiopian War before being killed at the Battle of Adwa.
Early years[]
Cesare was born on October 4, 1840, as the son of Giovanni Battista and Marietta Lattuada at Milan.[1][2] When he was 14, his father was killed and Cesare was forced to be responsible for his family's finance. While attending the University of Pavia, Airaghi enlisted in the 9th Infantry Regiment and participating at the Second Italian War of Independence. He was appointed as Second Lieutenant of the 17th Infantry Division and fought at the Battle of Palestro. After the war, Airaghi resumed his studies at the University of Pavia and eventually graduated as an engineer.[1]
Military career[]
Airaghi was promoted to Lieutenant on June 17, 1861, while at the 28th Infantry Regiment and to captain on July 14, 1866. He then participated in the Third Italian War of Independence and fought the Austrians at Borgosatollo and Levico. After the war, he returned to the 28th Infantry Regiment from 1874 to March 1878 and two months later, he was promoted to major. He then proceeded to work as a tactical teacher at the Royal Academy of Turin in July 1883 and was promoted to lieutenant colonel in April 1884. Around 1888, Airaghi was given command of the 77th Infantry Regiment and promoted to Colonel in October 1888. Around September 1889, Airaghi was sent to Eritrea and stationed at the Asmara–Keren area before being transferred to Massawa. In January 1890, he took part in an expedition to Ethiopia under the command of Baldassarre Orero before returning to the Italian mainland on October of the same year. He was then given command of the 36th Infantry Regiment but left on August 1, 1893, following a request to become a auxiliary.[1]
Battle of Adwa[]
A commemorative plaque on the birthplace of Cesare Airaghi in Via Bigli, Milan.
On January 13, 1896, Airaghi was called to Eritrea to participate at the First Italo-Ethiopian War as he commanded the 6th African Infantry Regiment as part of the 2nd Brigade of the Right column. On the evening of February 29, Airaghi began his march towards Adwa, reaching the Rebbi Arienni on March 1.[3] During the Battle of Adwa, he conducted repeated assaults on the Ethiopian forces with enthusiasm and courage.[4] Despite his success at keeping the Ethiopian forces back, they were beginning to outnumber Airaghi's regiment and they surrounded and he was killed in the fighting.[1] Airaghi was posthumously awarded the Gold Medal of Military Valor on March 1, 1896, for his command at Adwa and a plaque was placed in Milan in memory.[4][2][5]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Ancfargl (December 30, 2015). "AIRAGHI Cesare - Associazione Nazionale Combattenti FF.AA. Regolari Guerra di Liberazione" (in it). http://www.combattentiliberazione.it/operazioni-militari-in-africa-eritrea/airaghi-cesare.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Chi era Costui - Scheda di Cesare Airaghi" (in it). http://www.chieracostui.com/costui/docs/search/scheda.asp?ID=3973.
- ↑ Raymond Jonas (November 29, 2011). The Battle of Adwa: African Victory in the Age of Empire. Harvard University Press. pp. 176. ISBN 978-0674062795. https://books.google.com/books?id=9p_8XB-OeMMC&dq=Cesare+Airaghi&pg=PA175. Retrieved June 19, 2022.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "AIRAGHI Cesare – MOVM" (in it). https://www.movm.it/decorato/airaghi-cesare.
- ↑ "Le onorificenze della Repubblica Italiana" (in it). https://www.quirinale.it/onorificenze/insigniti/14407.
The original article can be found at Cesare Airaghi and the edit history here.