[1][2] The division's lineage begins with the Brigade "Mantova" raised on 1 March 1915 with the 113th and 114th infantry regiments.

In October of the same year the Mantvoa was transferred to the I Army Corps and changed its garrison to Turin and Asti.

[1] After allied forces had landed on the Italian peninsula and the Armistice of Cassibile between Italy and the Allies had been announced on 8 September 1943 the division remained loyal to King Victor Emmanuel III and joined the Italian Co-belligerent Army.

By spring 1945 the combat group was ready to join the British Eighth Army, but it arrived at the front just as the German forces in Italy were surrendering.

In 2002 the Italian Army raised three division commands, with one of the three always readily deployable for NATO missions.