That led Prime Minister Camillo Benso, Count of Cavour to attempt to establish relations with other European powers, partially through Piedmont's participation in the Crimean War.

He found Britain and France to be sympathetic but refusing to go against Austrian wishes, as any movement towards Italian independence would threaten Austria's territory of Lombardy–Venetia.

The assassination attempt brought widespread sympathy for the Italian unity and had a profound effect on Napoleon III himself, who now was determined to help Piedmont against Austria to defuse the wider revolutionary activities, which governments in Italy might later allow to happen.

Cavour, being unable to get French help unless the Austrians attacked first, provoked Vienna by a series of military maneuvers close to the border.

When the Austrians realized it was too late to move their troops and that the French trap had already had its first effects in Vigevano and Abbiategrasso, they decided to retreat along the line between the Naviglio Grande and the Ticino.

[5] Already on the night between 2 and 3 June the French had begun to create a new crossing point with a pontoon bridge 180 meters long in front of Turbigo, supporting the first clashes and allowing the passage of the II Army corps under the command of General Mac Mahon with the intention of pushing towards Magenta.

Napoleon III was stationed further south on the Novara-Magenta route, ready to cross the Ticino on the San Martino Bridge in conjunction with the arrival of Mac Mahon's divisions from Turbigo.

He had taken steps to undermine the ancient bridge located in the center of the town (dating back to 1603) with the intention of blowing it up if the French attempted to reach the Milanese across the border at Boffalora.

The Algerian marksmen's regiment (turcos) and the 45th of the line rushed at this point to attack the artillery batteries[5] forcing them to flee around 3.00 pm.

The agreement, made by Napoleon behind the backs of his Sardinian allies, led to great outrage in Piedmont-Sardinia, and Cavour resigned in protest.

Austria had emerged triumphantly after the suppression of liberal movements in 1849, but its status as a great power on the European scene was now seriously challenged and its influence in Italy severely weakened.