The invading army of thirty thousand men under the Marquis of Lede has been isolated on the island of Sicily since the destruction of the Spanish fleet in the Battle of Cape Passaro in August 1718.
The Austrians have by June 1719 moved an experienced army of twenty-four thousand men under the Count Claude Florimond de Mercy from the Balkans to the south of Italy, where they are sailed across the Messina Strait by the British fleet.
The Spanish have abandoned the siege of Milazzo and pulled back to a more favorable position around the village of Francavilla di Sicilia, where they are covered by a river and a monastery on a hill.
The Austrians on the morning of June attack the fortified Spanish positions in three columns.
The first column attacks the fortified village of Francavilla three times, but is pushed back every time.
The second column succeeds in conquering the trenches on the foot of the monastery hill, but are stopped by the second Spanish line.
The Count de Mercy is wounded in this phase of the battle.
The third column attacks the Spanish left flank, drive them off the San Juan hill, but are themselves pushed back under heavy Spanish fire and have to take cover in a crevice, suffering many casualties including general Holstein, who had led the attack.
The Spanish artillery under the Marquis of Villadarias play a crucial role during the battle, causing many casualties and confusion in the Austrian army.
The battle rages until evening, when a counterattack by the Spanish cavalry removes all hopes of an Austrian victory.
The Austrians withdraw, leaving thirty-one hundred dead and wounded.
The Spanish losses are two thousand dead and wounded.
The Marquis de Lede doesn’t pursue the Austrians, giving them the opportunity to recover from this defeat.
