italian-studies: Scholarly discussions in any field of Italian studies
Hi, all:
I'm looking for sources discussing looting by Russian troops in
Italy during the Napoleonic Wars, particularly the 1799 campaigns. I've
consulted several English, Italian, and French sources which discuss the
campaigns generally; they mention looting, but provide few details.
Some of these sources suggest that Russian looting was no worse than
that of other armies, but how bad were other armies? These texts
indicate that British troops looted during the Peninsular War. True?
Moreover, there's the claim that French forces traveled quickly, with
small supply trains, because they lived off the land. Was "living off
the land" a truly commercial practice or a euphemism for looting? (I
realize that the French plundered art objects and valuables from Italy,
but I'm interested here in more mundane looting [food, portable
property] by soldiers, rather than by politicians or officials).
Finally, a broader question: I've come across comments that indicate it
common practice to allow troops, after a victorious battle, three days
of looting to compensate for their poor pay and food. True? Any
"rules" as to what might or might not be looted (churches?)? Rules
about treatment of civilians? At times, troops could be punished for
looting, so who set the rules for what was permissible when?
I realize this presents a swirl of questions, but any leads on specific
information about this, as well as more general information about 18th-
and early-19th-century looting by soldiers, would be greatly
appreciated. Feel free to respond off-list if that seems best. Cheers!
-- Arnold
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Arnold Anthony Schmidt, Ph.D.
Professor of English
California State University
http://www.csustan.edu/ENGLISH/schmidt/schmidt.htm
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