Welcome to beautiful Naples, Italy!

I did a quick wiki search for "Italian Empire" to post some snarky picture of a massive collection of territory or whatever; but I found this.

Italy had long considered the Ottoman province of Tunisia, where a large community of Italians lived, within its economic sphere of influence. It did not consider annexing it until 1879 when it became apparent that Britain and Germany were encouraging France to add it to its colonial holdings in North Africa.[3] A last minute offer by Italy to partition Tunisia between the two countries was refused, and France, confident in German support, ordered its troops in from French Algeria, imposing a protectorate over Tunisia in May 1881 under the Treaty of Bardo.[4] The shock of the "Tunisian bombshell", as it was referred to in the Italian press, and the sense of Italy's isolation in Europe, led it into signing the Triple Alliance in 1882 with Germany and Austro-Hungary.[5]

Psh, they'll fail at this like they failed to take down starved, near naked, sharpened stick wielding Ethiopeans with their tanks.

is it me or does this happen in naples regularly?

my grandmother's old world just doesn't seem an appealing place to find a wife, as she's suggested since i was 10.

If the Italian army is taking over garbage disposal, they will need to fit reverse gears to the garbage trucks.

TheCid: "Italian Empire"

Even at its WWII height it was pitiful by European standards- and that was with significant German help. Just some slices of countries next to it (Albania was the only European country ever fully conquered by Italy. Oh, and Popeland.). They stole a slice of North Africa from the crumbling Ottoman Empire and some pitifully small and worthless colonies on the Horn of Africa. And then they beat up on some Ethiopians- the last unassisted Italian military victory in history. They practically lost to Greece- a country with a much nobler history but which was of course by then several times smaller and poorer than Italy. Hitler had to come saver their ass. Something which, by the way, possibly cost Hitler the war by delaying the invasion of the Soviet Union.

I'd take the French over the Italians any day.

Italy sounds like a nice place to visit, a shiathole to live in.

Thinking about it, to be fair the Greeks really have no more claim to be the successors of the Ancient Greek heritage than the Italians do to be the successors of the Romans. Still, the Greeks could still put up a fight. They fought for every inch of their country against the Ottomans.

DerekSD: is it me or does this happen in naples regularly?

my grandmother's old world just doesn't seem an appealing place to find a wife, as she's suggested since i was 10.

Yes, it's been like that for years. Rome or anywhere north of there is fine though.

If you speak Italian, it's a most excellent place to meet young women: they're hot, and almost all Italian men under 35 are mummy's boys still living at home. Almost any foreign man is better than the local offerings.

/ Not making any wild generalisations, obviously.

And thats just the trash left by Maradona.

Yeah, and the US military has accomplished sooo much the past half-century....


/how's that occupation going?

theurge14: Italy sounds like a nice place to visit, a shiathole to live in.

Just came back from a curse on the Mediterranean ...
Started in Spain and went on to the south of France and then to Italy (Florence, Rome, Naples, Sicily...)
France is much nicer and the people are less likely to rip you off.

curse = cruise

more coffee please

Why is Italy shaoed like a boot again?

NYZooMan: Why is Italy shaoed like a boot again?

Because you can't fit all that shiat into a shoe.

Churchill2004: I'd take the French over the Italians any day.

The French would just surrender. They're the only country to lose two wars against Italy.

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sorta from here, but since replaced with a 404 page

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Albino Blacksheep » Text Files » The Complete Military History of France
The Complete Military History of France

***Please note that the Web designer is not American and blaming the Web designer for America's history is illogical. Though you may critisize this oversimplified French history all you wish, blaming or threatening the Web designer is not nice.

We are still accepting submissions from history researchers.
Last update: May 4, 2005.

- Gallic Wars
- Lost. In a war whose ending foreshadows the next 2000 years of French history, France is conquered by of all things, an Italian. [Or at ths time in history, a Roman -ed.]

- Hundred Years War
- Mostly lost, saved at last by female schizophrenic who inadvertently creates The First Rule of French Warfare; "France's armies are victorious only when not led by a Frenchman." Sainted.

- Italian Wars
- Lost. France becomes the first and only country to ever lose two wars when fighting Italians.

- Wars of Religion
- France goes 0-5-4 against the Huguenots

- Thirty Years War
- France is technically not a participant, but manages to get invaded anyway. Claims a tie on the basis that eventually the other participants started ignoring her.

- War of Revolution
- Tied. Frenchmen take to wearing red flowerpots as chapeaux.

- The Dutch War
- Tied

- War of the Augsburg League/King William's War/French and Indian War
- Lost, but claimed as a tie. Three ties in a row induces deluded Frogophiles the world over to label the period as the height of French military power.

- War of the Spanish Succession
- Lost. The War also gave the French their first taste of a Marlborough, which they have loved every since.

- American Revolution
- In a move that will become quite familiar to future Americans, France claims a win even though the English colonists saw far more action. This is later known as "de Gaulle Syndrome", and leads to the Second Rule of French Warfare; "France only wins when America does most of the fighting."

- French Revolution
- Won, primarily due the fact that the opponent was also French.

- The Napoleonic Wars
- Lost. Temporary victories (remember the First Rule!) due to leadership of a Corsican, who ended up being no match for a British footwear designer.

- The Franco-Prussian War
- Lost. Germany first plays the role of drunk Frat boy to France's ugly girl home alone on a Saturday night.

- World War I
- Tied and on the way to losing, France is saved by the United States [Entering the war late -ed.]. Thousands of French women find out what it's like to not only sleep with a winner, but one who doesn't call her "Fraulein." Sadly, widespread use of condoms by American forces forestalls any improvement in the French bloodline.

- World War II
- Lost. Conquered French liberated by the United States and Britain just as they finish learning the Horst Wessel Song.

- War in Indochina
- Lost. French forces plead sickness; take to bed with the Dien Bien Flu

- Algerian Rebellion
- Lost. Loss marks the first defeat of a western army by a Non-Turkic Muslim force since the Crusades, and produces the First Rule of Muslim Warfare; "We can always beat the French." This rule is identical to the First Rules of the Italians, Russians, Germans, English, Dutch, Spanish, Vietnamese and Esquimaux.

- War on Terrorism
- France, keeping in mind its recent history, surrenders to Germans and Muslims just to be safe. Attempts to surrender to Vietnamese ambassador fail after he takes refuge in a McDonald's.

The question for any country silly enough to count on the French should not be "Can we count on the French?", but rather "How long until France collapses?"

"Going to war without France is like going deer hunting without an accordion. All you do is leave behind a lot of noisy baggage."

Or, better still, the quote from last week's Wall Street Journal: "They're there when they need you."

With only an hour and a half of research, Jonathan Duczkowski provided the following losses:

Norse invasions, 841-911.
After having their way with the French for 70 years, the Norse are bribed by a French King named Charles the Simple (really!) who gave them Normandy in return for peace. Normans proceed to become just about the only positive military bonus in France's [favour] for next 500 years.

Andrew Ouellette posts this in response:

1066 A.D. William The Conquerer Duke and Ruler of France Launches the Largest Invasion in the history of the world no other was as large until the same trip was taken in reverse on June 6th 1944 William Fights Harold for the Throne of England Which old king Edward rightfully left to William but Harold Usurped the throne Will fights the Saxons (English)wins and the French Rule England for the Next 80 Years. then the French start the largest building and economic infrastructure since the fall of the Roman Empire the Norman Economy skyrockets and the Normans inadvertantly start England to become a major world Power Vive La France-

Matt Davis posts this in response to Andrew Ouellette above:

Oh dear. We seem to have overlooked some basic facts. Firstly, Philip the First (1060 - 1108) was King of France at the time of the Norman invasion of 1066 - William was Duke of Normandy and, incidentally, directly descended from the Vikings. William was, therefore, as alien to France as the experience of victory. Since Philip did not invade England, the victory at Hastings was Norman - not French. Normandy may be a part of France now but it most certainly wasn't in 1066. Therefore, William's coronation as King of England had nothing whatsoever to do with the French. As usual, they were nowhere near the place when the fighting was going on. The mistaken belief that 1066 was a French victory leads to the Third Rule of French Warfare; "When incapable of any victory whatsoever - claim someone else's".

Mexico, 1863-1864.
France attempts to take advantage of Mexico's weakness following its thorough thrashing by the U.S. 20 years earlier ("Halls of Montezuma"). Not surprisingly, the only unit to distinguish itself is the French Foreign Legion (consisting of, by definition, non-Frenchmen). Booted out of the country a little over a year after arrival.

Panama jungles 1881-1890.
No one but nature to fight, France still loses; canal is eventually built by the U.S. 1904-1914.

Napoleonic Wars.
Should be noted that the Grand Armee was largely (~%50) composed of non-Frenchmen after 1804 or so. Mainly disgruntled minorities and anti-monarchists. Not surprisingly, these performed better than the French on many occasions.

Haiti, 1791-1804.
French defeated by rebellion after sacrificing 4,000 Poles to yellow fever. Shows another rule of French warfare; when in doubt, send an ally.

India, 1673-1813.
British were far more charming than French, ended up victors. Therefore the British are well known for their tea, and the French for their whine (er, wine...). Ensures 200 years of bad teeth in England.

Barbary Wars, middle ages-1830.
Pirates in North Africa continually harass European shipping in Meditteranean. France's solution: pay them to leave us alone. America's solution: kick their asses ("the Shores of Tripoli"). [America's] first overseas victories, won 1801-1815.

1798-1801, Quasi-War with U.S.
French privateers (semi-legal pirates) attack U.S. shipping. U.S. fights France at sea for 3 years; French eventually cave; sets precedent for next 200 years of Franco-American relations.

Moors in Spain, late 700s-early 800s.
Even with Charlemagne leading them against an enemy living in a hostile land, French are unable to make much progress. Hide behind Pyrennes until the modern day.

French-on-French losses (probably should be counted as victories too, just to be fair):

1208: Albigenses Crusade, French massacared by French.
When asked how to differentiate a heretic from the faithful, response was "Kill them all. God will know His own." Lesson: French are badasses when fighting unarmed men, women and children.

St. Bartholomew Day Massacre, August 24, 1572.
Once again, French-on-French slaughter.

Third Crusade.
Philip Augustus of France throws hissy-fit, leaves Crusade for Richard the Lion Heart to finish.

Seventh Crusade.
St. Louis of France leads Crusade to Egypt. Resoundingly crushed.

[Eighth] Crusade.
St. Louis back in action, this time in Tunis. See Seventh Crusade.

Also should be noted that France attempted to hide behind the Maginot line, sticking their head in the sand and pretending that the Germans would enter France that way. By doing so, the Germans would have been breaking with their traditional route of invading France, entering through Belgium (Napoleonic Wars, Franco-Prussian War, World War I, etc.). French ignored this though, and put all their effort into these defenses.

Thomas Whiteley has submitted this addition to me:

Seven year War 1756-1763
Lost: after getting hammered by Frederick the Great of Prussia (yep, the Germans again) at Rossbach, the French were held off for the remainder of the War by Frederick of Brunswick and a hodge-podge army including some Brits. War also saw France kicked out of Canada (Wolfe at Quebec) and India (Clive at Plassey).

Richard Mann, an American in France wants to add the following:

The French consider the departure of the French from Algeria in 1962-63, after 130 years on colonialism, as a French victory and especially consider C. de Gaulle as a hero for 'leading' said victory over the unwilling French public who were very much against the departure. This ended their colonialism. About 2 million ungrateful Algerians lost their lives in this shoddy affair.


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The page loads the above text right before switching to a 404 screen, but I (somehow) was able to copy it all while it was loading. if the page was still active, I'd be able to put snippets instead of having to put the entire thing.

Google "French Military Victories" and click the "I'm Feeling Lucky" button.

Richard Hertz: Yeah, and the US military has accomplished sooo much the past half-century....


/how's that occupation going?

Milosevic gone, Saddam gone, trash still on the streets in Italy.

King Something: They're the only country to lose two wars against Italy

Julius Caesar was not an "Italian" in any sense of the term other than fact that he lived in the same general area the Italians now live.

In the Italian Wars- there was no unified Italy. There were Italian states on all sides.

King Something: f the page was still active, I'd be able to put snippets instead of having to put the entire thing

Your backspace key not work?

Italy is Nice country, that's like saying America is a Shiathole because of Detroit. I was in Vernazza/Monterosso/Pisa In march and I'm going to Venice in June.

+1 subby, nice work.

Churchill2004: Your backspace key not work?

It loads the page, and then jumps to the 404 page.

Churchill2004: In the Italian Wars- there was no unified Italy. There were Italian states on all sides.

France still lost.

Military-guarded trash dumps?

Guess we know where all the dead Italian hookers will be.