entirely routed, and a great number of principal
officers taken prisoners. Don Carlos being proclaimed, and acknowledged
king of Naples, created the count de Montemar duke of Bitonto; reduced
Gaeta, and all other parts of the kingdom which were garrisoned with
Imperial troops; and resolved to subdue the island of Sicily. About
twenty thousand troops being destined for this expedition, were landed
in the road of Solanto in August, under the command of the new duke of
Bitonto, who being favoured by the natives, proceeded in his conquests
with great rapidity. The people acknowledged Don Carlos as their
sovereign, and took arms in support of his government; so that the
Imperial troops were driven before them, and the Spaniards possessed the
whole kingdom, except Messina, Syracuse, and Trepani, when the infant
determined to visit the island in person.

BATTLE OF PARMA.

While Don Carlos was thus employed in the conquest of Naples and Sicily,
the Imperialists were hard pressed in Lombardy by the united forces
of France and Piedmont, commanded by the king of Sardinia and the old
mareschal duke de Villars. In the month of January they undertook the
siege of Tortona, which they reduced; while the troops of the emperor
began to pour in great numbers into the Mantuan. In the beginning of
May, count Merci, who commanded them, passed the Po in the face of the
allies, notwithstanding all the skill of Villars, obliged him to retreat
from the banks of that river, and took the castle of Colorno. The old
French general being taken ill, quitted the army, and retired to Turin,
where in a little time he died; and the king of Sardinia retiring to the
same place, the command of the allied forces devolved upon the
mareschal de Coigny. The confederates were posted at Sanguina, and the
Imperialists at Sorbola, when the count de Merci made a motion to
San Prospero, as if he intended either to attack the enemy, or
take possession of Parma. The mareschal de Coigny forthwith made a
disposition for an engagement; and, on the twenty-ninth day of June, the
Imperial general having passed the Parma, began the attack with great
impetuosity. He charged in person at the head of his troops, and
was killed soon after the battle began. Nevertheless, the prince
of Wirtem-berg assuming the command, both armies fought with great
obstinacy from eleven in the forenoon till four in the afternoon, when
the Imperialists retired towards Monte Cirugalo, leaving f