As commander of Austrian forces in Northern Italy, Count Gyulay, now with the rank of feldzeugmeister, was ordered to cross the Ticino River on 29 April, the border between Austrian and Sardinian territory. In response, French forces under Patrice MacMahon were dispatched to defend their Sardinian allies. On 20 May, an Austrian force under Count Stadion was defeated at the Battle of Montebello, after which Gyulay retreated back into Austrian territory. He then suffered another defeat at the Battle of Palestro.