the first operation in the mediterranean campaign was a large-scale french attack on the island of sardinia, part of the neutral kingdom of sardinia, ruled from piemont in northwestern italy. a french fleet and army under vice-amiral laurent truguet, flotte's replacement, attacked cagliari in january 1793 but was driven off with heavy casualties. a second attack on the island of la maddalena was equally unsuccessful. the french fleet retired to toulon in disorder and truguet was replaced by trogoff de kerlessy, commanding 30 ships of the line and 21 frigates in various states of repair.