While some historians count three wars, other authors and popular usage refer to the existence of two big engagements, the First and the Second, with the 1846–1849 events being taken as a minor episode.
Dok neki povjesničari broje tri rata, većina spominje dva velika angažmana, prvi i drugi, dok se događanja u razdoblju 1846.-1849. uzimaju kao manje epizode.