The Unification of Italy

1
The Unification of Italy

• The progressive dissolution of the Concert of
  Europe and the lessening faith in the necesity of
  preserving the Vienna settlement, (partly because
  states had in most cases been successful in
  suppressing revolution and were therfore not as
  fearful as before of the prospect of new
  revolutionary uprisings with the potential to
  overthrow the status quo), was to encourage
  further dramatic change in Europe in the years
  following the Crimean War, most importantly to
  the substantial re-drawing of the European
  political map following the national unification
  of Italy and Germany.
• The Italian uprisings of 1848 1849, led largely
  by romantic republicans, had failed to achieve
  the objective of Italian unification. Yet, only a
  decade later, to an important extent as a
  consequence of the leadership and diplomatic
  manouveurs of Count Cavour of Piedmont, a new,
  united kingdom of Italy had been successfully
  established.

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The Italian Peninsula post 1848
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Count Camilo di Cavour

• Cavour appointed Prime Minister of Piedmont in
  1852 by new king Victor Emmanuel II. Cavour was
  relatively liberal, but also v. loyal to the
  monarch.
• Cavour supported the national unification of
  Italy so long as it was unified under Piedmontese
  leadership. To this end he supported
  establishment of the pro-Piedmontese National
  Society in many different Italian states.
• Cavour realized Piedmont could only defeat
  Austria with the support of a Great Power -
  specifically he saw France, now under the
  leadership of the pro-Italian Napoleon III as a
  potential ally
• Cavours first important diplomatic move was to
  take Piedmont into the Crimean War, therby
  increasing Piedmonts prestige amongst the
  Italian people and gaining the good-will/respect
  of Britain and France

Keep in mind that Napoleon III was also someone
seeking fame and glory, hoping to return France
to the great and glorious days of his uncle, and
he too saw Piedmont as a potential ally vis-a-vis
Austria
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The Pact of Plombieres

• In July 1858 Napoleon III Count Cavour met at
  Plombieres-les-bains where they formulated a
  secret deal, signed later in December 1858
  known as the Pact of Plombieres
• The Pact was basically an agreement whereby
  France promised to help Piedmont against Austria,
  and in return for its help would receive the
  provinces of Nice Savoy from Piedmont.
• In line with the agreement, Cavour mobilized his
  army on the border of Austrian controlled Lombardy

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The Rise of Piedmont

• Cavours decision to mobilize on the border of
  Lombardy was consciously designed to antagonize
  Austria, in the hope of finding a pretext for
  going to war. Unaware that Piedmont was in secret
  agreement with France, Austria gave Piedmont an
  ultimatum, which Piedmont then rejected, leading
  to Austria declaring war and appearing the
  aggressor.
• With the backing of France, Piedmont heavily
  defeated Austrian forces in the battles of
  Magenta Solferino in June 1859, took over
  Lombardy and was on the verge of occupying
  Venetia too.
• Meanwhile, encouraged by the defeat of Austria,
  revolutionary uprisings calling for Italian
  national unification under Piedmontese leadership
  were initiated throughout much of the Italian
  peninsula. Everything appeared to be going right
  for Cavour...

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The Treaty of Villafranca

• Then, to Cavours surprise and great
  disapointment, Napoleon III had a change of
  heart, and turned around to sign a Peace Treaty
  with Austria on July 11th 1859, the Treaty of
  Villafranca.
• According to the Treaty of Villafranca, France
  would withdraw its support from Piedmont and
  Piedmont would get only Lombardy, not Venetia.
• Why had Napoleon III abandoned Cavour? Perhaps a
  combination of the following
• - He lacked resolve (unlike his uncle)
• - He feared the entry of Prussia into the war
  on the side of Austria
• - He was becomming concerned that Piedmont
  might become too powerful a southern neighbour
  for France

7
Garibaldi

• For a while Cavour was helpless, but the forces
  of Italian nationalism had been set in motion and
  by the end of the year several central Italian
  states had voted in plebiscites to unite with
  Piedmont.
• Then, in May 1860, the veteran republican
  nationalist Giuseppe Garibaldi, (who had been a
  leader of the nationalist uprisings of 1848),
  landed in Sicily taking over the island held by
  the king of Naples and later proceeding to take
  Naples itself.
• Fearing that Italy might now unite as a republic,
  Cavour pre-empted Garibaldis movement further
  north. He sent his troops south, in the process
  taking over control of the remaining central
  Italian states controlled by the pope (i.e. the
  papal states), but being careful to avoid the
  region around Rome.
• Cavours caution regarding Rome was a consequence
  of 2 factors
• - He didnt want to offend Catholics
• - Rome was protected by French troops

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The Kingdom of Italy

• There was now the potentail for war between
  Cavour Garibaldis respective forces, the
  former defending a united Italian kingdom under
  the rule of King Victor Emmanuel II, the latter
  wishing to see a united Italy become a republic.
  Garibaldi, however, apparently so as not to
  jeopardize the national unification of Italy by
  fighting against the forces of Piedmont, conceded
  that a united Italy could be a kingdom and in
  late 1860 the people of Naples and Sicily voted
  in a plebiscite to unite with Piedmont.
• On 17th March 1861, Victor Emmanuel II was
  crowned the king of the newly united Italy. Less
  than 3 months later Cavour had died. But for 2
  major exceptions (Venetia Rome), Cavour had
  lived to see his dream come true.

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The Formation of a United Italy (1)
10
The Formation of a United Italy (2)