The Risorgimento

1
The Risorgimento

• 1790 - 1849

2

• 1796 Napoleons conquest of Italy
• 1797 Venice is placed under Austrian sovereignty
• The Cisalpine Republic (under Napoleons control)
  included Bologna, Ferrara and Milan
• Liguria and Genoa became the Ligurian republic
• In Rome (1797-8) a republic was established
• 1796-99 Time of great hopes and expectations. The
  triennio, ideological foundation of the
  RISORGIMENTO (Vittorio Alfieri)
• 1798 In Naples the Parthenopean republic

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• 1800 Napoleon names the Cisalpine the Italian
  republic
• 1804 Napoleon crowns himself emperor. Italian
  republics become kingdoms
• Napoleons code is introduced
  a) excessive respect for private property
  b) rights of workers were not
  emphasizes c) authority of the
  father emphasized
• Negatives
  a) tax increases b) conscription
  c) looting of art

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• 1813 Napoleons defeat at Leipzig
• 1814 Napoleons exile on Elba
• 1815 Napoleons return to France (100 days),
  defeat at Waterloo, final exile on Saint Elena
  (dies on May 5th, 1821)
• 1815 The Council of Vienna (Metternich) Absolute
  monarchs return to Italy
• Piedmont Vittorio Emanuele I
• Naples Ferdinand
• Parma, Modena, Tuscany Rulers related to the
  Habsburgs

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• Restoration represented a less than hoped return
  to a previous age
• Professional classes, intellectuals and
  Napoleons soldiers had hoped for a more
  representative political system
• Secret societies were formed and were composed of
  intellectuals, members of the educated class,
  army officers
• Carbonari revolutionary ideals and methods,
  demands were not extreme (constitution)
• Masons low abiding, no threat to the regime

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• 1820-21 Carbonari riots in Turin and Naples
  constitutions granted and then recalled
• Prince Metternich (Troppeau Doctrine) assures
  complete control of all revolutionary movements
  in Italy
• Giuseppe Mazzinis republican goals
  a) Independence
  b) Unity
  
  c) Freedom for the Individual
• Nationalism a romantic reaction to the ideals
  of the Enlightenment

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• The Enlightenment had believed in the universal
  (rational laws and behavior could be applied
  universally). The Romantics proclaimed the
  importance of the individual (values, emotion,
  imagination) on the political level this
  ideology translates into an emphasis on national
  characteristics and diversities
• In Italy Mazzini (Genova, 1805). Studied law.
  Wrote passionate essays in defence of
  Romanticism. Envisioned a movement for Italian
  nationhood and political freedom. Main
  philosophical influences are Johann Gottfried
  Herder and Saint Simon
• Formed the Giovane Italia in 1831
• 1833 failed attempt at an insurrection Turin and
  Genua

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• 1834 Another attempt fails. Exile in Switzerland
  until 1837
• During the exile Mazzini establishes La giovane
  Europa
• From 1837 Mazzini settles in England (will be in
  Rome during the Roman Republic)
• Gioberti (1801-52) Of the Moral and Civil Primacy
  of the Italians suggested a path for future
  greatness. He envisioned a conferderation of
  Italian states ruled by the pope.
• Cesare Balbo The Hopes of Italy. Envisions a
  united state under the military leadership of
  Piedmont
• Massimo dAzeglio. Believes that the public
  pressure in favor of Italian independence will
  ultimately drive the Austrians out

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• Piedmont
• 1847 Carlo Alberto follows Pius IXs example,
  newspapers are founded and in 1848 the Statuto is
  issued. It will become the basis for the future
  Italian constitution (1861)
• Monarchy was still in power a two chamber
  parliament the upper selected by the crown, the
  lower elected by literate tax payers
• 1848 Metternich is forced to resign. Hungary and
  the Tchecs demand liberal institutions. At this
  time Milan rises against Austria. After five days
  (le cinque giornate di Milano) general Radetzky
  is forced to withdraw
• Carlo Cattaneo, economist and political scientist
  envisioned Italy as it was to become a federal
  (regional) republic

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• The Milanese conservative aristocrats took over
  the power and asked the annexation of Lombardy
  into the Piedmontese state
• Carlo Alberto declares war on Austria (March 23,
  1848), Venice declares its desire to be annexed
  to Piedmont (Daniele Manin fails to organize the
  Venetians who are inclined to form an independent
  republic)
• In April the pope withdraws his forces, Austria
  attacks and defeats Piedmont at Custoza and
  reoccupies Lombardy
• Giuseppe Garibaldi (1807-82) returned to Italy
  after fighting in South America and is placed in
  command of the Roman republics army, while
  Mazzini has executive powers. The repubic was
  defeated by the French

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• Carlo Alberto wages war on Austria again and
  again is defeated. Abdicates and dies in Portugal
• 1848-9 Venice is again a republic but is defeated
  by Austria
• Age of Romanticism in Italy Melodrama
• Gioacchino Rossini (1792-1868)
• Gaetano Donizetti (1779-1848)
• Vincenzo Bellini (1813-1901)
• Literature
• Alessandro Manzoni (I promessi sposi)
• Ippolito Nievo (Le confessioni di un Italiano)
• Ugo Foscolo (1778-1827), Giacomo Leopardi
  (1798-1837)