The Italian unification was a long-running process in which battles and alliances followed, along with a lot of diplomacy, over the years.In this article we tell what were the causes, the different stages with their most relevant characters and the main dates.
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Italian states before the unification
The unification of the Italian states took place in the 19th century, at that time Italy was divided into different states according to their location:
- Sardinia-Piedmont,
- Lombardy and Venice
- Parma, Modena, Tuscany and the Papal States;
- the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies
Characteristics of Italian unification
At the beginning of time, under the Roman Empire, Italy was unified as a single state but after the fall of the Empire was co nvirtiendo in different independent kingdoms.
Victor Manuel II
Vittorio Emanuele Maria Alberto Eugenio Ferdinando Luca Tommaso di Savoia-Carignano was better known as Victor Manuel II, King of Piedmont-Sardinia.One of the most important aspects of his reign is that he was the first king of a unified Italy.
Government within a framework of constitutional monarchy of moderate regime, which was the most liberal government in Italy so far.
Piedmont was one of the richest and most prosperous regions.With the support of Napoleon against Austria but not against Prussia, the struggles to unify the entire peninsula began.of the Catholic Church (which meant its excommunication) and turned Rome into the capital of the kingdom, after several disputes., promoted industrialization and worked to improve diplomatic relations.
As a curiosity, Victor Manuel II he had to become Victor Manuel (dry) king of Italy but he decided to keep the number II.
Stages of Italian unification
In the nineteenth century the unification was carried out of Italy through the political and social movement "il Risorgimento" (The Resurgence), is he believes that the unity of this country began in 1815, when the Vienna Congress was held and ended around 1871 with the Franco-Prussian War.
The promoters of the unification was King Victor Manuel II together with Count Camilo de Cavour, the prime minister of his government.
War against Austria and incorporation of Lombardy
Taking into account the purpose that Victor Manuel II and his Prime Minister, Austria became the main obstacle to achieving his purposes.In order to face Austria they contacted the Emperor of France Napoleon III , who supported them in the contest.
Actually, the military campaign did not last long and they won the battles of Magenta and Solferino in 1859.The surprise was that Napoleon reached an agreement with Austria, Lombardia would be for Victor Manuel but, in exchange for If he stayed with Soboya and Nice, Venice would still be under Austrian power.
Annex of the states of Parma, Modena and Tuscany
It is said that in those days there was a desire for unification throughout Italy and the previous victory only meant that the nationalist sentiment was ignited even more.Through a plebiscite annexed the states of Parma, Modena and Tuscany to the kingdom of Sardinia in 1860.
Revolution of the two Sicilies
Giuseppe Garibaldi was a politician and military who also actively participated in the Italian unification.In his case, with the support of the prime minister, he seized Sicily with the help of the Thousand Red Shirts, a group of a thousand volunteers who wore such clothes.
Later, he directed his troops towards the kingdom of Naples, troops in which the International Legion was also, and caused the flight of King Francisco II to the Papal States after the defeat ota of the Battle of the Volturno.This supposed that a provisional government in this kingdom was established that already was incorporated to Sardinia.
Garibaldi wanted to continue his march towards the Papal States but Victor Manuel II made him give up in fear of losing what had already been achieved.It did not mean a confrontation between them, but that he recognized him his king on October 26, 1860.
A year later, on March 13, 1861, Victor Manuel II was proclaimed King of Italy by the first national parliament.
Incorporation of Venice
Venice was still under Austrian rule and to get its incorporation into the kingdom of Italy, an alliance was reached with Prussia.As you can imagine , the result of the contest meant that Venice was incorporated into Italy.
Incorporation of Rome
The only city and state that remained to achieve the complete unification of Italy was Rome and the Papal States.It was different contests and attempts that were carried out since Victor Manuel had committed himself to maintain the dominance of the Pope in the capital, then the French guarded the city and, finally, Victor Manuel's troops occupied Rome.
Rome was then declared as the capital of Italy but the Pope He refused to annex and locked himself in the Vatican, considering himself as a prisoner.This marked the beginning of what is called the Roman Question , a dispute between the Italian government and the papacy that lasted from 1861 to 1929.
Conclusion of the Italian Unification
The Italian unification ended with the Treaty of Letran that was signed in 1929 by Benito Mussolini and Pope Pius XI.Thereafter, the Popes began to visit other areas of Rome since they were granted recognition of the Vatican State, a small state within the city of Rome, of which the Pope was sovereign with all that that implies.
In this way, The peninsula and the islands of Italy formed a single country but taking into account the independence of the Vatican City.
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