Italian Unification

Key:

Dates

Places

People

Key Terms

Prior to 1796, Italy was divided into ten states:

1. The Kingdom of Sardinia

2. The Duchy of Milan (part of the Hapsburg empire.)

3. The Republic of Venice

4. The Republic of Genoa

5. The Republic of Lucca

6. The Papal States

7. The Duchy of Modena

8. The Duchy of Parma

9. The Grand Duchy of Tuscany

10. The Kingdom of Naples including Sicily.

These states varied in rulers, legal codes, economies, currencies, and dialects.

In 1796, Napoleon defeated Austria, leading to the Treaty of Campo Formio in 1797 which granted him Northern Italy and Belgium. He established the Ligurian Republic and the Cisalpine Republic, implementing uniform legal and administrative systems. In 1800, Napoleon regained control of Northern Italy after defeating Austria at the Battle of Marengo, solidifying French influence through a reorganized Italian map into three divisions: the Republic of Italy (the future Kingdom of Italy), the Kingdom of Naples, and territories annexed to France.

The French administration brought stability but also a heavy police presence and high taxes, spurring Italian nationalism, particularly among the Italian Jacobins ('patrioti'). After Napoleon's defeat in 1815, the Congress of Vienna fragmented Italy again, with new divisions that included the Kingdom of Two Sicilies, the Papal States, and territories controlled by Austria.

Discontent led to revolts, notably by the Carbonari, starting in 1820, pushing for political reform against Austrian influence. Some successes were met with defeat and restored monarchy, but the Carbonari contributed significantly to the nationalistic sentiments that fueled later unification efforts.

Key figures in the unification included Giuseppe Mazzini, the visionary behind the Young Italy Movement advocating for a republic; Giuseppe Garibaldi, the military leader responsible for key conquests; and Count Camilo Cavour, the statesman who implemented modernization and diplomacy to further Italy's unification.

By 1848, revolts across Italy were sparked by liberal movements, briefly leading to the Roman Republic under Mazzini, but these efforts eventually collapsed, further fueling the nationalist spirit. After various political maneuvers and revolts, Cavour modernized Sardinia, gaining an alliance with France and fighting Austria, leading to the liberation of Lombardy.

Cavour returned to power in 1860 amid favorable conditions, resulting in the incorporation of Tuscany and other duchies into Sardinia. Garibaldi led successful campaigns against the Kingdom of Two Sicilies, culminating in the establishment of the Kingdom of Italy in 1861.

The unification of Italy was completed in 1866 with Venetia following Prussia's victory over Austria and in 1870 when France withdrew from Rome during the Franco-Prussian War, allowing Italy to secure the region and complete unification.