Italian unification

Italian unification

Italian Unification, also known as the Risorgimento (meaning "Resurgence"), was a political and social process that consolidated different states of the Italian peninsula into the single state of the Kingdom of Italy in the 19th century. It was a complex process that lasted from 1815 to 1871 and involved a series of wars, revolutions, and diplomatic maneuvers.

Background

The Congress of Vienna in 1815 had restored the pre-Napoleonic patchwork of independent governments in Italy, which included the Kingdom of Sardinia, the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, and the Papal States, among others. These states were largely influenced by foreign powers, particularly the Austrian Empire, which directly controlled the Lombardy-Venetia region and exerted influence over the Italian peninsula.

Key Figures

Several key figures were instrumental in the Italian Unification process:

• Giuseppe Mazzini - An early proponent of Italian unification, Mazzini founded the revolutionary movement Young Italy in 1831, which aimed at the unification of Italy under a republican government.
• Count Camillo Benso di Cavour - The Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Sardinia, who through diplomacy and strategic alliances, particularly with France, helped bring about unification.
• Giuseppe Garibaldi - A nationalist and soldier, Garibaldi led the Expedition of the Thousand in 1860, which resulted in the conquest of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies.
• Victor Emmanuel II - The King of Sardinia who became the first king of a united Italy in 1861.

Process

The unification process began with the War of the First Coalition against the Austrian Empire in 1848, which ended in defeat for the Italians. However, the foundation for future success was laid during this period. The turning point came with the Second Italian War of Independence in 1859, initiated by Cavour's diplomacy and military alliance with France against Austria.

Following the war, the Treaty of Zurich in 1859 resulted in Austria ceding Lombardy to France, which then passed it to Sardinia. This victory set the stage for further unification efforts. In 1860, Garibaldi's successful southern campaign led to the annexation of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, and by 1861, the Kingdom of Italy was proclaimed under Victor Emmanuel II.

The final stages of unification included the annexation of Venetia in 1866 following the Austro-Prussian War and the capture of Rome in 1870, after which it became the capital of the Kingdom of Italy.

Legacy

Italian Unification had a profound impact on the political and social structure of Italy and contributed significantly to the development of modern Italian identity. It also influenced other nationalist movements around the world.

See also

• Revolutions of 1848
• Kingdom of Italy (1861–1946)
• History of Italy