Unification of ItalyThe Impact of Napoleon

Early 1800s Napoleon conquered most of Italy – imposed his own laws and rules Italy was divided into many states/cities

o But Napoleon divided it into 3 parts: North (only Piedmont) – annexed to France Middle (Kingdom of Italy) – ruled by Austrians South (Kingdom of Naples) – ruled by Joseph (N’s bro)

What Napoleon did?o Standardize Italian laws – under Napoleonic Codeo Built roadso Reduced nobility’s powero Redistributes lando Took a lot of raw materials

No industrial advancement Wanted to keep IT weak, to ensure it didn’t pose a threat

By 1815, Napoleon is defeated.

Vienna Congress

Decide how to fix situation AU, PR, BR, FR and RU Led by Metternich Decisions made:

o Go back to old borders, pre-Napoleono FR could keep all that it tooko EU back to old govt and borderso Promised that Napoleon would not be back

Metternich is very strict – esp with Italy (had a lot of FR influence)o IT broken up again into many pieceso Legal system (Napoleonic code) goneo Old ruling families re-allowed in

Italy broken up into:

Kingdom of Piedmont & Sardiniao Nice is Italiano Strongest stateo Royal led

AU-occupied Territorieso Lombardy and Venetiao Tight controlo Area very rich in natural resourceso People not happy

Felt Italian Didn’t like being AU-ruled

Central Duchieso Controlled by AU dukeso Not as strict as aboveo But nonetheless, unpopular

Papal Stateso Romagna, Marche and the Patrimonyo Pope ran everything + everyone obliged to be catholic

Kingdom of Two Sicilieso Naples and Sicilyo Biggest and weakesto Very poor and corrupto Ran by Spanish king – King Ferdinand

Italian Goal = returning to be a strong united state (Roman Empire)

Conservative – Italy unified under Pope Liberals – moderate, wants a constitution Radicals – Italy as a republic, run by the people

As a result of censorship, secret societies began to pop up.

An example is the Carbonario A group of Radical rebelso Led by Mazzini

First revolution (1820-1) Second revolution (1831-2) Third revolution (1848-9)

Potential Leaders of the Revolution

1. Giuseppe Mazzini From Kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia Intellectual person When First Revolution failed, he wore black in mourning and joined Carbonari

o Sent to prison, exiled but sneaked back Created his own society = “Young Italy” in 1833 Important follower of his Giuseppe Garibaldi

2. Pope Pius IX Becomes pope in 1846 Quite liberal What he did?

o Ended censorshipo Frees political prisonerso Allows political groups to meeto Created advisory

3. Carlo Alberto King of Piedmont-Sardinia after second revolution Liberal Very popular Makes various reforms

o Legal o Administrative o Military

3 rd revolution (1848-9) – most important revolution

Same time as revolution in GE and AU Across all of IT peninsula – esp in North North wants to be free

o Lombardy and Venetia wants to be free from AU controlo Pope tells them not to fight AU

Thus, this led to IT divided into 2:o Popeo Rest of North

Pope’s army disobeys him and joins Piedmont army to help them fight Other countries sees this

o FR : worries for pope and doesn’t want strong unified neighbouro AU : wants pope to win

Thus, both send troops At the same time, Mazzini announces that Rome is unified (not true!) and thus, exiled 1848 – Carlo Alberto issues the “Statuto” Revolution fails and he is abdicated to his son:

Victor Emanuel II

Why Revolution failed?

Revolutions were localized Led by intellectuals who weren’t violent FR and AU army too strong Potential leaders = disappointment Not ready for revolution

Key Years: 1849-18611. Piedmont

No AU influence Strongest state in IT, most liberal constitution, modern army and strong economy King Vittorio Emanuele II – King in 1849

o Son of Carlo Alberto Appointed Camillo Benso Conte di Cavour as PM in 1852

2. Crimean War (1853-6) Piedmont sent army to fight in Balkans against RU Sent by Cavour – show of power Get involved in EU affairs + make alliances – beginnings of foreign policy

3. Plombieres Agreement (1858) Secret agreement between FR and IT to be freed from AU control AU power declining so took advantage of this time to join Piedmont with Veneto and

Lombardy In exchange, FR would get Savoy and Nice FR said they’d help, only if AU aggressor Sealed agreement with Royal Marriage – V.E.’s son with Napoleon’s nephew Cavour and VE incites people in Lombardia and Veneto to start rebelling

o AU tries to send an ultimatum to themo IT don’t accept and want waro AU declares waro FR joins in the fight

4. 2 nd War of Independence France does most of the fighting

o Very strongo Not coordinated with IT army

Duchies see this and rebel too, to get rid of AU Two months into the war, FR wanted to stop

o Too long and costlyo Unpopular amongst peopleo Napoleon III worried Piedmont would annex Duchies too = strong neighbour

This led to the VILLA FRANCA AGREEMENT Secret agreement N III with Austria’s Franz Joseph

o Agreement: Central duchies under AU control

Lombardy – AU give it up Veneto – AU keep

War stopped very quickly IT found out about agreement, doesn’t want to give Nice and Savoy

o But have no choice as they need FR as an ally Accept the deal

Cavour is FURIOUS! And resigns Central Duchies don’t allow AU to come back

o They come together, decided to unify and annex themselves to Piedmont Cavour comes back BR gets involved

o BR + FR allow unification of Savoy and Nice 1860 – Central Duchies annexed to Piedmont in exchange for Savoy and Nice

o Savoy – VE homeo Nice – Garibaldi’s home

THIS! Made G furious!!!! He is a great revolutionary Plans an attack

To officialise Nice, they had to make a referendum – to make it legal His plan?

o Explode voting boothso Hope Piedmont + FR go to war, to fight for it back

VE don’t want thiso Meets with G and decides he can start revolution in the

south

5. Expedition of 1000 (1860) Cavour + VE meet with G South has been full of revolutions – they didn’t want a Spanish ruler G sent on a mission to help revolution

o Purpose of them doing this to G? Get rid of him Get kingdom of two sicilies

G sent with no official help. Managed to round up 1000 meno King not involvedo Few resources, no plan

“Red Shirts” = Garibaldinis G wanted a republic – a unified IT Leaves Piedmont for Marsala (Sicily) by ship and starts walking, gaining 3000 followers Army of Kingdom of Two Sicilies = 150 000 men

o Outnumbered

o Managed to defeat themo People welcomes G and want him to be their ruler

He accepts in the name of VEo Does much good:

Redistributes land Remove bad taxes

Receives 2 letters from Cavour and VEo 1st : told him to stop at Sicily (possibly Cavour-influenced – no interest in South)o 2nd: told him to go quickly in IT and free it

Of course, G follows second letter He’s out numbered but picks up many followers

o Keep marching north towards Napleso Neopolitan Army is scary of himo Thus, instead of walking, he gets on a train with troops

September 1860, King Francis (Spanish king) gives up his place Again, asked to rule them He refuses in the name of VE

6. Invasion of Papal States(1860) Garibaldi wants to continue North and take over everything Cavour, however, know the importance of not messing with Pope’s state

o Also concerned that G would not give his land up to themo Decides to march their army into the Papal States to meet G in the south

As they go, they took over Romagna and Marches But don’t touch the Patrimony

Famous moment G kneels and gives king the territory wono G upset however that he did not acknowledge the Garibaldini

Cavour makes a referendum in Romagna + Marcho Positive responseo People wanted to be part of IT

G is then stopped

JANUARY 1861 – IT is created, with their first elections in their capital of Turin

MARCH 1861 – VE crowned king of Italy

Land still missing?

Veneto and the Patrimony

1861, Cavour dies of sickness.

7. Garibaldi attacks Rome (1862) Goes ahead, without permission from govt, with Red Shirts VE is furious – asks army to stop G

To avoid foreign interventention G very surprised at this

G wounded himself and army defeated cant take over Rome G retires to Caprera

VE reaslises Rome was missing He shows the rest of EU he isn’t interested in it by ignoring it Moves capitol to Florence

8. 3 rd War of Independence (1866) They want the Veneto region AU fighting PR and economically weak IT helps PR Prussian army does most of the fighting and IT are badly beaten

o Desperately need Garibaldi Leaves retirement

o With G’s army, they advanced in AU PR defeated AU = IT wins too + gains Veneto VE then tells G to stop and he obeys 1866 – Veneto part of IT, very rich region

o G optimistic and feels like issues were resolved with VE againo So, 1867 – 2nd attempt on Rome

VE tells him to stop again and G retires forever

9. Franco-Prussian War (1870) AU has been defeated FR involved in war

o FR soldiers protecting Pope leave , FR loses war and Napoleon III caught Now, VE wants Rome

o Attempts Diplomacy – asks Pope to join them peacefully (he refuses!)o 60 000 soldiers occupy the Patrimony

Pope excommunicates VE – Savoy fam very religious IT then does a referendum

o All other parts joined ITo Only Vatican City remained under Pope control

10. Capital moves to Rome (1871) Govt still conservation Parliament form by wealthier noble men – didn’t represent IT Reasons it’s difficult to unify IT:

o Different languageso Different cultureso Racismo Difference between north and south

Govt wants to spread Piedmont ways of life

G lives to see unification

Mazzini dies but attempted to overthrow the King to form a Republic

IT UNIFICATION = really only completed in 1919 – Treaty of Versailles

“Cavour, Mazzini, Garibaldi ... her brain, her soul, her sword.” –Meredith

Historiography Nationalist: importance of Piedmont king Liberal: supports the importance of Cavour’s actions

Left-wing: less sympathetic to unificationo Describing it as a “failed revolution” –Gramsci

Right-wing: Cavour created a state riddled by class conflicts – led to Fascism

Denis Mack Smith:o Dominant non-IT historiano Less sympathetic to Cavour cunning politician. Represent Piedmont interests more

than unified ITo Less sympathetic to kingo More sympathetic to Mazzini man of integrity and honour