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... ow that the French intervened, the task for unification was even tougher. There was also needed a single ideal under which to unify Italy, Whether to establish a Democratic Republic (as Mazzini wished), a monarchy (as Charles Albert wished), or a Federation (as popes supporters wished). But all were in favor of one idea: Unification. 1858 - 1870 Unification Two great people came forward in the 1858 1870 revolution. Garibaldi and Cavour.
Both associated with the new king of Piedmont Sardinia, Victor Emmanuel 2 nd, but it was Cavour who played a role first in the unification of Italy. Like all people, Cavour also wanted a unified Italy. He also wanted to industrialize Piedmont Sardinia like hes seen in Britain. He founded the newspaper Il Risorgimento in 1847. The newspaper made the Piedmontese aware of Nationalist and democratic ideals. By 1850 he became a minister in Victor Emmanuel's parliament, and in 1852, a Prime Minister.
Cavour increased Piedmontese spending, and greatly improved Commerce, communication, Industry, and agriculture, within Piedmont Sardinia, along with developing Transportation, and the Genoese port. His improvements to Piedmont Sardinia made the Piedmontese like their king very much. (ref. H. O. # 2 p. 130). After convincing Victor Emmanuel 2 nd to send troops to assist Britain & France in the Crimean War, Cavour managed to earn Piedmont Sardinia the affect of Britain and France. (ref.
H. O. # 1 p. 35). After an attempted assassination on Napoleon 3 rd (new king of France) by an Italian patriot, Napoleon 3 rds interest in Italian Liberation was renewed. (ref. H.
O. # 1 p. 35). Later that year, Cavour & Napoleon 3 rd signed a secret agreement. In that agreement Napoleon 3 rd made it clear he couldnt attack Austria, but if Austria was to invade Piedmont Sardinia, France would come to the rescue. Additionally, France would gain Nice and Savoy, & Piedmont Sardinia would gain Lombardy Venetia.
This was to be a good deal for Piedmont That would gain her a large territory under her control. (ref. H. O. # 1 p. 36). Piedmont Sardinia had to somehow provoke Austria into invading.
This was achieved by mobilizing troops and protecting conscription refugees. (ref. H. O. # 1 p. 36) By now, Piedmont was fully behind their king. The idea of Italy being unified under Piedmont Sardinia was to their liking. Slogans saying Verdi (Initials in Italian meaning: Victor Emmanuel King of Italy) appeared everywhere in Piedmont Sardinia. (ref. H.
O. # 1 p. 36) On 29 th of April, after an ultimatum posed by Austria, the inevitable happened. Austria marched into Piedmont Sardinia and declared war. As agreed, France marched into Piedmont Sardinia and assisted it against the Austrians. But Napoleon 3 rd became more and more reluctant about the deal.
He noticed Prussia was mobilizing troops (probably to aid Austria), and the war had already taken a great toll on life. This led to a truce signed between France and Austria. The truce stated: - Piedmont Sardinia would gain Lombardy but Austria would retain Venetia. - Tuscany & Modena would be restored to their former rulers. - A confederation of Italian States led by the pope should be formed. (ref. H. O. # 1 p. 36) As agreed, Piedmont Sardinia gained Lombardy. This was the first step towards the unification of Italy under one king. (ref.
H. O. # 1 p. 36) The agreement between France and Austria couldnt be completed though. The people of Tuscany and Modena refused to be ruled by their former Duchies. They wanted to be joined to Piedmont Sardinia. France had no problem except it demanded Nice and Savoy. As a result, a plebiscite was taken (Both in Tuscany and Modena, & In Nice and Savoy).
The plebiscite concluded that Tuscany and Modena would become part of Piedmont Sardinia, and Nice & Savoy would join France. This even further enlarged the Kingdom of Piedmont Sardinia, which now stretched from North to center of the Italian peninsula. (ref. H. O. # 1 p. 36) Meanwhile Cavour, deeply furious due to the broken agreement, came back to his senses and continued working toward unification. (ref.
H. O. # 1 p. 36) Now that Piedmont Sardinia gained all this land, the unification was stuck. What should be the next step? Should Piedmont Sardinia try and invade, or wait a couple of years. But it was Garibaldi who made sure the revolution would keep on moving. Garibaldi spent 12 years in South America where he got to master the art of guerilla warfare.
He had great passion to unification, and wanted to advance Liberalism and Nationalism as much as he could in Italy. After the Republic of Rome came to an end, he escaped back to his island, Camera. Now, he came back ready to contribute to the Italian unification. He was secretly supported by Cavour and Victor Emmanuel, which provided him with weaponry and shirts. Cavour publicly stated he was against Garibaldi but privately supported him. Garibaldi easily gathered 1000 volunteers in Piedmont Sardinia to sail off with him to an expedition to Kingdom of the 2 Sicilies.
Garibaldi luckily managed to land on the shores of Sicily. The landing was of bizarre coincidence with several British battle ships which were casually sailing along the coast of Sicily. The Sicilian garrison was afraid to shoot at British ships, and instead, let Garibaldis men land on Sicily's shores unharmed. (ref. H. O. # 2 p. 133) When the garrison realized his mistake, it was too late. Garibaldis army easily conquered Sicily and headed on to the Italian mainland.
He fought his way (using mainly guerilla warfare) to Naples, which he eventually conquered. By now he had many more volunteers join his army (including a British legion of 650 men). (ref. H. O. # 2 p. 133) By now, Garibaldi has achieved the unexpected. He liberated all of Southern Italy. The French werent very keen with the idea of Garibaldi getting too close to Rome, so they proposed Britain to block Garibaldi.
Britain, after asking what Cavour wishes, and getting a positive public answer, but a negative private answer, refused the proposal. After all, also Britain was a strong supporter of Garibaldis expedition. (ref. H. O. # 2 p. 135). Cavour and Victor Emmanuel had mixed feelings about Garibaldis expedition. They feared he would declare the land he conquered a Republic, or head on and try conquering Rome, greatly provoking the French. (ref.
H. O. # 2 p. 135). Cavour persuaded Victor Emmanuel to lead an army of 35, 000 men through the Papal States and not allow Garibaldi invade Rome. (ref. H. O. # 1 p. 38).
But by now, Garibaldi had no intentions of conquering Rome. After he conducted a plebiscite in the Kingdom of the 2 Sicilies, he found out that all they wished was to join Piedmont Sardinia. Shortly afterwards, Garibaldi and King Victor Emmanuel 2 nd met in the North of Naples where Garibaldi handed over all the land he conquered to Victor Emmanuel 2 nd, thus, acknowledging him as the King of a Unified Italy. (ref. H. O. # 1 p. 138). Now, the unification of Italy was complete.
Thanks to Garibaldis war knowledge, and Cavour's diplomacy, Italy was finally unified under Victor Emmanuel 2 nd. Only 2 areas were left to be unified, Rome and Venetian. Rome seemed to be the natural capital of the unified Italy, and was held by the French, and Venetia, a large territory in the North East part of Italy held by the Austrians. But soon enough, they too were annexed to Italy. (ref. H. O. # 1 p. 38).
On 1866, Austria had to withdraw its army from Venetia to help it fight an allied force of Italy and Prussia. Victor Emmanuel easily marched into Venetia, and confirmed its annexation to Italy through a plebiscite. (ref. H. O. # 1 p. 38). On 1870, France too had to withdraw its forces from Rome after it engaged in a war with Prussia.
Now that Rome wasnt guarded, the Piedmontese army easily entered the Papal States conquering Rome and declaring it the capital of Italy on October 2 nd 1870. (ref. H. O. # 1 p. 38). This was the final end of the legendary unification of Italy, a story of great disappointments, surprises, and a happy ending. Though many problems later arose for the fresh country, Rome remains unified till today, but not as a monarchy but as a republic, and not with the same territories, but with new ones. But that is a different view in Italian history.
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