Unification of Italy The 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 Code o Built roads o Reduced nobility’s power o Redistributes land o 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-Napoleon o FR could keep all that it took o EU back to old govt and borders o 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 pieces o Legal system (Napoleonic code) gone o Old ruling families re-allowed in
Italy broken up into:
Kingdom of Piedmont & Sardinia o Nice is Italian o Strongest state o Royal led AU-occupied Territories o Lombardy and Venetia o Tight control o Area very rich in natural resources o People not happy Felt Italian Didn’t like being AU-ruled Central Duchies o Controlled by AU dukes o Not as strict as above o But nonetheless, unpopular Papal States o Romagna, Marche and the Patrimony o Pope ran everything + everyone obliged to be catholic Kingdom of Two Sicilies o Naples and Sicily o Biggest and weakest o Very poor and corrupt o 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 Carbonari o A group of Radical rebels o 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 censorship o Frees political prisoners o Allows political groups to meet o Created advisory 3. Carlo Alberto King of Piedmont-Sardinia after second revolution Liberal Very popular Makes various reforms o Legal o Administrative o Military
3rd 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 control o Pope tells them not to fight AU Thus, this led to IT divided into 2: o Pope o 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 neighbour o 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: 1849-1861 1. 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 them o IT don’t accept and want war o AU declares war o FR joins in the fight 4. 2nd War of Independence France does most of the fighting o Very strong o 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 costly o Unpopular amongst people o 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 home o 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 booths o Hope Piedmont + FR go to war, to fight for it back VE don’t want this o 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 men o King not involved o 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 o
Managed to defeat them People welcomes G and want him to be their ruler He accepts in the name of VE o Does much good: Redistributes land Remove bad taxes Receives 2 letters from Cavour and VE o 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 Naples o Neopolitan Army is scary of him o 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 them o 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 won o G upset however that he did not acknowledge the Garibaldini Cavour makes a referendum in Romagna + March o Positive response o 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. 3rd 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 again o 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 IT o 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 languages o Different cultures o Racism o 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 unification o 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 historian o Less sympathetic to Cavour cunning politician. Represent Piedmont interests more than unified IT o Less sympathetic to king o More sympathetic to Mazzini man of integrity and honour
