Key Individuals

Count Cavour

[The “Head”/”Ar

chitect”

Giuseppi Garibaldi

[The “Sword”/Ca

valier”

King Victor Emmanuel

IIGiuseppi Mazzini

[The “Heart”/Po

et”

Italian Nationalist Leaders

Italian Nationalist Leaders

Risorgimento-The period of, or the movement for, the liberation and political unification of Italy, beginning about 1750 and lasting until 1870.

Giuseppe Mazzini Born in Genoa Studied to be a lawyer Became member of the

Carbonari in 1827 "charcoal burners” were

groups of secret revolutionary societies founded in early 19th-century Italy

Led failed attempts at revolution during the 1830s

Founded ‘Young Italy’ Criticized new Italian state

after 1870

What were Mazzini’s aims?

Encouraged people to see themselves as

part of a nation

Wanted democratic independent

Italian Republic

Had concept of ‘Third Rome’ – a civilising

influence on the world

Third Rome describes the idea that some European city, state, or country is the successor to the legacy of the Roman Empire (the "first Rome") and its successor state

What were Mazzini’s methods?‘Education and revolution’

Sought support from young educated m/class

Italian people to drive the Austrians out

Hoped that publicity and propaganda would create revolutionary class

Constitutional monarchies seen as stop-gap only

Carbonari Insurrections: 1820-1821 Carbonari Insurrections: 1820-1821

“Coalmen.”

How big an impact did Mazzini have on the Unification of Italy? Gave encouragement to Italian patriotism Presented new view of Italy Inspired Garibaldi to join movement Helped to win international publicity for

Italian freedom. Defence of Rome in 1849 was heroic failure

By his actions put pressure on Cavour and others to act more positively

How successful was Mazzini?

Had little practical experience Overestimated level of support – ignored

problems of the peasants Support was limited All his plots failed! Some middle class alienated by his revolutionary

stance Made no attempt to win support from peasants and

town workers

Mazzini’s verdict on Italy, 1871

Italian territory under foreign control

Foreigners had played too important a role in unification

Unhappy with new constitution

Camillo Benso, Count of Cavour Member of

Piedmontese ruling class

Great admirer of British system of government

Initially aimed at expanding Piedmont rather than uniting Italy

Cavour – Foreign Policy

Aware of shortcomings of ‘Italia fara da se’

(Italy will operate on its own”) Aimed to move Austrians out of Lombardy

& Venetia As PM had considerable control over

foreign policy 1854 – outbreak of Crimean War: Britain &

France vs Russia 15,000 troops sent to support France & GB

Piedmont-Sardinia Sends Troops to the

Crimea

Piedmont-Sardinia Sends Troops to the

Crimea

What does Piedmont-Sardinia get in return?

Cavour and the Crimean War

Some doubt over motivation but perhaps aimed to gain support from GB & France

Troops played only minor role but did win respect & gratitude from allies

Congress of Paris (1856) dealt with peace negotiations

Cavour not directly involved in talks

Cavour wins support

Foreign support & diplomacy seen as main successes

Also important was link with National Society

Number of its leaders beginning to accept Piedmont as focus for unification

Cavour now looked to France for help against Austria

Napoleon III and Italian Unity Former member of the

Carbonari His troops had crushed

Roman Republic in 1849

Had his own reasons for aiding Piedmont

Probably favoured federation headed by Pope

The Orsini Bomb Plot! In January 14, 1858 Felice Orsini

(an Italian patriot) attempted to assassinate Napoleon III

Felt Nap. III was responsible for failure of earlier revolutions

Hoped that this would aid Italian unity

His act, designed to arouse world interest in the Italian cause, paradoxically influenced Napoleon's own decision to intervene in favor of Italian unification.

Orsini was sent to the guillotine on 13 March 1858.

War with Austria

1859 War provoked with Austria French (with limited help from Piedmont)

won 2 closely fought victories Austria on brink of surrender Napoleon III now pulled put of the war –

unexpectedly Cavour was furious – resigned as PM

IV. Italian UnificationA. Napoleon III

committed his troops

B. Victory for S-P but only the Northern States fell under their control

C. Someone else would have to unify the south

Cavour and Garibaldi

Garibaldi raised volunteers to fight for Savoy

Instead went to Sicily Cavour not happy – feared consequences of

Garibaldi’s actions Was torn between trying to stop Garibaldi

and offering support Attempts to stop him failed!

Cavour and the Papal States

Biggest problem for Cavour was fear of French or Austrian intervention

To forestall Garibaldi marching on Rome, Cavour sent troops into the Papal States

Piedmontese troops successful but did not receive the same level of support as Garibaldi’s men

By end of 1861 Victor Emmanuel acclaimed first King of Italy

Cavour died end of 1861

Giuseppe Garibaldi

Great romantic figure of the Risorgimento

Charismatic guerrilla leader

Had distinguished himself in the defence of Rome

Was a follower of Mazzini

Garibaldi & His “Red Shirts” Unite with Cavour

Garibaldi & His “Red Shirts” Unite with Cavour

Garibaldi & the campaign of 1861

Hi-jacked the popular revolt in Sicily Used great cunning to gain control of the

island His ‘1000 Red Shirts’ gained more and

more support Had more problems on the mainland but

was successful in defeating King of Naples Handed his conquests over to VE II

A Unified Peninsula!A Unified Peninsula!

A contemporary British cartoon, entitled "Right Leg in the Boot at Last," shows Garibaldi helping Victor Emmanuel put on the Italian boot.

VI. Unified Italy1. 1861 - Italy formally unified as a nation.

2. Victor Emmanuel II was their first king.

3. Count Cavour their 1st Prime Minister.

4. Florence was first capital.

5. 1871 – capital moved to Rome

The Kingdom of Italy: 1871

The Kingdom of Italy: 1871

Italy 1861-1870

Kingdom of Italy declared – Victor Emmanuel II ‘by the grace of God and the rule of the people’

Constitutional Monarchy First parliament met in Turin, March 1861 1866 VE II anxious to prove Italian military

prowess

Italy 1861-1870 (2)

Venetia occupied after Austrian defeat – voted to join with Italy

Garibaldi made 2 failed attempts to seize Rome (1862, 1867) – little support from the Romans

1870 Franco-Prussian War saw withdrawal of French garrison

Pius XI soon withdrew to the Vatican

How united was Italy by 1870? Bad relations with the Papacy Lack of common language Spread of Piedmontese constitution caused

conflict Franchise restricted – ½ million/22 million Liberal aims had little in common with peasantry Severe economic problems ‘Brigands’ War’ in the South for many years Political system did not develop well

Papal States

Pope would continue to govern a section of Rome, known as Vatican City

Lateran Treaty, 1929made in 1929 between the Kingdom of Italy and the Holy See, ratified June 7, 1929, ending the "Roman Question”(political dispute between the Italian Government and the Papacy from 1861 to 1929).

Coat of Arms-Vatican City

Papal States con’t… signed for King Victor Emmanuel III of

Italy by Prime Minister Benito Mussolini and for Pope Pius XI by Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Gasparri. The agreements were signed in the Lateran Palace, hence the name by which they are known.

*guaranteed full and independent sovereignty to the Holy See

*established Catholicism as the religion of Italy

Signer’s of the Lateran Treaty

PM Benito Mussolini; Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Gasparri.

The “Holy See”

episcopal jurisdiction of the Bishop of Rome (who is commonly known as the Pope)

The Holy See is not the same as the Vatican City State, which came into existence only in 1929, while the Holy See dates back to early Christian times.

Flag of Vatican City

VATICAN CITY STATE CELEBRATES 83 YEARS On February 11th, 1929, an historic treaty

was signed between the Italian Government and the Vatican re-establishing the political power and diplomatic standing of the Catholic Church, which had been lost when Italy seized Rome, the last of the Papal States, on September 20th, 1870.