Unification of Italy (1815-1871)

Did you know that before 1815, Italy was a part of France? Yes it was under Napoleon Bonaparte's well knitted political and administrative structure.

But soon Italy was fragmented into small principalities when Napoleon Bonaparte was defeated in the Battle of Waterloo (1815). Europeon powers like Britain, Austria, Prussia, etc. divided the Napoleon's empire and it was shared by some powerful European countries.

Italy was divided into four main parts:

• The State of Sardinia (Piedmont and Sardinia) -- It was headed by the King of Sardinia
• Papal State (Rome and Central Italy) -- It was headed by Pope
• The region which came under the Austrian Empire. (Lombardy, Venetia, Modena, Parma and Tuscany)
• The Two Sicilies under Bourbon Dynasty (Sicily and Naples)

The people of Italy were not happy with the disintegration of Italy, and wanted to be a free nation. Thus 1815 onward, many nationalists of Italy started spreading the message of nationalism and unification of Italy.

Year 1848 is considered as a landmark in the history of Italy's unification, when many nationalists revolted against the Austrian Empire. The State of Sardinia took initiative for the unification of Italy. Sardinia led All- Italian movement against Austria. But the effort failed due to lack of coordination and organisation of the struggle.

Italy also witnessed the emergence of some secret societies like Carbonari with leaders like Giuseppe Mazzini and Giuseppe Garibaldi. 

Giuseppe Mazzini started a political movement in 1831 called Young Italy to inspire nationalists in Italy, and aimed to establish a republican state.

Unification of Italy was the result of the continuous support and guidance of the King of Sardinia Victor Emmanuel II and his Prime Minister Count Cavour. And, North and South Italy were unified with the contribution of Giuseppe Garibaldi who was a revolutionary.

Main phases of the Italian Unification:

1. 1858-59: Lombardy was unified
2. 1860-61: Parma, Modena and Tuscany were unified. Naples and Sicily were unified with the support of Garibaldi
3. 1866-70: Venetia and Papal States were Unified
4. 1871: Rome became the capital of Italy

For an interesting video on the Unification of Italy, click on the given link below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-13Dx5lLFc&t=10s