Question

Describe the process of Unification of Italy.

Answer 1

In 1861, Victor Emmanuel II was proclaimed king of united Italy.

Before Unification of Italy

• Italy faced political fragmentation over its long history.
• There was the multinational Habsburg Empire and several dynastic states scattered all over.
• Italy was divided into seven states over the middle of the 19th century.
• Out of seven states only one state was ruled by Italian princely house i.e. Sardinia-Piedmont.
• Centre was ruled by the Pope, Austrian Hasburgs controlled the North, and the Bourbon kings of Spain dominated the Southern regions.
• Italian language also had many local and regional variations.

Unification of Italy

• Giuseppe Mazzini wanted to put a programme to unify Italy in the 1830’s. To spread his goals a secret society called Young Italy was formed.
• The responsibility of unifying Italy through war fell on the ruler King Victor Emmanuel II of Sardinia-Piedmont, after the failure of revolutionary uprising in 1831 and 1848.
• The ruling elite thought that they would get political dominance and economic development after unification of Italy.
• The Austrian forces were defeated in 1859 by Sardinia-Piedmont, after a diplomatic alliance was made with the French, by Chief Minister Cavour.
• In order to drive out the Spanish rulers from the Southern regions of Italy, in 1860, a large number of armed volunteers under Garibaldi marched into the Kingdom of two Sicilies and South Italy. They won the support of Peasants.
• Hence in 1861, Italy had a new king, Victor Emmanuel II.