Question

Write a note on Count Camillo de Cavour

Answer 1

Count Camillo de Cavour was the Chief minister who played a key role in the Unification of Italy.

Camillo Benso, Count of Cavour

• He was born in Turin, on 10th August, 1810 and died on 6th June 1861.
• Cavour was neither a Democrat nor a revolutionary.
• Although he was an Italian, his command over French language was better than Italian language, just like other educated and wealthy Italian Elite.
• Cavour engineered a tactful diplomatic alliance with France. As a result Austrian forces were defeated in 1859, by Sardinia-Piedmont.
• Cavour took office as the first Prime Minister of Italy, after the declaration of the United Kingdom of Italy.
• Count Cavour founded the political newspaper, Il Risorgimento.
• Several economic reforms were done by Count Camillo in his native region, Piedmont.
• Cavour became Prime Minister in 1852.
• Count Camillo negotiated through the Second Italian War of Independence, Crimean War and Garibaldi’s expeditions.
• Cavour practiced trasformismo and other policies.
• Cavour formed a coalition with Urbano Rattazzi known as the Connubio (‘union’), uniting the moderate men of the Right and of the Left.

Fragmentation of Italy – Before Unification

• Italy was divided into seven states over the middle of the 19th century.
• The Bourbon kings of Spain dominated the Southern regions, Austrian Hasburgs controlled the North, and the Centre was ruled by the Pope.
• Out of seven states only one state was ruled by Italian princely house i.e. Sardinia-Piedmont.