How Italy became Italy

How did Italy become the state we know today?

The transformation of Italy into the nation-state we recognise today is a convoluted tale involving wars, political strategies, contrasting views and ideologies, encapsulated in what is known as the Risorgimento.

*Risorgimento* is the intricate process which paved the way for the Unification of Italy, a complex phase of Italian history often romanticised both within and outside Italy.

_{Representation of the Italian Resurgence}

It resulted in the expansion of the Kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia, one of the Italian states reshaped by the new European order established in 1815 by the Congress of Vienna after Napoleon’s defeat. This process led to the annexation of six other regions—Lombardy-Venetia, directly under Austrian rule; the Duchies of Parma and Modena, along with the Grand Duchy of Tuscany; the Papal States; and the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, encompassing most of Southern Italy and Sicily.

The formation of the modern Italian state was a gradual and complex process that unfolded over several decades. On March 17, 1861, the Kingdom of Italy was officially established, marking a significant milestone in the unification movement. However, key regions were still absent from the unified state, the regions that roughly correspond to Veneto, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Trentino-Alto Adige, and Lazio.

_{Coat of arms of the Kingdom of Italy (1870-1890)}

In 1866, following a war against Austria in which Italy allied with Prussia, Veneto was added to the newly formed nation. The year 1870 saw the annexation of Lazio, and the subsequent year, Rome became the capital of the Kingdom of Italy. Despite these advances, the regions of Trentino-Alto Adige and Friuli-Venezia Giulia remained outside the Italian borders. It wasn’t until the end of World War I in 1918 that Trento and Trieste finally became integral parts of Italy, completing the territorial consolidation of the modern Italian state.

Three pivotal figures in the Italian Risorgimento were Giuseppe Mazzini, Camillo Benso Count of Cavour, and Giuseppe Garibaldi. Mazzini, a revolutionary, social, and political thinker, played a crucial role in shaping the ideological foundations of the Italian unification movement. Advocating for a democratic republican government in Italy and envisioning a united Europe, Mazzini established the revolutionary organisation ‘Giovine Italia’ in 1831. Despite his lack of firsthand experience in Italian society, his writings and principles had a profound impact on the Risorgimento. Mazzini’s involvement in various uprisings, including the 1848 Milan uprising and the Tuscan and Roman Republics of 1849, ultimately ended in failure, but his influence endured. Persecuted, imprisoned, sentenced to death, and exiled by various governments throughout his life, Mazzini’s commitment to his ideals persisted. Despite his challenges, Mazzini’s legacy as a visionary and influential figure in the Italian unification movement remains significant.

_{Garibaldi, Victor Emmanuel II and Cavour}

Camillo Benso, Count of Cavour, stands out as a prominent and moderate liberal figure in the context of the Risorgimento, playing a crucial role as an important architect of Italian Unification. Serving as the prime minister in the Kingdom of Piedmont, Cavour envisioned a unified Italy under the rule of the House of Savoy. His political philosophy reflected a pragmatic approach, emphasising constitutional monarchy, secularism, social conservatism, administrative centralization, and balanced budgets. Cavour’s commitment to these principles marked a departure from radical revolutionary ideologies, opting instead for a gradual and diplomatic path towards unification.

Giuseppe Garibaldi, often hailed as the ‘Eroe dei due mondi’ (Hero of Two Worlds), left an indelible mark on the struggles for independence and unification in both Europe and the Americas. His military prowess and fervent commitment to the ideals of republicanism earned him a reputation as a charismatic and daring leader. Before his pivotal role in the Italian Risorgimento, Garibaldi fought in Brazil and Uruguay, gaining experience and recognition for his military skills. The zenith of his career occurred during the expedition of the Mille (Thousand) in 1860, when he led a volunteer force to liberate Sicily.

_{Giuseppe Garibaldi landing at Marsala}

Despite this triumph, Garibaldi faced setbacks, including defeats at the hands of Cavour in 1860–1, the incident at Aspromonte in 1862, and the Battle of Mentana in 1867. These defeats, coupled with his clashes with the broader political landscape, notably with the pragmatism of Cavour, meant that the ultimate unification of Italy occurred at the expense of Garibaldi’s republican aspirations. Nonetheless, his legacy endures as a symbol of the fervent spirit of the Risorgimento and the tireless pursuit of freedom and unity.