Metternich aimed to stop the revolution in Naples from spreading to other parts of the country, as it was obvious, as it was the first major uprising that it had the potential to be big enough to damage the Austrian rule in Italy, King Ferdiand had promised a constitution which was not being granted when they wanted and General Pepe was appointed as leader of the revolutionists and he was to be made leader of the new government. At the Congress of Troppau it was decided between some of the biggest countries in Europe that the uprising would be stopped at the King of Naples would be restored, for this to happen there were various steps. The entire operation was master minded by the Austrians. The Austrian troops marched into Naples and suppressed the uprising with the backing of Russia and Prussia, the suppression was very vicious and they restored King Ferdinand’s monarchy, which was very much in favour of Austrian help. During 1821 there was another uprising in Italy in Piedmont, this was the battle between Charles Albert and
Cavour did many things and has many contributions to Italy. But the main aim was not unified Italy. He hoped that Piedmont would be strong enough to assume the leadership of Italy in the event of another wars with Austria, France and the House of Hapsburg of Austria. Many facts and evidence could see that Cavour did not want a unified Italy. He tried to prevent it and the "unification" was only Piedmontization (tried to extent the influence of Piedmont).
Italian Unification as a result of Foreign Aids The Italian Unification was a result of foreign aids from France, Prussia, Britain and also Russia by helping to gain Italian states and by helping indirectly. Firstly, the Italian Unification was a result of foreign aids from France because France wanted to gain prestige. To do this, France helped gain Lombardy and Duchies of Italy. When France saw the strength of the Piedmontese army in the Crimean war 1854, France agreed to help Piedmont against Austria. For this agreement, both countries signed the Pact of Plombieres in 1858 where if Austria attacked Piedmont, France will send 200,000 troops to help.
In its negotiations, the congress returned domination of the Italian Peninsula to Austria. Austria now occupied Lombardy and Venice and had considerable influence on other Italian states. One of the few places of independence was the Kingdom of Sardinia, which now controlled Piedmont, Nice, Savoy and Genoa. Some of the things that conflicted and interfered with the unification process were: Austrian control of Lombardy and Venice, several independent Italian states, the autonomy of the Papal States, and the limited power and influence of Italian leaders. II.
In 1858, Cavour and Napoleon III met at Plombieres. They agreed that the price of the French help was the return of Nice and Savoy to France. It is argued that Napoleon helped Piedmont because he wanted to substitute French influence for Austrian influence in Italy. In 1859, French armies, together with Piedmontese, defeated Austrians in Lombardy. Although France did not help Piedmont to take Venetia later, France did help Piedmont to unify Lombardy as stated in the Treaty of Villafranca of 1859.
WHY DID THE REVOLUTIONS OF 1848 -1849 IN ITALY FAIL? The failures of the 1848 - 1849 revolutions in Italy failed to achieve anything because Italy was divided and each of the revolutions had different aims. Italy was separated into separate states and they all wanted different things to happen, most of the states did not want a money to run them instead they wanted a republic. The desertion of the Pope in the revolution had most of the Catholic supporters of the revolution. None of the states in Italy agreed on anything about from one thing - getting Austria out of Lombardy and Venetia.
Both Count Camillo Cavour of Italy and Prussian Prime Minister Otto Von Bismarck brought their respective nations to unify in their own respective ways. In 1852 Cavour, the Prime Minister on Piedmont, he looked onto other liberal Italian principalities. His greatest contribution was his establishment of diplomacy; the negotiations between states. Meanwhile Prime Minister Otto Von Bismarck had a different view on the unification on his country; he was against diplomacy and remained scornful towards liberals. “The great questions of the day will not be settled by means of speeches and majority decisions but by iron and blood” (Bismarck).
Italian Unification, 1815- 1870 Background • After the Napoleonic wars and French rule 1796-1815 the fate of Italy was decided at the Congress of Vienna in 1815 by Austria, Prussia, Britain and Russia • The Vienna Settlement insisted Italy returned to the divided state system, absolutist rulers be restored, and that Lombardy and Venetia would be annexed and ruled by Austria • The absolutist rulers of states were told not to give into liberal and national demands, and Austria would give military support if it got out of hand. 1820-21 revolution- Naples, Sicily and Piedmont • SPAIN- revolution in Spain against absolutist monarchy started the domino effect. • NAPLES- the Cabonari, liberals and middle class demanded an end to absolutism, demanded constitutional monarchy, middle class involvement in politics and personal freedoms. • PIEDMONT- the Cabonari, liberals and middle class demanded an end to the reactionary ruler of Victor Emmanuel I and constitutional government • SICILY- before the 19th century Sicily had been independent of Naples, and they wanted independence back as many felt the king of Naples did not pay attention to Sicilian problems. 18131-33 revolution- Parma, Modena and Bologna (papal states) • FRANCE- revolutions in France create the domino effect, revolutionaries in Italy though the new liberal king of France would help them against their absolutist rulers and Austria • THE PAPAL STATES- the Cabonari, liberals and middle class demanded an end to absolutism, demanded constitutional monarchy, middle class involvement in politics and personal freedoms.
* Wanted to make Duke Francesco King. * Francesco then deceived the people and fled to Austria to plead for help. * Papal States – 1831. * A Different Government. * They did not want to be led by the church because the church had become ruthless and
“To what extent was the unification of Italy due to the weakness of Austria?” Throughout Europe between 1815 and 1848 swept feelings of nationalism and a desire for unification, including the states collectively known as Italy. This lack of identity was underlined when Count Metternich said “Italy is just a geographical expression.” Nationalism promoted the belief in one language, one culture and the pride in one’s identity. Before unification, life in Italy was frustrating for those who wanted unification. The North and the South states were economically different; the pope influenced the central states. Nevertheless, the process began from 1861 and by 1871 boundaries had been settled.