The Unification of Italy

By gavinnee

  • Congress of Vienna

    The Congress of Vienna restored Austrian domination over the Italian peninsula but had left Italy completely fragmented in a number of small states.
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    Young Italy

    National revolutionary movement set up by Giuseppe Mazzini, an Italian patriot.
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    Massive Reforms

    Reforms in the Papal States, Lucca, Tuscany, and the Kingdom of Sardinia. They were intended to weaken the revolutionary movements ("Young Italy").

  • Liberal Constitution

    The kingdom Piedmont-Sardinia, the largest and most powerful of the Italian states, adopted a liberal constitution.

  • First Revolt (Sicilian Revolution)

    Occured in the Kingdom of Sicily, which resulted in a constitution for the whole kingdom. It forced Pope Pius IX to flee Rome and a republic was proclaimed.

  • Defeation of Piedmontese and Charles Albert

    The Austrians defeated the Piedmontese and Charles Albert had to Abdicate. Victor Emmanuel II suceeded Charles in 1849.

  • New Prime Minister

    Count Camillo di Cavour became prime minister of Sardinia- Piedmont.
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    Elections of the Kingdom of Sardinia

    All northern states voted to join the Kingdom of Sardinia. Napoleon II demanded the provinces of Savoy and Nice for France.

  • Crisis caused by Cavour

    Cavour had caused a crisis that provoked the Austrians to send an ultimatum demanding Piedmontese disarmament. The Austrians then surrendered Lombardy to Napoleon III, who handed it over to Victor Emanuel II.

  • Garibaldi Brings Unity

    Giuseppe Garibaldi was another Italian revolutionary hero and leader in the struggle for Italian unification. He led a small army of Italian nationalists, and captured Sicily. His army became known as the Red Shirts.

  • Seven Weeks' War

    The Austrian province of Venita (which included the city of Venice) became a part of Italy after Prussia defeated Austria in the Seven Weeks' War.

  • Franco-Prussian War

    Napoleon III withdrew his troops from Rome, and Italian troops quickly moved into Rome without opposition.

  • Rome Made Capital

    The citizens of Rome voted for union with Italy and Rome became the capital of united Italy. The pope would govern a section of Rome known as the Vatican City.