Count Cavour [The “Head”] Giuseppi Garibaldi [The “Sword”] King Victor Emmanuel II Giuseppi Mazzini [The “Heart”] Italian Nationalist Leaders
1815: Kingdom of Sardinia- Piedmont is created after the defeat of Napoleon
Sardinia-Piedmont: The “Magnet” Italian unification movement:
1831: Mazzini establishes “Young Italy” group of nationalists hoping to unite the region
Carbonari Insurrections: Committed to establishing a united Italian republic. Became the Young Italian Society in 1831 and provoked nationalist uprisings throughout Italy in 1848.
1849: Mazzini helps set up a revolutionary republic in Rome
1852: Victor Emmanuel of Sardinia-Piedmont names Count Camillo Cavour prime minister
1855: Sardinia joins Britain and France in the Crimean War against Russia
Sardinia Sends Troops to the Crimea Sardinia gains no territory, but establishes diplomatic relations with France
The Crimean War [ ]
Cavour & Napoleon III Meet at Plombières, 1858 A secret alliance is formed between Sardinia and France against Austria.
1859: Through Cavour, Sardinia defeats Austria with France’s assistance. Annexes the region of Lombardy. Nationalist groups overthrow Austrian-backed rulers in northern Italian states.
Austro-Sardinian War, 1859
1860: Garibaldi and his “Red Shirts” capture Sicily and Naples in southern Italy. He gives over both regions to Victor Emmanuel.
Garibaldi & His “Red Shirts” Unite with Cavour
1861: Victor Emmanuel II is crowned king of Italy. Cavour dies.
1866: After war against Austria, Venetia is added to Italy with Germany’s assistance.
Austro-Prussian War, 1866 Austria loses control of Venetia. Venetia is annexed to Italy.
1870: France is forced to withdraw its troops from Rome to fight the Franco- Prussian War. Italy is united.
French Troops Leave Rome, 1870 Italy is united!
A Unified Peninsula! A contemporary British cartoon, entitled "Right Leg in the Boot at Last," shows Garibaldi helping Victor Emmanuel put on the Italian boot.
The Kingdom of Italy: 1871
Differing Nationalities in the Austrian Empire