Italian Unification

By schrimshev

  • Revolution in Paris

    A revolution in Paris results it the overthrow of Louis Phillipe; a proclamation establishes the Second French Republic

  • Southern Italy

    Revolutionaries forced Ferdinand II to grant a liberal constitution

  • Riots in Lombardy

    Rioting breaks out in Milan (Lombardy)-this forces Austria to withdraw from all of northern Italy for a bit

  • Piedmont-Sardinia

    King Charles Albert grants his people a liberal consititution; he embraces the idea of Italian nationalism

  • France takes Rome; Austria crushes the north

    April - August: Louis Napoleon Bonaparte sent French troops to take Rome and reestablish the Pope; Austria stops revolts in Tuscany and Venetia-The Italian Revolutions were over

  • Suppression of Italian Revolutions of 1848

    Revolt is stopped by Ferdinand II in the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies

  • Paris Continues to Revolt

    Radical workers in Pars rise up in revolt

  • Suppression in Northern Italy

    Austrian Commander Radetzky defeats Piedmont; Austria restores control over Lombardy and Venetia

  • The Second French Republic

    Louis Napoleon Bonparte wins election to the presidency of the Second French Republic

  • The Roman Republic

    Revolutionaries, such as Mazzini & Garibaldi, establish the Roman Republic in the Papal States

  • Piedmont's King Charles Albert Abdicates

    After another defeat by the Austrians, King Charles Albert is forced to abdicate to his son Victor Emmanuel II

  • Victor Emmanuel II of takes the throne for Piedmont-Sardinia

  • Count Cavour becomes Prime-Minister

    Cavour is appointed prime minister to Piedmont by Victor Emmanuel II- He carried out a program of liberal reforms with the goal of unifying Italy as a constitutional monarchy. He strengthened Piedmont's economy, created new industrial infrastructures. Piedmont became the industrial and economic leader of the Italian Peninsula.

  • Crimean War

    Cavour sent Piedmont's troops to help Great Britain and France defeat Russia in the Crimean War. Cavour hoped to gain allies to later help him defeat the Austrians (goal-remove Austria from the peninsula)

  • Cavour meets with Napoleon III at Plombieres

    Cavour secretly meets with Napoleon III, known as the meeting at Plombieres. Napoleon III agrees to help Piedmont against Italy, but only if Austria attacks Piedmont first. Cavour agrees to cede the provinces of Nice and Savoy to France for their help.

  • Piedmont's War with Austria

    Cavour provokes Austria to declare war. Piedmont and France counterattack driving Austria out of Lombardy and Venetia.

  • Napoleon III Breaks Deal with Cavour

    Napoleon becomes shocked by the bloody battles and loss of life. He is fearful that his own Catholic people will revolt if a war with Catholic Austria continues. He brokers a peace deal with Austria behind Cavour's back.

  • Treaty of Villafranca

    This the treaty signed by France and Austria. The terms:
    1. Piedmont receives Lombardy
    2. Austria retains Venetia
    Cavour is so outraged at this agreement, he resigns.

  • Piedmont's Power Grows

    The assemblies of Tuscany, Parma, Modena, and Romagna vote to unify with Piedmont. Cavour returns to carry out these annexations in 1860.
    In order for France to agree to the annexation, Piedmont had cede Nice and Savoy to France

  • Revolution in Southern Italy

    Revolution breaks out in the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies in reaction to the harsh, conservative policies of Francis II.

  • Garibaldi's Expedition

    Garibaldi sails from the port of Genoa (in Piedmont) with his famous Red Shirts (Expedition of 1000). Publicly Cavour opposed Garibaldi's Expedition, but secretly was in support of it

  • Garibaldi Takes the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies

    May-September: Garibaldi and his troops took control of Palermo and then seized Naples. The Kingdom of the Two Sicilies was free from tyranny.

  • Annexation of the Papal States

    In order to stop Garibaldi from marching into Rome and angering the French into defending the Pope, Cavour sends Piedmontese troops into the Papal States. Piedmont took the Papal States, but the Pope maintained possession of Rome.

  • Italy Becomes a Constitutional Monarchy

    In order for Italian unification to continue Garibaldi is forced to compromise with Cavour. Garibaldi must agree to a unified Italy as a Constitutional Monarchy. It may not have been the Republic Mazzini and Garibaldi were hoping to create, but Italy was now unified (except Rome & Venetia). King Victor Emmanuel II is crowned king of the new unified Italy.

  • Venetia Becomes Part of the New Italy

    Prussia and Italy align against Austria during the Seven Week's War. For Italy's help in defeating Austria, Austria must cede Venetia to Italy.

  • The Italian Puzzle is Complete

    France had been protecting Rome for the Pope since the Revolutions of 1848. But France is forced to remove their troops from Rome to go and fight in the Franco-Prussian War. Italy sends troops to occupy and annex Rome. Rome becomes the capital of Italy.