Timeline of Italian Unification 1857-1861

Charlotte Beck | February 20, 2023

(14) 26th May 1860 ? Garibaldi and his
troops infiltrated Paler mo and endured
three says of fighting. They ended up
seizing the capital, despite being
(4) March ? April 1859. Declar ation of war on outnumbered facing 20,000 men. The
Austr ia. Victor Emmanuel made a provocative bourbon government was unpopular and
speech, British were sympathetic to cause of Italian weak under the financial crisis, making
unification, but didn?t want to see war intentionally (10) 21st January 1860 ? Cavour Garibaldi appear to be freeing the public
provoked, leaving a lack of support. March, retur ned at PM. He immediately began and so he was supported. The Ar mistice
Piedmontese troops were mobilised. Austrians then to negotiate a deal with Napoleon called was signed in June, and the island of
mobilised the following month. With Piedmont not (8) November 1859 ? Treaty of the Treaty of Turin. Sicily was conquered by the end of July.
standing down, war was declared on April 25th. Zur ich. This formally ended the war
between the allies and the Austrians. As
part of the treaty, Napoleon suggested
that the issue of central Europe was to
be decided by a congress of European
powers. This was Napoleon?s attempt to
(2) 14th January 1858 - Assassination gain back the initiative over Italy.
Attempt. Led by Count Felice Orsini, on (12) April 1860 ? Treaty of Tur in and (13) 11th May 1860 ? Gar ibaldi and (15) 18th August 1860 ? Garibaldi
Napoleon upon his visit to the opera with the loss of Nice and Savoy. At Plombieres, launched his attack on the Italian
the Thousand landed in Marsala in
his wife. Had three large bombs, and Cavour had been reluctant to discuss the mainland, landing in Naples. The
Sicily. They were met with suspicion but
although Napoleon survived, 150 were (7) July 1859 - Peace settlement at French annexation of Nice and Savoy as bourbon government were not in a strong
injured and 7 died. In his trial, Orsini very little opposition. They may have
Villafr anca. The French and Austrian public opinion would be strongly been poorly equipped in weapons and position and fled to northern Naples. The
appealed to Napoleon to support the cause emperors met at Villafranca. The opposing and in the eyes of the British capital fell at the feet of Garibaldi, who
of Italian unity. Triggered Napoleon into numbers, but they were well trained and
outcomes included Lombardy being (Palmerston and Russel), it was the first strongly led by Garibaldi. was met with cried of delight by the
action and led to the arrangement of a handed over to France, however Venetia step to a Bonapartist empire. The Treaty public. Due to the population's
meeting in Plombieres. Napoleon took this remained under the Austrians. The of Turin meant that Piedmont would hand admiration of Garibaldi, Cavour had to
opportunity to bargain with Cavour over previous rulers of Tuscany, Modena and over Savoy and Nice to France, and the
the measures to be taken against violent appear supportive of him, or else he
Parma were reinstated, and an Italian French would allow Piedmont to annex would run the risk of being unapproved
Piedmontese nationalists. confederation was to be created with the the central Italian duchies. of by the population of Piedmont.
pope as leader.

1 1857 2 1858 3 1859 4 1860 5 1861

(1) National Society. Series of (5) 4th June 1859 ? M agenta. 4000 of
single-issue nationalist campaigns. the Italian allies were killed and (11) 1st March 1860 ? Plebiscites in (17) 26th October 1860 ? M eeting at
Purpose was to promote the cause of wounded, whilst 6,000 Austrians Tuscany, Emilia, Savoy and Nice took
Italian National unity within Piedmont. Teano. Victor Emmanuel and Garibaldi
suffered the same fate. This battle was so place over the question of annexation to met at Teano. Tensions were high and
Modern methods of persuasion used, bloody that it provided the name for a Piedmont. Cavour understood that a
including newspapers, flyers, and Victor Emmanuel?s hostility towards
new variant of red dye. Outcome was a plebiscite could provide the option of a Garibaldi was heightened by the latter?s
pamphlets. Contrasted with the violent narrow Austrian defeat. more conservative political settlement. great support by the public, and the
methods used by Mazzini and his
All males over 21 were allowed to vote, former?s lack of public appraisal.
followers, gaining more respect. (9) December 1859 ? Napoleon and this granted the opportunity for
Supported by Cavour due to its published a pamphlet in Paris titled ?L e Following this meeting, Garibaldi was
conservative rather than radical nature. Cavour and Piedmont to engineer forced to hand over Sicily and Naples to
Pape et la Congres?. This highlighted the annexation with the help of the National
Limited by Cavour to the aims of only idea that the Pope?s decline of temporal Emmanuel, and despite being offered the
northern Italian Unification. Appealed to Society. There was significant vote opportunity to become general of the
power was inevitable, but he would
those of Mazzinians such as Daniele rigging, and an overwhelming victory for new Italian army, Garibaldi refused and
become the head of smaller state defended
Manin who were willing to rally under the by an army of an Italian Confederation.
those in favour of annexation. returned to his island home of Caprera
Piedmontese monarchy. with only a years?worth of macaroni.

(3) 20th July 1858 - Pact of Plombieres.
Aim of Austrian expulsion from
Lombardy and Venetia and the later
creation of a Northern Italy. This was
appealing to Napoleon as it raised
possibility of a French rather than
Austrian dominated peninsula.
Preservation of papacy?s temporal power
would appeal to the Catholics amongst
France. France would provide 200,000
French troops for war against Austria, in
exchange for Nice and Savoy.
(6) 24th June 1859 ? Solfer ino. (18) March 1861 ? Proclamation of
Casualties added up to 40,000, and with the K ingdom of I taly. Elections were
only one doctor per 500 casualties, held for the parliament of the new
chances of survival were incredibly slim. (16) September 1860 ? Garibaldi kingdom, and the Piedmontese
Austrians were technically defeated once planned to enter Rome in November constitution of 1848 was adopted. Victor
more, but victory for the allies was once before winter had set in. Cavour aimed Emmanuel was the second head, rather
again slim. The Austrians still managed to invade the Papal States before than the first, and Piedmontese taxes,
to hold out at the Quadrilateral, Garibaldi could, limiting Garibaldi?s weights, and measures plus the idea of
demonstrating a lack of willingness to sphere of influence. However, this would free trade was imposed upon the rest of
surrender. The French and Italian could mean upsetting the French and the Pope, Italy.
not suffer or hold out in a long war, but was a risk Cavour was willing to
whilst the Austrians could, leading to a take. As a result, diplomatic connections
peace treaty being formed. with France were tied. This also led to a
defeat of relations between Garibaldi and
Cavour, and the Battle of the Volturno.