4.2 Italy Unified
Italy, much like Germany, experienced extensive political fragmentation throughout its history. By the mid-19th century, the peninsula was divided into seven states, largely controlled by foreign powers, including the Austrian Habsburgs in the north and the Bourbon kings of Spain in the south. Sardinia-Piedmont was notable for being ruled by an Italian princely house. The quest for a unified Italian Republic was passionately pursued by Giuseppe Mazzini, who founded Young Italy to advocate for this vision. However, revolutionary attempts in 1831 and 1848 met with failure, leading to a shift in responsibility toward Sardinia-Piedmont under King Victor Emmanuel II.
Complementing the efforts of Victor Emmanuel II was Chief Minister Cavour, whose diplomatic ties with France were pivotal in defeating Austrian forces in 1859. Meanwhile, the charismatic leader Giuseppe Garibaldi rallied volunteers to achieve further military successes in southern Italy, ultimately leading to the proclamation of Victor Emmanuel II as the king of a unified Italy in 1861. Despite the political success, high illiteracy rates among the populace meant that many Italians were disconnected from the national narrative, often referring to Italy in misleadingly humorous ways.