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Congress of Vienna
After the fall of Napoleon, the Congress of Vienna restored Austria's control over much of Italy, dividing the peninsula into several states, hindering unification. -
Mazzini Founds "Young Italy"
Giuseppe Mazzini, a key nationalist leader, founded Young Italy, promoting the idea of a unified, republican Italy through revolutionary means. -
Cavour Becomes Prime Minister of Piedmont-Sardinia
Camillo di Cavour, a skilled statesman, became prime minister and began modernizing the economy and military, laying the groundwork for unification. -
War against Austria and incorporation of Lombardy
Piedmont-Sardinia, allied with France, fought Austria. After victories at Magenta and Solferino, Austria ceded Lombardy to Piedmont, marking a key step in unification. -
Annexation of the States of Parma, Modena and Tuscany
A plebiscite held in 1860 determined the incorporation of the states of Parma, Modena and Tuscany into the kingdom of Sardinia (base of the future Italy). -
The revolution of the two Sicilies
Giuseppe Garibaldi and his "Redshirts" landed in Sicily, overthrew the Bourbon Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, and later handed control to King Victor Emmanuel II. -
Proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy
Victor Emmanuel II was declared the first king of a unified Italy, although Rome and Venice were still outside its control. -
Incorporation of Venice
To achieve the incorporation of Venice, Victor Emmanuel II entered into an alliance with Prussia, Austria's rival. Once the conflict arose, the victory favored Prussia; nation that then forced Austria to return Venice to Italy. -
Incorporation of Rome
The incorporation of Rome in 1870 marked the final step in Italian unification. After French troops withdrew due to the Franco-Prussian War, Rome was left unprotected. On September 20, 1870, Italian forces breached Porta Pia and took the city with little resistance. A plebiscite on October 2 confirmed Rome’s annexation to Italy. In July 1871, Rome became the official capital though tensions with the Papacy persisted until 1929. -
The Lateran Treaty
By this Treaty, the existence of the small Vatican State (State that is within the city of Rome) was recognized and the Pope was also recognized as its sovereign.