The role of Count Cavour in the Italian unification.
The role of Count Cavour in the Italian unification.
.png)
The role of Count Cavour in the Italian unification.
Count Cavour was a pragmatic leader of Italian unification. Previously, Mazzini had sown the seeds of the republican ideals, but Cavour went a completely different path and was a supporter of the constitutional monarchy. Cavour believed that it was impossible for Italy to free itself from the subjugation of Austria without foreign help. Mazzini had indeed initiated the Italian people into nationalism; but Cavour actually completed the unification of Italy. Therefore, historian Phillips said - Cavour was the maker of modern Italy. .
1. Cavour's ideology and policies: -
Cavour did not believe in Mazzini's republican ideals. He was a supporter of the constitutional monarchy. Cavour believed that if the development of republican ideology spread in Italy, the monarchical unity of Italy would be disrupted and the dream of Italian unity would not be fulfilled. Therefore, Cavour took up the program of unifying Italy under the Piedmont dynasty.
In addition, he was in favor of taking help from foreign powers to get rid of Austrian subjugation. Because, the reality of that time was that - Italy was by no means Austria's equal in terms of military power. This ideology of Cavour clearly proves that he believed in RealPolitik.
2. Plan and programme: -
When discussing the history of Cavour's role in the Italian unification, five principles are mainly seen in terms of plan and programme. These five plans are -
(i) To achieve the unity of Italy under the royal power of Piedmont.
(ii) Constitutional and economic reforms.
(iii) To obtain international support by presenting Italy's problems to the international context.
(iv) To establish a constitutional monarchy by getting rid of Austrian subjugation.
(v) To establish an ideal state by establishing equality under the law.
3. Crimean War and support from France and England:-
During the Crimean War, he deployed the Piedmontese army on the side of France and England. Cavour's main objective behind this was to gain the support of liberal states like France and England. After the Crimean War, Cavour was able to properly highlight the Italian problem at the Paris Peace Conference in 1855. He forced the European liberal powers to accept that if the Italian problem was not properly resolved, it would also become dangerous for European unity.
4. Treaty of Plombier - 1858:-
The French Emperor Napoleon III was hostile to the Republic because he himself had destroyed the Republic in France; therefore, he was sympathetic to Cavour's monarchical ideology. Also, the main goal of Napoleon III’s foreign policy was to completely break the Vienna Treaty by supporting nationalist movements in Europe. On the other hand, Cavour was hoping to get help from the French Emperor Napoleon III. As a result, the Treaty of Plombier was signed between Napoleon III and Cavour in 1858. It was decided that -
(i) Napoleon III would provide military assistance if Piedmont was attacked by Austria.
(ii) Lombardy, Venetia and some parts of the Papal States would be annexed to Piedmont.
(iii) Savoy and Nice would be given to Napoleon.
(iv) The Bourbon monarchy would remain in Naples and Sicily.
(v) Central Italy would be formed with a large part of Tuscany and the Papal States.
5. War against Austria: -
After the Treaty of Plombier with the French Emperor Napoleon III, Cavour started a movement against Austria in the Lombardy and Venetia regions occupied by Austria. Austria was furious and sent an ultimatum to Cavour, but Cavour ignored it. Then, when Austria declared war on Piedmont, Napoleon III deployed French forces on Piedmont's side according to the Treaty of Plombier. Austria was defeated in the Battles of Magenta and Solferino and the French forces occupied Lombardy. As a result, there was a strong reaction throughout Italy.
6. Treaty of Villafranca:-
Although Austria was defeated in the Battles of Magenta and Solferino, the French Emperor Napoleon III suddenly signed the Treaty of Villafranca with Austria. By this treaty, France declared an end to the war against Austria. The hope of liberating Italy from Austria was dashed. The conditions of the Treaty of Villafranca were -
(i) France would not take up arms against Austria.
(ii) Lombardy would be annexed to Piedmont.
(iii) Venetia would remain under Austria.
(iv) The status quo would remain in Italy.
The Treaty of Villafranca was Napoleon III's betrayal of Italian nationalism. But the Emperor of Piedmont accepted the terms of the Treaty of Villafranca after considering the reality.
7. Annexation of Central Italy: -
Meanwhile, mass movements against Austria had started in the regions of Tuscany, Madonna, etc. belonging to Central Italy. However, this movement was influenced by the republican ideology of Mazzini. The people of all these regions demanded annexation with Piedmont. Although it was against Cavour's systematic ideology, Cavour wanted to use this opportunity. He obtained Napoleon III's support in annexing the remaining states of Central Italy to Piedmont, leaving Savoy and Nice to France. Then the states of Central Italy were annexed to Piedmont by a referendum.
8. Garibaldi and the possibility of establishing a republic: -
When the peasant movement against the Bourbon misrule started in southern Italy, the Italian nationalist leader Garibaldi expelled the Bourbon army from Sicily with the help of a guerrilla force of 1090 people. The peasants considered him a liberator. Then the same incident happened again in Naples and the Bourbon army was expelled from Naples as well. Then Garibaldi planned an expedition to Rome with the aim of establishing a republic in Italy.
As a result of this announcement by Garibaldi, Cavour got into trouble. Because Garibaldi did not believe in Mazzini's republican ideals. If a republic had been established in Rome as a result of Garibaldi's expedition, it would not have been positive for the establishment of a united Italy.
9. Annexation of Southern Italy:
In the above situation, the very prudent Cavour was able to convince Napoleon III that Rome, Naples and Sicily should be immediately annexed to Piedmont to maintain European stability and unity. With the support of Napoleon III, King Victor Emmanuel of Piedmont left Rome and occupied the Papal States and arrived in Naples.
In this situation, Garibaldi was not in favor of war and gave up his rights to Sicily and Naples. As a result, Sicily and Naples were annexed to Piedmont.
10. Annexation of the rest of Italy: -
Cavour did not witness the complete unification of Italy in his lifetime. In 1861, Emperor Victor Emmanuel of Piedmont was crowned King of Italy. In 1863, Venetia was annexed to Italy. In 1870, the French army was expelled from Rome. In this situation, Victor Emmanuel occupied Rome and declared Rome the capital of Italy. Thus, the unification of Italy was completed.
Finally, it can be said that the seed of nationalism that Mazzini had sown in the ideology of the Italians was developed into a full-fledged tree by Count Cavour. Therefore, Cavour is truly called the father of modern Italy. Regarding Cavour's role in the unification of Italy, historian Lipson said - He lived long enough to create Italy and to earn the undying gratitude of the Italian people.
However, historians such as Gordon and Craig have strongly criticized Cavour's approach. Because Cavour abandoned Mazzini's democratic ideals. In addition, historians such as David Thomson, Grenville did not want to credit Cavour as the founder of New Italy. They are in favor of crediting Cavour only as a pragmatic politician.
However, despite some criticism, it is undeniable that Cavour's role in the formation of modern Italy is significant.
0 comments