Ti GUIDO nel RISORGIMENTO Italiano (Parte 1)

Do you remember how the Italian Unification took place? There are four heroes: Garibaldi, Cavour, Victor Emmanuel II and Mazzini who together organized an expedition to unite Italy Following Mazzini’s ideals, Victor Emmanuel and Cavour ordered Garibaldi to liberate southern Italy with his thousand volunteers. Garibaldi left Quarto, landed in Marsala and conquered Sicily.

Vittorio attacked from the north and the two met in Teano where Garibaldi handed over the south to the new King of Italy. Later Garibaldi conquered Rome by breaching the walls of Porta Pia, completing the union of Italy. That's more or less how it went, right?

Wrong! Here's what would really happen if we put these four people locked in a room Why did they hate each other so much? Let's start with the only thing they had in common: they wanted a united Italy.

The problem was how they wanted Italy to be united. Garibaldi and Mazzini wanted a Republic while Cavour and Victor wanted a monarchy. And the list would go on and on.

So: how did four people so different from each other manage to unite Italy? In order to get to the answer we need to take a few steps back. For about 1200 years Italy had always been divided, disputed between the various European powers.

Once the Napoleonic wars were over, the European powers redrew the borders of the peninsula in this way The kingdom of the two Sicilies ruled by the Bourbons the papal state with Pope Pius IX in charge the Kingdom of Sardinia with Charles Albert as sovereign. The Grand Duchy of Tuscany and other minor duchies that were under Austrian influence finally the Lombardy-Venetia controlled directly by Austria Oh, yeah! There was the small state of San Marino, too.

Hostilities towards foreign forces and Italian dynasties grew since 1815 and became concrete with the Carbonari (Charcoal Makers) movement. Uh no, THIS was their symbol. The first riots broke out between the 20s and 30s but they were eventually repressed in all Italy A young Giuseppe Mazzini joined the Carbonari but he was arrested and sentenced to exile in Marseille.

From there Mazzini founded the Young Italy the first association to instill an Italian patriotic spirit The young Italy published unitary manifestos and called on the people to expel the foreigners from the peninsula. A tricolor that was already used a few decades earlier was chosen as the symbol (from the flag: union, strength and liberty! !

) The manifestos and ideals of this group quickly spread and Mazzini asked the King of Sardinia, Charles Albert, to join the Italian cause. CC: Join us! In response, Charles Albert repressed Mazzini's revolts and Young Italy was labeled by all governments as a terrorist association.

the tricolor was banned and Mazzini was sentenced to death. For these reasons Mazzini was forced to live as a fugitive for almost the rest of his life Shortly afterwards, a certain Giuseppe Garibaldi joined Young Italy who in 1834 attempted an insurrection in Genoa but the Piedmontese authorities discovered him and sentenced him to death so Garibaldi went into exile in South America Years went by and in 1847 a 20-year-old boy named Goffredo Mameli inspired by the ideals of Mazzini, wrote a poem entitled "The song of the Italians" which was set to music by Michele Novaro. The intent of the song was to incite the Italian people to rediscover their patriotic spirit and to kick out the foreign invader.

The song quickly became popular but was banned by all italian governments because it was seen as "subversive. " 1848 arrived and Palermo rebelled against the Bourbons asking for the independence of Sicily. The revolts were fierce and the Sicilians succeeded to chase the Bourbons by proclaiming the birth of the Kingdom of Sicily In the wake of the Sicilian events, revolutionary movements were unleashed throughout the rest of Italy and Europe.

The protests were much more violent than the previous ones. In an attempt to contain the revolutions, the Italian sovereigns granted a constitution. In particular, Charles Albert issued the Albertine Statute, by ceding part of his powers to the parliament.

In the meantime Venice rebelled and the Republic of Saint Mark was proclaimed. Milan did the same and after five days of fierce battle (CC: Milan's five days) the Austrian forces led by commander Radetzky were kicked out. Other cities in Lombardy and Veneto rebelled as well and the Austrians were forced to flee.

Seeing the Austrian troops weakened and on the run, Charles Albert declared war on Austria. This was the beginning of the first war of independence. CC: Dear Austria.

We declare war on you. With love ♥. Charles Albert.

The other Italian states happily joined the war by sending their armies to help Piedmont. Everyone changed the flag showing off the tricolor. *** Oh my God, I'm going to cry!

And so the Italians chased away the foreigners all together *** Spoiler Not knowing the Lombard lands very well, Charles Albert allowed a week to pass before crossing the Ticino river, giving Radetzky the time to take refuge in the famous quadrilateral. The quadrilateral! A strategic area with 4 fortresses protected to the north by the Alps and Lake Garda.

To the south by the Po River and to the sides by the Mincio and Adige Rivers. Radetzky managed to escape within this area and so a great opportunity was wasted. The Piedmontese troops advanced without obstacles until the quadrilateral, stopping on the Mincio.

Meanwhile to the east another Austrian battalion advanced and quelled the Friulian revolutions bringing reinforcements for Radetsky. Pope Pius IX decided to join the war because at the time it was unanimously thought that an Italian confederation could be created with the pope becoming a sort of king of kings. After he realized that he was about to attack a Catholic state Pius IX ordered the army to retreat, disappointing everyone.

CC: Wait! God doesn't like violence! But the papal General Durando refused to obey and continued the advance.

CC: To hell with it! I go forward The Piedmontese troops obtained a first victory at Pastrengo then they tried to advance towards Verona but the Austrians pushed them back at Saint Lucia. In Veneto, Austrian reinforcements were getting closer and closer to Radetsky recapturing all the Venetian cities except Venice The papal army tried to stop the advance but the Austrian troops were too numerous for them.

CC: Ouch! The Bourbon kingdom, under pressure from the Pope decided to withdraw its troops in order to reconquer Sicily. CC: Do not make sins!

Only a few volunteers remained on the battlefield. After receiving reinforcements, Radetzky attempted to outflank the Piedmontese troops by passing through the south, but the Tuscans slowed his advance giving the Piedmontese enough time to get ready. And so at Goito Carlo Alberto pushed back the Austrians.

Peschiera, one of the fortresses of the quadrilateral, fell. Carlo Alberto was acclaimed by the people as the new king of Italy. Everything seemed to be going well.

After having been hardly beaten, Radetzky was forced to rush towards Vicenza because the city was arising with General Durando. The Austrian army was much bigger than the Italian one and they had a smashing victory Charles Albert thought to attack Verona from the north through Rivoli but he did it very slowly and then he stopped, undecided on what to do. In the meantime Garibaldi, who had already become very famous thanks to his achievements in South America, returned to Italy.

CC: the king pardoned him He headed to Veneto and asked Charles Albert to join the war on his side. Why on earth a republican like Garibaldi asked to join the king? He realized that in order to unite and liberate Italy, the only way was to rely on the Kingdom of Sardinia, and so he decided to put aside the Republican cause for the Italian one.

However Carlo Alberto still remembered the insurrection of '34, so he rejected Garibaldi. And so another great opportunity was wasted. Garibaldi decided to retreat to Lombardy to recruit troops.

After having received other reinforcements Radetzky realized that the Piedmontese front was 70 km long so he decided to attack in the weakest point that was in Custoza. The battle was intense and eventually. .

. Radetsky won Charles Albert fled up to Milan, but given the unstoppable Austrian advance he withdrew to Piedmont in the following days signing the armistice of Salasco. Garibaldi was unwilling to give up and attempted to push the Austrian forces back from the Alps.

But the Austrians were far more outnumbered and equipped, and the general had no choice but to flee to Switzerland. The music you are listening to and you are familiar with was composed by Johann Strauss who called it "The March of Radetsky" in tribute to the marshal's victories. Remember it the next time you clap your hands to the beat of the song.

All the states that had granted the constitution and changed their flag, reverted to their former ways. except the Kingdom of sardinia, which kept the Albertine Statute. Remember this, because it's important.

Months passed and it seemed that the revolutionary spirit of '48 was already over, but the republic of Saint Mark and the Kingdom of Sicily were still enduring. All of central Italy rebelled, in particular Rome, which felt betrayed by the pope's retreat. Pius IX fled to the south and the Roman Republic was founded.

The news spread around Italy and revolutionaries from all over the peninsula arrived in Rome, including Garibaldi and Goffredo Mameli. Mameli joined Garibaldi's troops to protect the city and then he wrote to Mazzini telling him about recent events. Mazzini: Your song is very cool!

Maybe one day it will become an anthem. Mameli: Thank you ----------- Mameli: Rome, Republic. Come.

Mazzini: WHAT! ? !

? ! ?

! ? Once he found out the news Mazzini rushed to Rome and became part of a triumvirate that governed the city.

(along with Saffi and Carmellini) The goal was to get international recognition by foreign powers In the meantime Piedmont tried a new attack against Austria but because of misunderstandings between the generals the troops were scattered. Radetzky was able to invade Piedmont undisturbed, forcing the Kingdom of Sardinia to go back. Charles Albert tried to stop Radetzky but he was defeated in Novara on March 23.

On that same day Carlo Alberto abdicated, and his son Victor Emanuel II succeeded him. The following day Victor Emmanuel signed with Radetzky the armistice of Vignale. The borders prior to '48 were restored in return Piedmont repaid all war debts.

To the south, 14 months after his birth, the Kingdom of Sicily fell and was reannexed to the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. And now let's play a game: CONQUER ROME! Sponsored by Pope Pius IX First participant: France!

Led by Louis Napoleon (Napoleon's nephew), France intended to extend its influence over the Roman territory So the French troops landed in Civitavecchia and attempted an assault, but they were repelled by Garibaldi. Second participant: Kingdom of the two Sicilies! Pope Pius IX had found refuge in the Bourbon kingdom and intended to take back all that was his.

And so the Bourbon troops attacked with the pope's blessing but Garibaldi was able to repel them too Third participant: After defeating Piedmont, Austria was able to suppress the rebellions in the rest of Italy and try to extend its influence southward, attempting a march on Rome. Er, no! Not Mussolini's march on Rome!

Fourth participant: Spain! Tempted by the opportunity, Spain sent a ship. But its troops were outnumbered and arrived too late to attempt a real invasion so they retreated.

With 4 powers intending to besiege Rome, Mazzini realized that his diplomatic efforts had become futile. As Louis Napoleon saw the Austrians approaching Rome, he realized he could no longer fail so he sent some reinforcements and ordered the final assault, which lasted one month. During the siege Goffredo Mameli was wounded and died a few days later aged 21.

As the French were bombing Rome the triumvirate of the Roman Republic realized that it was over and so they surrendered. Mazzini was forced to return into exile. Garibaldi and his volunteers were allowed to escape through the Austrian territories.

After a thousand vicissitudes, which perhaps I will tell you in another video Garibaldi managed to escape to the United States. After the recapture of Rome, Pius IX was able to return to the Holy See. However, one last rebel city was still missing: Venice Radetzky's reaction was immediate and, a year and a half after its birth, the Republic of Saint Mark fell.

With this last battle the first war of independence was officially over and all the previous borders were restored. In short, the Italian factions lost because they were not able to form an alliance with each other, the leaders cared only about their advantage and the Austrian troops were more organized and equipped than the Italian ones. So, was this war useless?

No! In spite of the defeat, it was clear to everyone that an Italian sentiment had been born and it would soon make a comeback The patriotic seed planted by Young Italy was about to sprout. Everything has just been postponed for a few years, but what matters is that finally "Italy has woken up!

" (from the national anthem) (from the national anthem) Let us join in a cohort, we’re ready to die. We’re ready to die, Italy has called! Yes!

In the next episode: Cavour takes power! Napoleon decides to help us! Garibaldi gathers some friends.

Germany wants us to hurry up! CC: MOVE! !

! This and much more into the second and last episode of the Italian Risorgimento.