Proclamation of the Unification of Italy - February 13, 1861

On February 13, 1861, a pivotal event in the history of Italian unification took place within the Parliament of Piedmont-Sardinia. Under King Victor Emmanuel II, the parliament proclaimed the unification of the various states on the Italian Peninsula, setting the stage for the official formation of the Kingdom of Italy in March 1861.

Context and Background

The Risorgimento

The proclamation was a significant milestone in the Risorgimento, the 19th-century movement for Italian unification. The Risorgimento was driven by the desire to consolidate various independent states and kingdoms across the Italian Peninsula into a single nation-state. This period was marked by numerous political, military, and diplomatic efforts as well as popular uprisings and wars.

Role of Piedmont-Sardinia

Piedmont-Sardinia, led by King Victor Emmanuel II and his astute Prime Minister Count Camillo di Cavour, played a crucial role in these efforts. By 1861, the kingdom had expanded its influence significantly, incorporating other Italian regions through a combination of strategic alliances, military campaigns, and plebiscites.

Key Events Leading to the Proclamation

Diplomatic and Military Efforts

• Second Italian War of Independence: In 1859, Piedmont-Sardinia allied with France to wage war against Austrian control in northern Italy, resulting in victories that led to the annexation of Lombardy.
• Treaty of Villafranca: The war concluded with the 1859 Treaty of Villafranca, stipulating Austrian withdrawal from Lombardy.
• Plebiscites: Throughout 1860, key territories such as Parma, Modena, Tuscany, and the Papal Legations voted to join Piedmont-Sardinia in a series of plebiscites.

Garibaldi’s Campaigns

• Expedition of the Thousand: The unification efforts were further propelled by the famous military campaign led by Giuseppe Garibaldi in 1860. Known as the Expedition of the Thousand, Garibaldi’s bold invasion of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies resulted in its conquest and incorporation into the Kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia.

Proclamation and Consequences

February 13 Declaration

On February 13, 1861, amid these developments, the Parliament of Piedmont-Sardinia made a historic proclamation of Italy’s unification, effectively laying the groundwork for the formal establishment of the Kingdom of Italy.

Formation of the Kingdom of Italy

• Official Proclamation: This move precipitated the official proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy on March 17, 1861, with Victor Emmanuel II being proclaimed the first King of Italy.

Significance

The proclamation and the subsequent formation of the Kingdom of Italy marked the culmination of decades of nationalist and liberal agitation. It represented a transformative shift in the geopolitical landscape of Europe, leading to the dissolution of multiple sovereignties and laying the foundations for modern Italy.

Aftermath

The unification of Italy did not immediately resolve internal divisions or external disputes. The annexation of Venetia and the Papal States would follow in subsequent years, leading up to the full territorial unification completed in 1871 with the capture of Rome. Nonetheless, the events of February 13, 1861, were a definitive declaration of Italy’s national identity and sovereignty, influencing European political developments for decades to come.