The Annexation of the Papal States: October 2, 1870

On October 2, 1870, the Papal States were officially annexed by the Kingdom of Italy, an event marking one of the final steps in the unification of Italy, known as the Risorgimento. This annexation occurred following several key developments and conflicts that culminated in the incorporation of Rome into the Italian Kingdom.

Context and Prelude

The unification of Italy, a process that began in the early 19th century, gathered momentum under key figures such as Count Camillo di Cavour, Giuseppe Garibaldi, and King Victor Emmanuel II. By the mid-19th century, most of Italy had been unified, but significant obstacles remained, notably the Papal States, which were governed by the Pope.

Throughout the Risorgimento, the Papal States, which were extensive territories under the sovereignty of the Pope, remained staunchly opposed to unification under a secular Italian kingdom. The presence of French troops in Rome further complicated the situation, as they protected the Papal States from Italian annexation.

The Capture of Rome

The situation took a decisive turn following the outbreak of the Franco-Prussian War in 1870, which led to France withdrawing its troops from Rome. This left the Papal States vulnerable to Italian forces. On September 20, 1870, Italian troops breached the Aurelian Walls at Porta Pia, entering Rome with little resistance in an event known as the “Capture of Rome.”

Following the capture, a plebiscite was held on October 2, 1870, in which the citizens of Rome voted overwhelmingly in favor of joining the Kingdom of Italy. The outcome was a significant milestone in the unification process, effectively reducing the Pope’s temporal power to the Vatican.

Aftermath and Significance

The annexation of Rome and the Papal States completed Italy’s unification, establishing Rome as the capital of the newly unified Italian state. This event had profound implications for the relationship between the Italian government and the Catholic Church.

The Pope, Pius IX, refused to accept the loss of temporal authority and proclaimed himself a “prisoner in the Vatican,” leading to the “Roman Question,” a dispute over the territorial and political status of the Pope that would not be resolved until the Lateran Treaty of 1929.

Broader Impact

The unification of Italy had wide-ranging effects on European politics, national identity, and the position of the Church in modern nation-states. The events of October 2, 1870, stand as a pivotal moment in the complex history of Italy’s road to nationhood, symbolizing the culmination of a decades-long struggle for unification under a single national government.