This historical investigation focuses on the role of Camillo Benso, or Count of Cavour during the Italian Unification and attempts to answer the question: “For what reasons and with what results did Count of Cavour successfully lead Italy to its unification? ” In order to answer the focus question, the topics that will be considered are: major intellectual movements that led towards the increased nationalism necessary for Italian Unification, Cavour’s political efforts, and their impacts. For this historical investigation two sources will be considered:
- Duggan, Christopher. The Force of Destiny: A History of Italy Since 1796. Houghton Mifflin, 2008.
- “Schneid, Frederick C. The Second War of Italian Unification: 1859-61. Osprey Publishing, 2012.” Internet History Sourcebooks,
The first source is the The Force of Destiny: A History of Italy Since 1796 was written by the British historian, Christopher Duggan who specialized in political, cultural, and societal history of modern Italy by completing a research fellowship at the University of Oxford, in 2008. Duggan’s purpose for writing this book was to provide students and historians a detailed summary and analysis of interweaving the Italian arts with its political and economic development over the course of the 19th century. This source is important to my investigation because it identifies specific movements that led towards Italian Unification itself and more importantly, it discusses the economic and social impacts.
The content of this source is valuable because it provides a well rounded view on the nineteenth century Italian history, by elaborating on the government, literature, and music. Another reason why this source is valuable in terms of its origin is because since the book was written years after Italian unification, it includes a deep analysis of how this event shaped the Italian culture. This source is valuable in terms of its purpose because it focuses on delivering a well enhanced overview of Italian history. However, one limitation of this source is that since it talks about the entirety of Italian history, which means that it doesn’t provide a deep analysis into Count of Cavour’s role.
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The second source is The Second War of Italian Unification: 1859-61, written by Frederick C. Schneid, who is the Professor of History at High Point University in North Carolina. The purpose of this book was to provide students and historians an outline the information of the pivotal three years of 1859 to 1862 that shaped the unification of Italy. This source is important to my investigation because it provides detailed information on Cavour’s upbringing, and political career.
One value of this book in terms of its content is that it is written by an expert into the field of Italian history. Frederick C. Schneid wrote multiple articles and books regarding European military history specifically, Napoleonic and Italian Wars during the 1800s. The origin of this source is valuable because since it was written after the creation of Italy, therefore Schneid is able to include analysis of Cavour’s leadership. The purpose of this source is also valuable because it includes details about specific events leading up to the Second War, and the aftermath. However, one limitation of this source is that it includes a narrow view on the topic since it’s only focusing on the wars that took place from 1859-1861, therefore, it doesn’t include include the societal and economic development that Italy experienced as a result of being united.
In reference to my investigation question, I believe that Count of Cavour successfully lead Italy to its unification by utilizing his astute military and political tactics to proactively obtain widespread economic and political support.
During the 1800s, Italian provinces resided in a political atmosphere under foreign rule which caused them to aspire for unity. Following the conquest of Rome, the fragmented regions of Italy, later divided into territories by the Napoleonic Wars, experienced social and economic conflicts. Despite being separated, “ there was an emphasis on family, kinship, and church deeply embedded in traditional Italian culture among all Italian territories, and along with this they carried a distrust towards central authority, which impeded political unity and economic modernization.” This shared sense of culture along with the doubt upon the political leaders allowed for these provinces to oppose against their government. One of these relatively larger regions greatly contributed towards Italian Unification was Piedmont, located in the northwestern region of Italy. The political leaders of Piedmont had a strong inclination for residing in an independent Italy.
This desire of nationalism spread throughout Italy, which resulted in the formation of the coalition called Carbonari. Carboni was focused in “in their opposition to the Napoleon, and to French Rule, and in their desire for Italian independence. Carbonari was able to provide useful support networks of support and solidarity.” These networks allowed them to form elite relationships with the upper class, and further their impact among the aristocracy.
Additionally, this was an important aspect of the expansion in Carbonari’s power because these connections allowed them to avoid the risk of being arrested and imprisoned from secretive illegal revolutionary activities that further exemplified their opposition towards the government. Their beliefs resulted in the 1851 Risorgimento movement, which was an ideological movement that evoked nationalism among the Italian people. Risorgimento means resurgence in Italian, and the main inclination for this revival “came from reforms introduced by the French when they dominated Italy during the period of the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic wars”.
This movement freed and unified Italian states, and more importantly, obtained the support from Italian middle class, and increased their participation in the government. With the rise of the Carbonari group that led to the the Risorgimento movement, the increased nationalism caved the way towards Italian Unification, specifically the aristocrat class. Overall, the Carbonari alliance and Risorgimento movement involved more people for political progression, however established contrasting ideals among the public.
There was a lack of agreement in regards to the system of governance. Influential and ardent Italian intellect Giuseppe Mazzini attempted to establish the idea of a republican government. However, “the concept of republicanism appeared to be radical for lower social classes and did not obtain support from moderates because it included guerilla warfare, secret society meetings, and enlisted a framework for a republican government”. At this time, the failure of Mazzini principled led to the emergence of principles set forth by the Risorgimento movement. There was a clear distinction between the Italian liberal and conservative nationalists which led to an intellectual discourse, and further shaped politicians’ approaches of reaching unity.
Piedmont’s political leader, Camillo Benso, or Count of Cavour supported a liberal government. This is significant for understanding Cavour as a political leader, and further his process of unifying Italy. Cavour rejected the principles set forth by Mazzini in his newspaper, II Risorgimento, and advocated for a federated Italy. “Cavour felt intensely loyal to this own state viewed unity, of a Mazzinian kind to be no more than a dangerous fantasy” This is demonstrative of Cavour as a political leader because he feels that Italy should be a constitutional liberal monarchy. Cavour supported the promotions of policies that allowed Italy to endorse itself through trade, agricultural, and transportation.
When Cavour wrote a letter to Victor Emmanuel, the King of Sardinia, he stated that “the process of Christian civilization and the spread of enlightenment, and this would necessarily bring about the best possible future and one for which we long with all our heart named the national independence of Italy.” This intense nationalism for a liberated Italy was also represented in Cavour’s newspaper, called Il Risorgimento. Throughout multiple articles, “Cavour propagated the idea of an immediate war with Austria, which still ruled Lombardy and Venetia as a historical necessity.” The paper was delivered to the middle and later the general public, and with this spread of ideas Cavour was allowed to circulate his ideals about an unified Italy. Overall, Cavour supported a constitutional monarchy, and he published his ideas which enabled him as a leader among the public.
Cavour used his position to improve diplomatic relationships, and built infrastructure for the purpose of increasing industrial production. In 1849, King Victor Emmanuel I of Piedmont was a large region appointed Cavour as the minister of finance. Cavour recognized the significance of of economic development. Cavour deduced “that industrialization, railroad construction, and the financial independence of the kingdom from British banks would provide the king with tools necessary to challenge Austria in the future.” With Cavour’s influence, Piedmont ceased its financial relationship with Great Britain, and formed compacts with France. This was an important factor because in 1852, Napoleon III was elevated as the Emperor of the French, and this allowed Cavour to form a new political alliance.
Furthermore , this affiliation with France “exponentially increased industrial production” , which was important because it allowed Piedmont to improve their trade and production of exports. Cavour also continued and sought possibilities to ingratiate the kingdom with other countries for military alliances because Cavour deduced that in order to chase away foreign rule, military assistance would be necessary. In particular, this aid from France was important in the revolutions of 1848 where Piedmont in alliance with Italian states from Frankfurt, Budapest, and Vienna, fought with Austria in rebellion against the government. This concept demonstrates the way that Cavour’s leadership as he improved Piedmont’s economy while further endorsing its military.
Cavour utilized this sense of nationalism from the Risorgimento movement in order to garner popular support to orchestrate Italy’s unity. In 1850, Cavour entered the cabinet government alongside King Emmanuel I. Cavour expressed his initiative towards unification in his speech to the Piedmont Chamber of Deputies in 1859, where he stated, “We shall not have long to wait for our opportunity. I have faith that Italy will become one state and will have Rome for its capital.” This speech further demonstrates Cavour’s leadership as he publicizes the idea of how Italy needs to be unified. This is important because this ambition further lead Cavour’s aspirations towards Italian Unification. Cavour allied with Napoleon III of France so that he was able to free Lombardy and Venetia, which were Italian provinces that were under Habsburg control.
“Cavour and Napoleon III went to war with Austria in 1859. The result of the war was obtaining the territory of Lombardy however, not Venetia. Napoleon III made a secret treaty with Austria, which guaranteed Lombardy to Piedmont and political autonomy for the newly expanded kingdom”. This war had significant impacts across the nation because it demonstrated to the remaining Italian territories to rebel against foreign rule in order to gain independence, which was especially crucial towards overall Italian unification. In essence, Cavour’s initiative towards participating in the war with Austria in alliance with Napoleon allowed him to establish a sense of sovereignty among the Italian provinces.
In essence, Cavour actively gave a sense of unity to the Italian states in the peninsula. His dismissal of the Mazzini principles supported his nationalistic view of Italy being independent. Throughout his political positions, he gathered support from the public, allies, and other political leaders that allowed him to form agreements about unifying a conservative Italy.
One aspect of the research that I found particularly difficult was locating primary sources that accurately presented Cavour’s values about unifying Italy. There was a limited number of documented sources that either Cavour wrote or recited himself. In order to work through this difficulty, I located a secondary source, called The History of Italy written by Charles L. Killinger which included directs excerpts from multiple politicians that spoke more about the candor of Cavour. This source helped me to understand Cavour’s views, and how they impacted his decisions. Another difficulty that I experienced was narrowing the focus on the major movements that led to Italian Unification. The majority of the secondary sources that I have collected highlight events that occured over the span of 56 years therefore I needed to concise my information and focus on the groups and movements that greatly contributed towards progressing the Italian provinces to rebel against the foreign rule.
In order to provide a balanced perspective, I made sure to include how Cavour’s strong nationalism for a federate Italy advised his political decisions when he was part of the cabinet, and the minister of finance. Cavour rejected Mazzini principles, and therefore he mainly worked towards establishing a constitutional monarchy. Another step that I took to ensure a balanced perspective is by including context from secondary sources. In other words, my secondary sources, “A Discourse on the Life, Character, and Policy of Count Cavour” and Career and Policy of Count Cavour: Political Memoirs include different moments of Cavour’s political and personal life that shaped his view towards the rejection of republicanism, and how he used this understanding thorough the journey of Italy being unified.
Work Cited
- “A Discourse on the Life, Character, and Policy of Count Cavour” The North American Review, vol. 96, no. 198, 1863, pp. 45–72. JSTOR, JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/25100287. (JSTOR)
- Angelo Brofferio. Career and Policy of Count Cavour: Political Memoirs Extracted from ‘The History of My Own Times’. 2015
- Cavour , Count. “Letter to Victor Emmanuel.” Count Cavour Primary Sources , 1858
- Cavour, Count. “Speech to the Piedmont Chamber of Deputies, 1858.” Internet History Sourcebooks, 1858, sourcebooks.fordham.edu
- Duggan, Christopher. The Force of Destiny: A History of Italy Since 1796. Houghton Mifflin, 2008.
- Schneid, Frederick C. The Second War of Italian Unification: 1859-61. Osprey Publishing, 2012.
