Page 68 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Italy

66  INTRODUCING IT AL Y

The Risorgimento

The word “Risorgimento” (resurgence) describes the
five decades of struggle for liberation from foreign rule,
culminating in the unification of Italy in 1870. In 1848,
patriots rose up against the Austrians in Milan and Venice,
the Bourbons in Sicily and the pope in Rome, where a
republic was declared. Garibaldi valiantly defended
the republic, but all the uprisings were too localized.
By 1859, the movement was better organized, with Vittorio Italy in 1861
Emanuele II at its head. Two years saw the conquest of all Kingdom of Italy
but Venice and Rome, both of which fell within a decade.

Giuseppe Mazzini
(1805–72)
An exile for much
of his life, Mazzini
fought alongside
Garibaldi to unite
Italy as a republic,
rather than a
kingdom.

The guns were rusty, old
converted flintlocks.
The red shirt was the
badge of the Garibaldini.

Italian Railways
The short railway line
from Naples to Portici Revolt of Messina
was opened in 1839. When, in 1848, Messina revolted,
Politically fragmented, Ferdinand II subjected the town to
Italy was slow to create a savage bombardment, earning
an effective rail network. himself the nickname King Bomba.

1840 First three major 1852 Cavour 1859 Battles of Magenta and Solferino;
1831 Insurrection in railway links established becomes prime Piedmont acquires Lombardy from Austria
Romagna and Le Marche 1849 Accession of minister of and duchies of Parma, Modena and Tuscany
against papal rule Vittorio Emanuele II Piedmont
as ruler of Piedmont
1820 1830 1840 1850
1820s Carbonari secret 1847 Economic crisis
society active in Papal States
1848 Revolutions
1831 Mazzini founds Giovine Daniele Manin, hero of the throughout Italy 1849 Republic of Rome
Italia (Young Italy) movement Venetian uprising of 1848 crushed by French troops

066-067_EW_Italy.indd 66 26/04/16 5:14 pm
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Starsight history template “UK” LAYER
(Source v1)
Date 26th July 2012
Size 125mm x 217mm