Unification Of Italy, Garibaldi and The City Of Nice (Nizza)

The unification of Italy, also known as the "Risorgimento" (Italian for "Resurgence" or "Revival"), was a complex and protracted process that took place in the 19th century. Prior to unification, the Italian peninsula was divided into several separate states and regions, each ruled by different foreign powers or local monarchs. The unification of Italy involved various political, military, and diplomatic efforts and took place over several decades. 

To begin with, Napoleon Bonaparte's influence in the late 18th century and early 19th century had a profound and lasting impact on Italy, setting the stage for the later unification of the Italian peninsula. Napoleon's rule redefined Italy's political landscape and stirred nationalist sentiments in the hearts of Italians. 

Even before he took power, Napoleon stirred sentiments in Italy. The Treaty of Campo Formio, signed on October 17, 1797, was a pivotal event in the early career of Napoleon Bonaparte. During this historic diplomatic arrangement, Napoleon, though not officially authorised by the French Directory, played a central role in the negotiations. This treaty marked the conclusion of the War of the First Coalition, with France and the Holy Roman Empire, represented by Austria, reaching a momentous accord. As part of the agreement, Austria received the Austrian Netherlands, today's Belgium, and Tuscany, which included the city of Florence, from France. The fact that Napoleon took such a central role in these negotiations, acting somewhat independently of the French government of the day, underscored his growing influence and ambitions on the European stage, foreshadowing the remarkable political and military career that would follow in the coming years.

In the late 18th century, Napoleon emerged as a military and political leader in France, ultimately becoming First Consul and later Emperor. His revolutionary and expansionist ambitions had far-reaching consequences for Europe, including Italy.

During his rule, Napoleon sought to consolidate his dominance over Europe, and Italy was a critical part of this strategy. He reorganised the Italian territories, which were previously a patchwork of independent states, into a series of client states and kingdoms. Some of the most notable of these included the Kingdom of Italy, the Kingdom of Naples, and the Kingdom of Etruria, among others. 

Napoleon introduced significant administrative and political reforms in these newly created Italian states. He implemented the Napoleonic Code, a legal system that emphasised equality before the law and individual rights, thereby modernising and standardising the legal framework in these territories. His reforms also touched upon issues like taxation, education, and infrastructure, which contributed to the development of more centralised and efficient governing systems.

The reorganisation under French rule brought Italy closer to the ideals of the French Revolution, which included notions of liberty, equality, and fraternity. As a result, it stirred nationalist sentiments among Italians. The people began to question foreign domination and to aspire to self-governance. Intellectuals and political thinkers like Giuseppe Mazzini and Vincenzo Cuoco were inspired by these ideals and played a key role in fostering Italian nationalism.

Although Napoleon's rule in Italy was relatively short-lived (from 1805 to 1814), his influence persisted long after his downfall. The Napoleonic period planted the seeds of Italian unity, which would eventually lead to the broader Italian unification movements of the 19th century. His administrative reforms also left a lasting impact on Italy's legal and administrative systems, which were used as models in the later stages of Italian state-building.

After Napoleon's defeat, European powers gathered at the Congress of Vienna to redraw the map of Europe. Italy was divided into several states, including the Kingdom of Sardinia, the Papal States, the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, the Austrian-controlled Lombardy-Venetia, and others.

In the years following the Congress of Vienna, secret societies and nationalist movements like the Carbonari emerged in Italy. These groups advocated for Italian unity and independence from foreign rulers.

Giuseppe Garibaldi emerged as a prominent Italian nationalist and military leader who played a crucial role in the unification of Italy. After his return in 1848 from South America, where he had been since 1835, he led a group of volunteer soldiers known as the "Redshirts" in various campaigns to liberate and unify different regions of Italy. Count Camillo di Cavour, the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Sardinia (Piedmont), was also a key figure in the unification process. He pursued a policy of alliance-building and diplomatic maneuvering to unite the Italian states under the leadership of the Kingdom of Sardinia.

Cavour's diplomacy led to a war between the Kingdom of Sardinia and Austria. With the support of France, Sardinia was able to defeat the Austrians in northern Italy, leading to the cession of Lombardy to Sardinia.

In 1860, with the help of Garibaldi and his forces, Sardinia annexed the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. The final obstacle to Italian unification was the Papal States, which were eventually incorporated into Italy in 1870 after the withdrawal of French troops from Rome. In 1871, Rome was officially declared the capital of the newly unified Kingdom of Italy.

The Irony Of Loosing The Home City Of Giuseppe Garibaldi: Nice 

Giuseppe Garibaldi, the prominent Italian nationalist and military leader, was notably absent from the final negotiations that led to the proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy in 1861. During this crucial phase of Italian unification, Garibaldi was not involved in the political and diplomatic manoeuvring that took place as he was under arrest. The irony lies in the fact that one of the most iconic and celebrated figures of Italian unification, Giuseppe Garibaldi, was from a region that remained outside the newly formed Italian nation. Born in Nice in 1807, which was then part of the Kingdom of Sardinia, Garibaldi's early life was marked by a strong sense of regional identity. 

In 1867, Garibaldi had attempted to lead an expedition to free the city of Rome from Papal rule and incorporate it into the newly unified Kingdom of Italy. This action was seen as a challenge to the authority of the Italian government and King Victor Emmanuel II, as they had made an agreement with France not to disturb the Papal States, which included Rome. Garibaldi's attempt to seize Rome caused tensions and a potential conflict with France, which had troops stationed in the city to protect the Papal States.

Ultimately, the French forces defended Rome, preventing Garibaldi's forces from taking the city. Garibaldi withdrew, and as a result of his actions, he was arrested and imprisoned by Italian authorities on the island of Caprera. This move was intended to maintain peace with France and to demonstrate that the Italian government was adhering to its agreement regarding the Papal States.

Although Garibaldi's imprisonment was short-lived, it was too late to get Nice into Italy. Giuseppe Garibaldi harboured deep dissatisfaction with the fact that his hometown, Nice (known as "Nizza" in Italian), had been handed over to the French in exchange for vital military support.