Italian and German Unification: A Historical Timeline

Italian Unification

The Risorgimento, or Italian Unification, developed in three phases:

First Phase (1849-1860)

Victor Emmanuel II of Savoy, King of Sardinia, directed the unification process. He counted on the assistance of his Prime Minister, Camillo Benso, Count of Cavour. Sardinia allied with France to combat Austria, which was defeated in the battles of Magenta and Solferino. France allied with Austria, and Piedmont only received Lombardy. In 1860, Parma, Modena, and Romagna voted in a parliament to join Piedmont. These common areas were dominated by Victor Emmanuel II, who called it the Italian Parliament.

Second Phase (1860-1865)

This phase saw the incorporation of Sicily. Cavour had the support of Giuseppe Garibaldi, a Republican and nationalist. Cavour took advantage of peasant unrest in Naples in 1860 and sent the "Thousand Red Shirts," led by Garibaldi, to Sicily. Sicily, Marche, and Umbria were incorporated into the Kingdom of Piedmont. Victor Emmanuel II was recognized as King of Italy by the new Parliament.

Third Phase (1865-1870)

Italy's war against Austria and Prussia ended with Austria's defeat, ceding Venice to Italy. Rome remained united and was proclaimed the new state capital, but the Pope did not recognize this annexation. The issue was not resolved until the Lateran Treaty of 1929.

German Unification

The Frankfurt Parliament proposed the unification of Germany as a constitutional monarchy with the King of Prussia on the throne. He rejected the offer because it was too democratic. Thereafter, Prussia began to unify Germany with a conservative and authoritarian character in three phases:

First Phase

The German states, except Austria, had formed a customs union. Prussia, being the main German state, wanted to lead the unification process and thus began rapid industrialization, political reform, and strengthening of the army. Otto von Bismarck was appointed Chancellor of Prussia in 1862. He was a defender of the King's authority against democratic tendencies.

Second Phase

Taking advantage of the rebellion of the Italian states under its control, Bismarck invaded the Austrian Duchy of Holstein. Austria's defeat at the Battle of Sadowa (1866) led to the creation of the North German Confederation.

Third Phase (1870-1871)

Bismarck signed a military alliance with the southern German states. Bismarck led a war with France, which was defeated in 1870 at Sedan. Germany annexed Alsace and Lorraine. The Second German Empire, or Reich, arose, with Wilhelm I as King.