Revolution of 1866: Third War of Independence (1866)
- Victor Emmanuel II was crowned King of Italy on March 17, 1861, although he had no power over Venetia or the significantly diminished Papal States.
- Italy had the opportunity to annex Venetia in 1866, thanks to the growing hostility between Austria and Prussia over the German Question.
- The Armistice of Nikolsburg, signed in July 1866, ended hostilities between the two nations after Prussia defeated Austria.
- The Austrian-Italian Treaty of Vienna, signed after the Peace of Prague and ratified the territory’s transfer to Italy, came next.
Unification of Italy
The unification of Italy refers to the political and social movement that resulted in the consolidation of several small states in the Italian Peninsula into a single, united kingdom of Italy in 1861. This process was driven by a combination of factors, including economic and cultural factors, as well as a desire for national unity and independence from foreign rule. For over 700 years, beginning in the third century BCE, Italy was united together under the rule of the Roman Empire. The Byzantine Empire’s invasion finally shattered the unity, and other city-states emerged. At the beginning of the eighth century, the Holy Roman Empire (a German-speaking Empire) ruled the northern half of Italy. In contrast, the middle and southern halves of the country were alternatively ruled by the Kingdom of Naples, the Kingdom of Sicily, and the Papal States.
The Milanese and Venetian city-states rose to prominence in the 15th and 16th centuries, changing the balance of power after the Renaissance. The Peace of Westphalia formally ended the control of the Holy Roman Emperor over Italy in 1648.
Italy was split up into numerous minor principalities, and this division persisted until the French Revolution began in 1789.
The unification of Italy was finally achieved in 1861 when the Kingdom of Italy was established, and Victor Emmanuel II was proclaimed its first king. The new kingdom faced many challenges, including social and economic difficulties, as well as opposition from the Papacy and other powers, but it eventually became a stable and prosperous state and a significant player on the international stage.