Unification of Italy – Class 10 History Notes

Before 1861, the 'Italian peninsula' was not one country. It was a patchwork of small kingdoms, duchies, and papal states. The northern regions were dominated by the powerful Austrian Empire. There was no single Italian army, currency, or government.

1. Giuseppe Mazzini — The Visionary Philosopher: Mazzini was the ideological father of Italian nationalism. He founded 'Young Italy', a secret revolutionary society that inspired millions of Italians with the dream of a unified, democratic republic.

2. Count Camillo di Cavour — The Political Strategist: Cavour was the Prime Minister of Piedmont-Sardinia. He was a brilliant, cunning diplomat who used political alliances and wars strategically to expand the Piedmont kingdom and expel Austria from northern Italy.

3. Giuseppe Garibaldi — The Military Commander: Garibaldi was the romantic soldier. He led his famous army of 'One Thousand Red Shirts' and conquered the kingdoms of southern Italy, then handing the southern territories to King Victor Emmanuel II to complete the unification.

In 1861, King Victor Emmanuel II of Piedmont-Sardinia was declared the first King of a unified Italy. Rome became the capital in 1871 after the Papal States were also incorporated.