Attitudes Towards Rome

Question 1

What was Piedmont’s view on Rome??

Answer 1

• VE II and Cavour were not devote nationalists, but had been influenced by nationalism following their take over of Naples after pressure from garibaldi
• Piedmont themselves were seen by nationalists as the only viable people to take Rome, but the taking Rome would mean dealing with the French garrison.
• However piedmont realised the importance of bringing the pope under control as his syllabus of errors had undermined the likelihood of unification

Question 2

What was the nationalists view on Rome??

Answer 2

• To nationalists, Rome was the beating heart of Italy and was more vital than Venetia, Ricasoli said ‘we claim Rome as our natural capital’
• They would feel betrayed without it and that Italy was geographically and spiritually incomplete
• it symbolised weakness as it was a sign of foreign intervention in an otherwise unified country (after Venetia was taken)

Question 3

Why was French occupation strengthened between 1860-62

Answer 3

• Louis napoleon failed to protect the pope in 1860, upsetting french catholics and resulting in a vote in March 1861 to extend their occupation
• garibaldis failed uprising in 1862 also extended their stay

Question 4

The September convention 1864

Answer 4

• Negotiations between VE and napoleon states that the Pope could raise an army of 10000 troops to protect himself, and France would leave within two years
• in return, Italy was to move its capital from Turin to Florence, (not Rome) which resulted in riots and 23 deaths in Turin. Minghetti sacked
• last French troops left in December 1866, but returned in 1867 after Garibaldi tries to take Rome again, staying until 1870

Question 5

How was Rome finally unified??

Answer 5

• Pragmatism of PM Lanza to take advantage of Franco Prussian war when Napoleon withdrew his men from Rome to fight Prussia; Lanza gained formal agreement with Spain, Austria and Catholic Germanic states to take Rome
• the pope claimed himself a prisoner in Rome when Rome was annexed to Italy after plebiscites in October 1870. The pope was given ‘the law of guarantees’ saying that his power was recognised and was given £129000 a year