Role of Napoleon III during the Unification process? Flashcards
What was Napoleon’s main reason for sending in troops in to the Papal States in 1849?
He was desperate to cement his power base by winning over the support of the French Catholics and therefore sent troops into Rome when the Papal appealed for help
When did the French arrive in Italy to march onto Rome to aim to crush the Roman Republic?
On 24th April 1849
How long were the French blocked for by Garibaldi?
2 months
When did French troops arrive on the outskirts of Rome before crushing the Roman Republic?
June 1849
What did the Pope do in 1849 and 1850?
The Pope excommunicated all who tried to reduce temporal power of the papacy and in 1850 he returned to Rome and denounced all of his earlier reforms
How long did the French stay in Rome for starting at 1848/49?
Stayed 20 years, who supported the reactionary rule making France the enemy of republicans and radical nationalists
What type of factor would the French involvement in the Roman Republic be?
Political/Religious factor
Napoleon experienced a legacy of guilt following his role in the destruction of the 1849 RR. He was determined to do something in the 1850s to make amends for his mistakes. What did he do?
He encouraged his banker friends Lafitte and Rothschild to invest in infrastructural improvements in Italy such as the Mount Cenis tunnel
How many French francs were invested into Piedmont’s railways?
280 million
What did Piedmont’s involvement, in supporting Britain and France, in the Crimean War prompt?
Prompted Napoleon to talk to Cavour
Near the end of the peace agreement in April 8th (after the Crimean War) what issue had rose to the forefront of the agenda for Napoleon?
Austrian dominance in Northern Italy
Close relations were retained through who, which was followed in the meeting between Napoleon and Cavour?
through Napoleon’s nephew Prince Jerome and Cavour’s trusted friend Niagra
What did this meeting between Cavour and Napoleon enable Cavour to do?
To speak about the current situation of Italy
What was the Orsini bomb plot?
An attempt to assassinate Napoleon III and when it failed Napoleon used it as an excuse to get involved with Italy
What did Napoleon and Cavour agree with at the meeting in Plombieres 1858?
If Austria was seen as the aggressor Piedmont would have the full support of France
How many French troops did Napoleon provide Piedmont with?
200,000 troops against Austria
What would France receive if they provided 200,000 French troops?
Would receive Nice and Savoy
The battles of Solferino and Magenta gave victories to the French and Piedmontese. How many men did Allies and Austria lose?
Allies: 17,000 casualties
Austria: 21,000 casualties
What was the Treaty if Villafranca (July 1859) and who was it between?
It put an end to the Franco-Austrian War and was between France and Austria
Why did Austria declare war on Piedmont?
Piedmont mobilised their army near the Austrian boarder which was seen as a threat and led to Austria becoming the aggressor which was what Piedmont needed for the support of the French
Why did Napoleon panic which led to the Treaties of Villafranca, wanting to end conflict before Piedmont gained too much control?
Prussia had mobilised so Napoleon panicked
During the Franco-Austrian war, what impact did the French have?
They did the majority of the fighting showing their higher importance than the Italians. Sent 200,000 French troops to support Italy in return for Nice and Savoy
What did the Treaty of Zurich do?
Gave France Lombardy, and it was Napoleon who gifted it to Piedmont. Providing concrete evidence of Napoleon’s contribution to unification
How did Napoleon slow unification, in a sense?
Napoleon allowed Venetia to stay in Austrian hands and forbidding Piedmont control of the central duchies
What impact did the British have on the French leading to the impact on Italian Unification?
British suggested the self-determination of Italy. This resulted in the Treaty of Turin which saw Napoleon approve the Piedmontese annexation of the central duchies in return for Nice and Savoy
What was Napoleon’s response to Cavour and VE entering Papal teritory?
Non-intervention
Why did Cavour invade the papal states in 1860?
Forced to intervene with Garibaldi because of his attacks down South and his potential threat on the Papal rule
Which other army was in favour and ready to attack the Papal states with Garibaldi?
Bertani
What did France sign and when was this signed, with Prussia which was to significantly weaken Austria?
Free trade treaty
1862
In 1865, why did Napoleon meet with Bismarck?
Promised neutrality in any war involving Prussia and Austria
What did Napoleon sign with the Austrians in 1866?
Signed a secret treaty with Austria in 1866 promising to remain neutral in return for Venetia after the war
The Italian Army lost at the Battle of Custozza on the 1st July 1866 despite having how many troops compared to Austria?
Having 250,000 men compared to Austria’s 130,000
Where did Prussia defeat the Austrians during the Austro-Prussian war?
Battle of Sadowa on 3rd July, meaning that the Austrians ceded Venetia to France
What was it down to which led to the French ceding Venetia to the Kingdom of Italy?
Ultimately the mediation and generosity of Napoleon III who was invested in the cause of unity, who brought Venetia into the control of the Kingdom of Italy under the Treaty of Vienna October 1866
What was Italian unification defined at this point (1866)?
Actions not by the Italians but of the actions of major powers of Europe. This was really a byproduct of Prussia and Austria’s war over Germany rather than concern of Italy
VE originally disagreed to Napoleon’s suggestion to return parts of the papal states to the Pope in 1860. What the happened in 1864?
VE negotiated the September convention 1864 which would lead to French withdrawal from Rome
In December 1866 French troops departed Rome but returned when and why?
Failed attempt of Garibaldi attacking Rome led to the French returning in 1867, crushing Garibaldi at Mentana resulting in the embarrassment for the Italian government
The Franco-Prussian war 1870 meant what for Napoleon?
Calling back troops from Rome which have been entrenched there since 1867
Why didn’t Napoleon mention the South, especially Naples during Plombieres?
Due to the risk of the family ties the Bourbon family had with the Russian royal family. To maintain the balance of the Great Powers in Europe. Too much of a risk if the consequence was Russian involvement
