The coming crisis

War and revolution in Italy which could extend to all of Europe were, by January 1859, considered frightfully distinct possibilities by all governments of Europe, including the English. The Italians who would most welcome war, those who looked to Cavour, Mazzini or Garibaldi, whatever the differences among them, were agreed that it would be a war of independence – from Austria and from the pope.

Austria was the obvious foreigner, and Italian liberals and democrats found its presence in Italy offensive. The Treaty of Vienna of 1815, which all governments regarded as the stabilizing constitution of Europe, allowed Austria to hold a position of predominance in Italy by assigning it possession of the choice states of Lombardy and Venetia, along with some papal territory on the left bank of the Po. The Austrian government negotiated special treaties with the duke of Tuscany and, after 1847, with the dukes of Parma and Modena. In 1849 Austria added to its hegemony direct influence over the eastern half of the Papal States by successfully using its troops to help restore the rule of Pius IX. The troops remained to occupy the provinces known as the Romagna and the Marches, with major garrisons in Bologna and Ancona. In addition, Austria exercised considerable influence over the southern Italian Kingdom of Naples.