Cavour's Triumph: The Liberation of Italy (Documentary)

Between 1852-1859, the Count of Cavour engineered one of the most remarkable geopolitical changes in European history. Controlling only the small Kingdom of Sardinia, he enlisted the aid of Napoleon III and overthrew the might of the Austrian Army, paving the way for Italian Unification.

This video aims to be a short documentary on Italian Unification (Risorgimento), explaining the diplomatic process.

#Italy #AustrianEmpire #History

[OldBritannia]

I hope you enjoy this short documentary on the Count of Cavour's diplomacy. As you'll see, this is not intended to be a full documentary on the Unification of Italy. I think the competition between Cavour and Garibaldi over the South of the country is worthy of a video of its own at some point. Any feedback is welcomed as usual. Thank you for watching.

[Midlo]

These video essays on the diplomats of the 19th century have been wonderful. Often, you hear about the diplomatic and political events just "Italy did this" or "Germany did that", and it's an fun change of pace to instead see the people steering the ships instead.

[Gorboduc]

Fortunately the Austrians learned their lesson, and never sent a rash and ill-considered ultimatum again.

[Lysimachus]

Garibaldi working successfully to help unite Italy over a period of three decades only for Cavour to trade away his hometown of Nizza - as part of Savoie - to the French in return for support against the Austrians is one of the strangest tragedies in nationalism. He achieved his long sought after political dream, but Garibaldi's own place of birth would not be a part of the new Italy. Nizza is now more well known by its current name Nice.

[historyinbits]

On the first glance, it is almost unbelievable how many parallels there are between Italian and German unification. Two regionally strong kingdoms profiting from the Vienna Congress, with charismatic Prime Ministers in the latter half of the 19th century, making use of nationalist sentiments to gain power for their respective kings. And the two most significant composers of the era, one Italian and one German, writing operas as fitting themes. Heck, Verdi was even a codename within circles of Italian revolutionaries.

[princekalender]

The little man that could. Garibaldi often gets more press as he was flashy, but Cavour was the mastermind behind everything. A great moment for the Italians.

[leonardodavid]

Should mention that although Cavour was born as a minor aristocrat (though his father had been the mayor of Turin, the capital. So not so minor. But still a younger son so he did not inherit his father estates), Cavour did become the richest man in the kingdom and was perhaps the largest landowner.

He wasn’t a journalist either, but he bought a newspaper when he decided to enter politics.

Edit:

Saying that Cavour was not a nationalist is a miss conception stemming from simplification many historians make.

We have letters of Cavour in his 20s writing about his desire for a united Italy. Cavour wrote a letter in his mid 20s about his decision to enter in business and leave behind his “silly” dreams in which he saw himself as leader of a united Italy (referring to his earlier twenties).

He ended up realizing these dreams.

There had always been a desire for a united Italy is Cavour’s mind. He was not the typical nationalist however, and it is incorrect to label him as such in my opinion.

[emperornapoleon]

This channel does a terrific job of covering nineteenth European history that is too often neglected!

[luisfilipe]

It’s crazy to think that at one point Austria now a tiny republic in the alps was dominant over Italy one of the great European powers. How times change!

[thedripkingofangmar]

Imagine how different the 1860s-70s age would have been with both Cavour and Bismarck active in the Concert of Europe

[rodmaknouni]

Seriously my favorite channel at the moment, keep up the great work with these mini-documentaries on such under-covered periods of modern history

[ilFrancotti]

Here you can witness step by step the process of self-destruction that the Austrians seemed to enjoy so much:

1 - lose patience with a small kingdom/state.

2 - overreact by sending a completely pointless ultimatum since the small kingdom/state poses no serious threat to the Austrian Empire.

3 - once the ultimatum is rejected find out that the small kingdom/state has inadvertently humiliated a far stronger Empire because of its inner stupidity.

4 - declare war against the small kingdom/state so that everybody senses you as the aggressor.

5 - find out that small kingdom/state who poses no real threat has or can find allies in a continent such as Europe where wars normally drag in multiple nations.

6 - lose the war and lose your face.

7 - repeat until you lose everything.


Vs Piedmont in Italy, vs Serbia in the Balkans.

[konstantinosnikolakakis]

Minute and a half in, but a peculiarity I’ve noticed is that Cavour was an aristocrat who became an officer of engineers. This is an exception to a norm. Aristocrats usually became officers of the infantry or cavalry, or maybe the navy. Engineer and artillery corps were seen as beneath them as most of those corps’ officers were better educated in things like mathematics and architecture than the often aristocratic cavalry and infantry officers were.

[graham]

More videos on Italian unification and I will never stop watching this channel.

[Shackerrrz]

Would love a series on Italy's monarchical period up to 1945. Brilliant video.

[fireandblood]

I hope that one day we will see a series on Napoleon III, whom Bismarck himself called "the greatest monarch of this era [the mid-nineteenth century]", the one who inspired his cynical vision of politics, which he then improved to give birth to realpolitik. The press at the time nicknamed him "the Agamemnon of Europe" for no decision in European affairs could be taken without his opinion or approval, until he mistook a certain Bismarck and fell after the Austro-Prussian war, before falling ill and having to let the court govern in his place. Such a great man who did so much for France, initiating its industrialization and financialization, reforming its bureaucratic system, implementing social reforms and rebuilding its cities. Truly an underrated ruler who is solely responsible for France's return to the international stage after its long slump since 1815.

[loge]

Finally, some respect for the Italians on this channel. Cannot wait to watch.

[Hypophreniac]

It amazes me how quickly Austria declined after their ( Steady but quick ) rise in power, very interesting and great video!

[somehistorynerd]

easily the best history channel when it comes to diplomacy on the platform, keep it up!

[historatorpolitics]

I believe this could be a great start to a video series about the rise and eventual fall of the Italian Empire.