OCR Specification focus:
‘the developments in Piedmont under Cavour and Victor Emmanuel II’
Piedmont underwent significant political, diplomatic, and economic transformation under Count Camillo di Cavour and Victor Emmanuel II, laying foundations for Italian unification.
Piedmont after 1848–49
Following the failed revolutions of 1848–1849, Piedmont emerged as the only Italian state with a functioning constitution, the Statuto Albertino, granted by Charles Albert. This gave Piedmont a liberal constitutional monarchy with limited parliamentary powers and safeguarded civil liberties. Under Victor Emmanuel II, who became king in 1849, Piedmont became the rallying point for Italian nationalists, in stark contrast to the repressive regimes of other Italian states.
Victor Emmanuel II’s Leadership
Victor Emmanuel II combined cautious liberalism with dynastic ambition. He presented himself as a defender of constitutionalism and national liberty. His reign consolidated:
Continuity of the Statuto Albertino: maintaining a constitutional framework, unlike rulers in Tuscany, Naples, and the Papal States who abandoned reforms.
Military credibility: he preserved a strong army, projecting Piedmont as a credible force within Italy.
Symbolic leadership: he cultivated the image of a patriotic monarch, willing to work with both liberal elites and nationalists.
Statuto Albertino: The constitution granted in 1848 by Charles Albert of Piedmont, which established a constitutional monarchy with limited powers for parliament.
This framework became a key ideological and institutional foundation for unification.
The Rise of Cavour
In 1852, Camillo Benso di Cavour became Prime Minister, steering Piedmont’s policies with pragmatism and modernising zeal. A master of diplomacy and economic reform, he reshaped Piedmont into a modern constitutional state capable of leading Italian unification.
Economic Modernisation
Cavour believed Piedmont must appear modern and progressive to attract allies and to lead Italy. His reforms included:
Expanding railways and infrastructure, boosting trade and communications.
Developing industry such as textiles, steel, and armaments.
Encouraging free trade policies, notably through commercial treaties with Britain and France.
Modernising agriculture, draining marshlands and encouraging innovation.
These reforms strengthened Piedmont’s economy and enhanced its prestige among European powers.
Political Reforms
Cavour was committed to limited liberalism, balancing reform with control:
He strengthened the parliamentary system, though real power remained with the monarchy and executive.
Promoted moderate liberalism to attract middle-class support while rejecting radical republicanism.
Restricted the influence of Mazzinian radicals and the far left, preferring a cautious and pragmatic path.
Cavour’s politics were therefore not revolutionary, but calculated to preserve monarchy and attract international recognition.
Diplomacy and Foreign Policy
Cavour understood that Piedmont could not achieve unification alone and required foreign alliances. His Realpolitik approach to diplomacy placed Piedmont at the centre of European politics.
The Crimean War
In 1855, Piedmont entered the Crimean War on the side of Britain and France. Although its military contribution was small, Cavour:
Secured Piedmont a seat at the Congress of Paris (1856).
Raised the Italian Question on the European diplomatic stage.
Gained Napoleon III’s sympathy towards Piedmontese ambitions.
The Congress of Paris (1856), painted by Édouard Dubufe, shows European delegates, including Cavour, concluding the Crimean War. It symbolises Piedmont’s arrival in great-power diplomacy. Source
Realpolitik: A pragmatic approach to politics and diplomacy, prioritising practical outcomes over ideological commitments.
Cavour’s Realpolitik ensured Piedmont avoided isolation and gained vital allies.
Relations with the Papacy
Piedmont increasingly clashed with the Papal States. Cavour reduced clerical privileges, particularly through the Siccardi Laws, which curtailed church influence over civil matters such as marriage and property. This angered the papacy but further identified Piedmont with liberalism and modern governance.
Consolidation of Power under Victor Emmanuel II
While Cavour masterminded diplomacy and reform, Victor Emmanuel II provided the dynastic authority and symbolic leadership to bind the movement together:
He ensured continuity of the constitutional monarchy, refusing to rescind liberal gains.
He maintained prestige through military leadership, notably in wars against Austria.
His personal popularity made him a rallying point for moderate liberals and conservatives alike.
Together, Victor Emmanuel II and Cavour created a dual leadership: Cavour as strategist and reformer, the king as national symbol.
Preparing the Ground for Unification
By the late 1850s, Piedmont was:
The most liberal, modernised Italian state.
Economically and militarily stronger than its rivals.
Aligned diplomatically with France and Britain.
This prepared the ground for the Second War of Italian Independence (1859), where Piedmont, under Cavour’s diplomacy and Victor Emmanuel’s leadership, would begin the military unification of Italy.
Thus, the developments in Piedmont under Cavour and Victor Emmanuel II marked the decisive shift from failed revolutionary nationalism to successful diplomatic and monarchical leadership in the Risorgimento.
FAQ
Other Italian states rolled back their constitutions following the failed revolutions of 1848–49. Piedmont, under Victor Emmanuel II, retained the Statuto Albertino, giving it a reputation for stability.
Its survival as a constitutional monarchy, combined with a relatively independent parliament and liberal laws, made it attractive to moderate nationalists who rejected radical republicanism.
By modernising transport, industry, and agriculture, Piedmont looked more like a modern European state.
Railways demonstrated efficiency and supported military logistics.
Free trade treaties with Britain and France signalled openness and progress.
Stronger industry and armaments projected military potential.
These measures encouraged Britain and France to treat Piedmont as a credible ally.
The Siccardi Laws (1850) reduced clerical influence by:
Abolishing Church courts for civil cases.
Limiting privileges such as exemption from taxes.
This angered the Papacy but confirmed Piedmont as a liberal, modernising state. It also helped distinguish Piedmont from other Italian states still dominated by Church authority.
Although Piedmont only sent around 15,000 troops, the symbolic gesture mattered.
It showed commitment to European alliances.
Allowed Cavour to gain a seat at the Congress of Paris.
Raised Piedmont’s profile as a reliable partner in international affairs.
The real gain was diplomatic recognition, not military prestige.
Victor Emmanuel II was not only a monarch but a unifying symbol:
He refused to revoke the Statuto Albertino, defending constitutional liberty.
He maintained military strength, giving Piedmont credibility.
His image as a patriotic, moderate monarch appealed to conservatives and liberals alike.
His presence reassured elites while leaving room for Cavour to manoeuvre diplomatically.
Practice Questions
Question 1 (2 marks):
Name one reform introduced by Cavour to modernise Piedmont’s economy, and one reform he introduced to limit the influence of the Church.
Mark Scheme:
1 mark for correctly identifying an economic reform (e.g., railway expansion, free trade treaties, industrial development, agricultural modernisation).
1 mark for correctly identifying a reform limiting Church influence (e.g., the Siccardi Laws reducing clerical privileges in civil matters).
Question 2 (6 marks):
Explain two ways in which Piedmont’s international position was strengthened under Cavour between 1852 and 1856.
Mark Scheme:
Up to 3 marks per explanation.
To gain full marks, each explanation must:
Identify a development.
Provide detail of what occurred.
Explain how this strengthened Piedmont’s international position.
Examples of valid explanations:
Crimean War involvement (1855): Piedmont joined Britain and France, showing commitment to European affairs (1 mark). Contribution of a small but symbolic force (1 mark). This secured a place at the Congress of Paris (1 mark).
Congress of Paris (1856): Piedmont gained diplomatic recognition (1 mark). Cavour raised the Italian Question before major powers (1 mark). This gave Piedmont prestige and sympathy from Napoleon III (1 mark).
Alternative acceptable answers might include:
Strengthened ties with Britain and France through free trade treaties.
Projection of Piedmont as a liberal and progressive state, contrasting with reactionary regimes elsewhere in Italy.
Maximum 6 marks.
