Unification of Italy Class 10: Mazzini, Cavour & Garibaldi
Before unification, Italy was fragmented into seven parts. Giuseppe Mazzini first tried to unify it through Young Italy but failed. Count Cavour then unified the North, Giuseppe Garibaldi unified the South, and Victor Emmanuel II became King of unified Italy in 1861.
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How Was Italy Divided Before Unification?
Before the unification movement gained pace, Italy was split into distinct regions, each controlled by a different power. This division is exactly what your NCERT textbook also shows, so knowing this table well will help you answer diagram- or map-based questions.
| Region | Ruled By |
|---|---|
| North Italy | Austrian Empire (Habsburg rule) |
| Centre (Papal States) | The Pope |
| Kingdom of the Two Sicilies (South) | Bourbon King of Spain |
This three-way division — North, Centre, and South — is the foundation for understanding why unification needed three separate efforts, led by three different people, before Italy could become one nation.
Giuseppe Mazzini and the First Attempt at Unification
Giuseppe Mazzini was the first leader to attempt to unify Italy. He founded two organisations for this purpose: Young Italy and Young Europe, aiming to build support for a unified Italian nation.
Despite these efforts, Mazzini's attempt to unify Italy was not successful. Following this failure, the responsibility for unifying the country fell to Victor Emmanuel II, who was asked to advance the movement.
Count Cavour and the Unification of Northern Italy
Victor Emmanuel II relied on his Chief Minister, Count Cavour, to carry out the unification effort. Count Cavour's efforts were focused specifically on the North of Italy.
At the same time, the Centre of Italy remained under the rule of the Pope, as it had been before, while the movement in the South was led by a different figure altogether.
Giuseppe Garibaldi and the Unification of South Italy
The unification of the South of Italy was carried out by Giuseppe Garibaldi. While Count Cavour worked on the North, Garibaldi took on the task of bringing the southern territories into the unified Italian state.
Together, the combined efforts in the North (Cavour) and the South (Garibaldi), alongside the existing structure of the Centre, completed the process that Mazzini had started decades earlier.
Victor Emmanuel II: The King of Unified Italy
After the North and South were unified through the efforts of Count Cavour and Giuseppe Garibaldi, Victor Emmanuel II became the King of Italy in 1861, marking the completion of the unification movement.
This is the key date and outcome to remember for exam questions on this topic. For more practice on how such questions are framed, check your CBSE Class 10 Social Science Question Paper 2023 to see the pattern used for History chapter questions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common questions.
How was Italy divided before unification?
Before unification, Italy was divided into three main regions. The North was ruled by the Austrian Empire, the Centre was under the Pope through the Papal States, and the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies in the South was ruled by the Bourbon King of Spain.
Who made the first attempt to unify Italy?
Giuseppe Mazzini made the first attempt to unify Italy. He formed the organisations Young Italy and Young Europe to support the cause, but this attempt did not succeed.
What was Count Cavour's role in the unification of Italy?
Count Cavour was the Chief Minister of Victor Emmanuel II, and his role was to unify the North of Italy. He took over this task after Mazzini's efforts failed.
Who unified the South of Italy?
Giuseppe Garibaldi unified the South of Italy. His efforts in the South worked alongside Count Cavour's efforts in the North to complete the unification process.
Who unified Italy in 1861 and became its king?
Victor Emmanuel II became the King of a unified Italy in 1861. This followed the combined unification efforts of Count Cavour in the North and Giuseppe Garibaldi in the South.