Italian Unification: The Significance of Camillo Benso Cavour, Giuseppe Garibaldi, and the Carbonari

The Italian unification was a protracted period of political upheaval and conflict that lasted from 1815 to 1870 (Collier & Rees, 2003, p. 4). During the more than five decades of the unification struggle, men like Camillo Benso Cavour and Giuseppe Garibaldi emerged as notable and influential figures. Although distrustful of each other, the contributions of Cavour and Garibaldi were highly significant having, in many ways, made Italian unification possible. Members of the Carbonari, on the other hand, caused some social and political ripples in the early 1820s. By the mid-1830s, however, the Carbonari movement had devolved into political irrelevance and insignificance. The Carbonari should, however, be credited for initiating the Italian unification movement and paving the way for later contributors like Cavour and Garibaldi. 

Camillo Benso Cavour’s Diplomatic Skill and Prowess in forming Political Alliances

Most fundamentally, Cavour’s significance during the Italian unification arose from his skillfulness as a diplomat in forming political alliances. As history tells, Cavour had family and diplomatic ties to Piedmont - a region in northwest Italy with relatively little political power and influence. In 1848, however, Piedmont became the first Italian region to boldly initiate a constitutional form of government. Under the leadership of Cavour's friend and business associate Cesare Balbo, in fact, Piedmont became a breeding ground over the next decade for constitutional reform and advocacy of Italian unification (Durchik & Chastain, 2005). By 1858, Cavour had allied himself and his fellow Piedmontese countrymen with Napoleon Bonaparte III and the indomitable Giuseppe Garibaldi. Together, Cavour and his allies confronted and defeated the Austrians, thus setting Italy on the path to unification. Camillo Benso Cavour’s unrivaled ability as a diplomat, therefore, made him one of the most significant contributors in the Italian unification process. 

Camillo Benso Cavour’s Rightful and Proper Characterization as the Architect of Italy’s Unification

Perhaps even more notably, the significance of Camillo Benso Cavour can be understood according to his popularized and befitting title of architect of Italian unification. After years of disenfranchisement and alienation from the prevailing clerical and conservative rule, Cavour established his own newspaper in 1848. Called Risorgimento - meaning "Rising Again" in English - Cavour used his newspaper to advocate liberal ideas such as constitutional rule and governance by the people (Killinger, 2002, p. 111). To many, Cavour and his ideas represented a dangerous threat to the existing political order. Yet, the tenacious Cavour would not allow his voice to be quelled. By the late 1850s, Cavour’s advocacy of constitutional reform had become widely accepted and popular across much of Italy. Ultimately, Cavour’s ideas were adopted and incorporated into the constitutional monarchy and political framework of the newly unified Italy in 1861 (Killinger, 2002, pp. 117-118). In terms of his greatest significance, it can be said, most appropriately, that Camillo Benso Cavour is rightfully considered the architect of Italian unification. 

Giuseppe Garibaldi's Military Prowess and Ability to Inspire his Followers made Italian Unification Possible

Although he was a far more controversial and feared figure than Cavour, Giuseppe Garibaldi’s significance during the Italian unification was no less significant in advancing unification of Italy. It can be argued, in fact, that Garibaldi's military prowess and ability to inspire his followers helped make Italian unification possible. In the early 1830s, Garibaldi emerged as a staunch nationalist having been influenced by Giuseppe Mazzini - the so-called great prophet of Italian nationalism and former member of the Carbonari (Andrews, 2004, p. 290). Inspired by dreams of a unified Italy, Garibaldi participated in a revolt in Piedmont in 1834. The revolt was quickly quashed by local authorities and Garibaldi found himself in great peril. Infuriated by the uprising in Piedmont, in fact, a Genoese court sentenced Garibaldi and many of his compatriots to death in absentia (Field, 2012). Ultimately, Garibaldi escaped from Italy by means of traveling to France and then onwards to South America. For the next fourteen years, Garibaldi would participate in various armed conflicts and wars in South America while developing military prowess and leadership skills that would ultimately serve him well in helping unify Italy. As the saying goes, the table was thus set for Garibaldi to return to his home country and fully demonstrate his significance in the unification of Italy. 

Garibaldi Voice of Patriotism and Hope in the Fight for Italian Unification

In 1848, the determined and reinvigorated Garibaldi headed to Italy with global notoriety and unrelenting desire to become a symbol of patriotism and hope for Italian unification. Upon arriving in Italy, Garibaldi immediately offered his services to the Pope and other leaders of the unification movement. He was turned down each and every time, however, as few leaders in Italy apparently wanted to affiliate themselves with a former rebel who had been previously convicted of a capital crime. Undaunted, nonetheless, Garibaldi set out to forge his historical contributions and significance by joining up with his old mentor, Giuseppe Mazzini, in the city of Milan (Field, 2012). Meanwhile, an Italian leader who had shunned Garibaldi’s offers for military assistance, Charles Albert, was defeated by the Austrians and signed an armistice (Field, 2012). Despite being outnumbered by the Austrians, Garibaldi’s and his forces refused to acquiesce. They confronted the Austrian forces and then fled in defeat. Yet, they had emerged in the eyes of the Italian people with great credibility and respect. In effect, Garibaldi had defied the enemy and elevated himself as the most significant voice of patriotism and hope in the fight for Italian unification.

The Formidability of Garibaldi’s Military Forces

As the Italian unification effort gained momentum in the 1850s, Garibaldi’s significance crystallized as the formidability of his military forces became undeniable. Still bent on Italian nationalism and pride, Garibaldi was not exactly on the same philosophical and ideological page with the liberal thinking Camillo Benso Cavour. Cavour recognized, however, that Italian unification would be difficult or even impossible without the help and cooperation of Garibaldi. In 1858, Cavour, therefore, offered Garibaldi the rank of Major General in the Piedmontese Army (Marwil, 2010, p. 17). Garibaldi accepted the commission and later captured Varese and Como before reaching the frontier in the south; this effectively gave Italy final victory while Garibaldi became a celebrity of the war (Marwil, 2010, p. 48). The once exiled rebel had, thus, cast his historical significance in stone by making Italian unification possible for the first time since the first millennium. 

The Carbonari Pave the Way for the Risorgimento Movement and the Accomplishments of Great Leaders like Camillo Cavour and Giuseppe Garibaldi

By comparison to the significance of Camillo Benso Cavour and Giuseppe Garibaldi in the Italian unification, members of the Carbonari movement could be likened to little more than a historical footnote. For the most part, members of the Carbonari were social and political malcontents who were upset about the defeat of Napoleon Bonaparte and opposed the conservative rule and order of the day (Wairy, 1895). They also played a central role in the failed Revolution of 1821. During the Revolution of 1821, in fact, they demanded constitutional reform and forced the so-called Holy Alliance (a coalition of the monarchist powers of Russia, Austria, and Prussia) to ensure the principle of absolute monarchy by smashing the rebellion (Gilbert & Nilsson, 2007, p. 446). By the early 1830s, the Carbonari movement had lost its momentum and impetus. Although some original Carbonari members would carry the proverbial torch from there, the Carbonari, for all intents and purposes, faded into political obscurity and eventual historical insignificance in the fight for Italian unification. Thus, the most that can be said about the significance of the Carbonari in the Italian unification is that they helped pave the way for the Risorgimento movement and the accomplishments of great leaders like Camillo Cavour and Giuseppe Garibaldi. 

Summary

Overall, Camillo Benso Cavour and Giuseppe Garibaldi played instrumental roles in making the Italian unification possible after centuries of conflict and struggle. Quite interestingly, neither man held the other in the highest of esteem. Yet, as history tells in this case, political unrest and warfare can make strange bedfellows. For a common goal and the betterment of Italy, these two men ultimately unified themselves in order to bring a fractured Italy back together once again. The Carbonari, of course, was a group of social and political malcontents who never fully achieved their desired ends and purposes. Even still, credit should be afforded where it is due. The Carbonari failed to establish a unified Italy and a new political order in the Revolution of 1821. Yet, their very actions set the tone and stage for the long and arduous struggle for Italian unification that would last for more than four decades, thereafter. Thus, in the final comment, it can be said that Camillo Benso Cavour, Giuseppe Garibaldi, and the Carbonari all made significant contributions in the struggle for Italian unification. 

References

Andrews, R. (2004). The Rough Guide to Sardinia. London, UK: Rough Guides.

Collier, M. & Rees, R. (Eds.). (2003). Italian Unification, 1820-71. Oxford, UK: Heinemann Educational Publishers.

Durchik, K. & Chastain, J. (2005). Cavour, Count Camillo Benso di (1810-1861). Encyclopedia of 1848 Revolutions. Athens, OH: Ohio University.

Field, R. (2012, Mar. 20). Garibaldi. eBook: Osprey Publishing.

Gilbert, M.F. & Nilsson, K.R. (2007). The A to Z of Modern Italy. Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press, Inc.

Killinger, C.L. (2002). The History of Italy. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press.

Marwil, J. (2010). Visiting Modern War in Risorgimento Italy. New York: Palgrave Macmillan.

Wairy, L.C. (1895). Recollections of the Private Life of Napoleon, Volume 11, by Constant, Premier Valet de Chambre. Clark, W. (Transl.) Oxford, MS: Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Retrieved from <http://archive.org/stream/recollectionsoft03578gut/nc11v11.txt