The Most Dangerous Man in Europe and the “One True Hope” Giuseppe Mazzini and Pope Pius IX

Mazzini Despite the failures of the 1820’s and 1830’s revolutions, it is in the ‘30’s that the Risorgimento began to make progress- all due to Giuseppe Mazzini Born in Genoa 1805 Impacted greatly by witnessing Piedmontese refugees begging in the streets 1827 joins the Carbonari, 1831 moved to the south of France and starts “Young Italy”

Mazzini Understanding Mazzini is not easy, he is often misunderstood and caricatured- below is a summarization of his ideas: - Overriding aim: the brotherhood of the people- severe contempt for imperialism - believed that the next stage of world history was a redrawing of the map of Europe along nationalist lines (Marx called him “the everlasting old ass”) - Called for one central government- not a federation - He believed Italy should be unified on its own efforts, especially without the help of France, Unification should come from the people (below) - taxation should be proportional to wealth, free and compulsory education for all Moderate liberals saw him as very dangerous, as did conservatives

Mazzini- Young Italy Mazzini is often described of as the philosopher of unification, even the philosopher of nationalism, but he was in fact an active revolutionary 1831 he asked King Charles Albert of Piedmont to lead the unification movement (nothing came of it) 1831 he creates Young Italy- a brotherhood of Italians who wished to create a nation state- an equal state free of foreign rule Young Italy was involved in many revolts- 1832 Naples, mutiny in the Piedmontese army, uprising in Savoy, and an attempted coup in Piedmont- which was an attempted assassination on King Charles Albert

Mazzini’s Significance The most long-lasting caller for unification- spent most of his life organizing propaganda He converted many to his cause- Garibaldi He was in fact the President of Rome in 1849 (during the 1848-49 revolutions) Too intellectual for ‘the people’ despite his focus on the people He was in fact absent from Italy for 40 years- out of touch? Did he really know the peasantry?

Pope Pius IX 1843 Piedmontese writer Vincenzo Gioberti suggests an alternative strategy for unification (other than revolts and calls for constitutions) He suggested that Italians should form themselves into a federation of states with the Pope as its President Very popular idea but the reputation of the papal states as oppressive and corrupt seemed to great a stumbling block…until 1846 when the new pope was elected Metternich; “we were prepared for anything, except a liberal pope”

Pope Pius IX All of the previous Popes (there were three since the French Invasion, two of which were imprisoned in France) and they were all very reactionary and oppressive He is remembered for his very long reign and his amazing transformation on the issue of Italian unification He was elected Pope and was rumored across Europe to be a liberal- totally justified rumor in 1846-1847 (freed political prisoners, all revolutionaries, he reformed education, the law and papal administration and gave lay people a greater share of public powers, ended censorship, allowed Jews out of the papal ghettos and gave Rome a constitution But what were his true intentions…

“The 1848 Revolutions failed because Italians were too divided” The Revolutions of 1848 “The 1848 Revolutions failed because Italians were too divided” - how far do you agree with this view? Start with the points you find that support this view then find the points that do not support this view but explain the failure in other ways- pages 33- 38 (Wells) - Which view of the above question is the most convincing?