Malcolm Rivera
Camillo Benso, Count of Cavour, was an Italian politician, statesman, businessman, economist, and noble. He was a leading figure in the unification of Italy, serving as the country's first prime minister. Cavour was a pragmatist who understood the importance of powerful allies, and his diplomacy allowed Piedmont to be treated as a major power. He was also careful not to jeopardize existing relationships, such as with France, and quietly mobilized armies for war with Austria while publicly supporting disarmament.
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What You'll Learn
Cavour's alignment with France
Camillo Benso, Count of Cavour, was born in 1810 in Turin, Piedmont, then part of the French Empire. His family had close ties with the ancien régime, and his godparents were Prince Camillo Borghese and Pauline Bonaparte, the Prince's wife and Napoleon's favourite sister. Cavour's father, Michele, was the 4th Marquess of Cavour and Count of Isolabella and Leri, and his mother, Adélaïde (Adèle) Suzanne, Marchioness of Sellon, was of French origin.
Cavour's family had served the House of Savoy as soldiers and officials since the 16th century, and he himself was named after Prince Camillo Borghese. The Cavour family's fortunes were imperilled by the French Revolution, but Michele Cavour re-established the family's eminent position in Napoleonic society. Cavour's career began in the military, and he was first stationed in Turin, then in various frontier posts. Wherever he was, Cavour remained dissatisfied. In 1830, he was sent to Genoa, where he met Anna Giustiniani Schiaffino, an advocate of ultrademocratic and republican ideas. The French Revolution of 1830, which overthrew Charles X and installed Louis-Philippe, strengthened Cavour's revolutionary ardour.
Cavour's liberal beliefs included support for free trade, freedom of opinion, and secular rule. However, he was an enemy of republicans and revolutionaries, whom he feared as disorganized radicals who would upset the social order. He was pragmatic and believed that economic progress had to precede political change. He stressed the advantages of railroad construction in the peninsula and was a strong supporter of transportation by steam engine, sponsoring the building of many railroads and canals.
Cavour seized the opportunity of the Crimean War to ingratiate himself with the French. He pursued a strategy of balancing power, carefully aligning himself with one country's policies over particular issues while securing the neutrality of others. He wanted to make the Austrians look outdated and isolated, suggesting that they were a barrier to the progress of European civilization. This approach was successful in gaining the interest and investment of wider European powers, making it difficult for Piedmont-Sardinia to be defeated militarily.
In 1858, Cavour met with Napoleon III and agreed that Piedmont would attempt to provoke war with the Duchy of Modena, which would oblige Austria to enter, and France would then aid Piedmont. In return, Cavour agreed to cede Savoy and the County of Nice to France and arranged a royal marriage between Princess Maria Clotilde of Savoy and Prince Napoléon-Jérôme Bonaparte. Both France and Piedmont began to prepare for war, but diplomatic support diminished rapidly. Despite this setback, Cavour's alignment with France was a crucial factor in achieving the unification of Italy in 1861, with himself as the first prime minister of the new kingdom.
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Piedmont's entry into the Crimean War
The Crimean War was fought between Russia and the allied forces of Britain, France, and the Ottoman Empire. The conflict arose from the struggle between great powers in the Middle East, with Russia demanding to exercise protection over the Orthodox subjects of the Ottoman Sultan. Another factor was the dispute between Russia and France over the privileges of the Russian Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches in Palestine.
The allied powers of Britain and France asked Piedmont-Sardinia to join the war on their side, hoping to also encourage Austria to enter. Austria, however, chose to remain neutral, not wanting to risk an attack on its positions in Italy by Piedmontese troops.
Camillo Benso, Count of Cavour, the Piedmontese statesman, agreed to the alliance with Britain and France, hoping for their support for Piedmont's expansion in Italy. On January 10, 1855, Piedmont-Sardinia entered the war, sending between 10,000 and 15,000 troops to fight alongside the French. Although they suffered heavy casualties, their participation earned Piedmont a position at the Congress of Paris that ended the war.
The Crimean War was the first major European conflict after the Napoleonic Wars and resulted in a restructuring of internal politics and alliances in Western Europe. The conflict gave rise to a resurgence of nationalism in the major European powers and increased the global trading advantage of Britain and France, particularly in the Mediterranean. It also marked a turning point for the Russian Empire, weakening its army, draining its treasury, and undermining its influence in Europe.
The Treaty of Paris, signed on March 30, 1856, officially ended the war. It forbade Russia from basing warships in the Black Sea and guaranteed the integrity of Ottoman Turkey, with Russia surrendering southern Bessarabia at the mouth of the Danube. The Black Sea was neutralized, and the Danube River was opened to the shipping of all nations.
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The Plombières Agreement
The agreement concerned a future war in which France and Piedmont would ally against Austria to remove and exclude Austrian influence from the Italian peninsula. In return for French military aid, Piedmont would cede Savoy and Nice to France. The agreement would be reinforced through the marriage of Princess Maria Clotilde of Savoy, daughter of the Piedmontese king, Victor Emmanuel II, to Prince Napoléon Bonaparte.
Cavour believed that by controlling "Italia Alta", the Northern Italian Kingdom, Piedmont-Sardinia would have practical political and economic control over the entire Italian peninsula. In contrast, Napoleon was convinced that France would have control over the southern two-thirds of Italy and would be able to exercise de facto control over Piedmont-Sardinia.
The treaty creating a formal alliance was signed on 28/29 January 1859 in Turin by Victor Emmanuel II and on 26 January 1859 in Paris by Napoleon III. As events turned out, the war was triggered as agreed at Plombières, but its geopolitical aftermath was not precisely as envisaged.
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Cavour's avoidance of reconciliation with Austria
Count Camillo Benso di Cavour was a Piedmontese statesman, politician, businessman, economist, and noble. He was a leading figure in the movement towards Italian unification and served as the first Prime Minister of Italy.
Cavour's pragmatic approach to diplomacy is evident in his dealings with Austria. He understood the importance of powerful allies and was willing to make concessions to achieve his goals. For example, he agreed to cede Savoy and Nice to France, which was a difficult decision as Savoy was the seat of the Piedmontese royal family. However, this concession allowed Piedmont to annex Tuscany and Emilia, moving closer to unification.
Cavour also used diplomatic tactics to manoeuvre Piedmont into a favourable position. When attending a conference for peace, he supported the disarmament of Piedmont, but once he returned, he quietly mobilized armies, preparing for a potential war with Austria. This approach created tension and provoked Austria, but it also made Piedmont appear as the victim in the ensuing war, gaining sympathy.
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Cavour's diplomatic approach to unification
Camillo Benso, Count of Cavour, was a leading figure in the unification of Italy. He was a conservative statesman and politician who served as the first Prime Minister of Italy. Cavour's diplomatic approach to unification was complex and multifaceted. He was known for his pragmatism and adaptability, often embracing realpolitik to achieve his goals.
Cavour understood the importance of international alliances and worked to secure powerful allies for Piedmont, including France and Britain. He was instrumental in negotiating Piedmont's involvement in the Crimean War, which earned Piedmont a position at the Congress of Paris. He also agreed to cede Savoy and Nice to France in exchange for their support against the Austrian Empire. Cavour's diplomatic skills were particularly notable in his ability to portray Piedmont as a victim in disputes with Austria, even as he quietly mobilized armies for war.
Cavour's diplomatic tactics also included controversial methods such as rigging elections, employing friends, and bribing newspapers. He dominated the Chamber of Deputies and was skilled at manoeuvring Piedmont through complex political situations. He believed that economic progress should precede political change and initiated several infrastructure projects, including railroads and canals. Cavour also founded the newspaper "Il Risorgimento" to promote his political agenda.
Overall, Cavour's diplomatic approach to unification was characterized by pragmatism, adaptability, and a willingness to engage with various European powers to advance Piedmont's interests. His skills as a diplomat played a crucial role in achieving the unification of Italy.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Cavour used diplomacy to unify Italy.
Count Camillo Benso di Cavour was the leader of the unification of Italy and served as its first prime minister.
Cavour was pragmatic and believed that economic progress had to precede political change. He also understood the importance of having powerful allies.
Cavour used diplomatic tactics and exploited international rivalries and revolutionary movements to unify Italy. He also formed alliances with other countries, such as France, and participated in wars, such as the Crimean War, to strengthen Piedmont's position.
Cavour faced challenges such as maintaining relationships with allies, managing tensions with Austria, and dealing with internal political opposition. He also had to navigate sensitive international politics and balance his liberal image with controversial methods used while in power.
