Italia Francia Europa. Da Solferino all’Unità, 1859-1861

This essay, following the works by Gioacchino Volpe, Franco Valsecchi and Rosario Romeo, outlines the crucial phase of our Risorgimento from the Campaign of Italy in 1859 to the declaration of the Italian kingdom, with reference to the international relations among the European Great Powers, especially to the diplomatic activity occurring after the Crimean War. The international strategy of Napoleon III has been thoroughly examined: he was in favour of throwing Austria out of our territory by setting our Peninsula free from Vienna’s hegemony, but against Italian political unification up to 1866. In this context, the origin of the Italian State shows clearly its future destiny of a «medium power» without any indipendence on the international scene.