**SARDINIA in the Italian Unification Process**

Thread about Sardinia's role in the Italian unification. I won't go ahead telling all the facts that led in 1861 to the creation of the Kingdom of Italy, only some considerations.

This thread was requested by @avalon_greene_ (that I thank) and it's also a rather complicated one because of the erasure of Sardinian History in Italy (see my other threads for that), because of the gaslighting by some political views (surprise surprise, Sardinians *wanted*-

-a unified Italy), because of what came later and the fact Italy is a young country, only 160 years old (but Germany is younger).

It starts in 1847. Before that, the Kingdom of Sardinia was a Crown (=federation) of 4 countries: Sardinia (island), Principality of Piedmont, -

-Duchy of Savoy, Nizza. As confederates, they had slightly different laws (we still had the Carta de Logu) and covered the green part of the map. The revolutions of '20-21 and '30-31 had little effects in Sardinia (island); we had our own part of rebellions against the feudal-

-system (note here: not against the king. See my other thread about sa Die de sa Sardigna).

In 1847, we have the Perfect Fusion wished by Sardinians: the four countries became one, with only one Constitution (Statuto Albertino) and no internal confines. It's the end of the -

-viceroys and the Sardinian Parliament. The Parliamentary monarchy takes the single name of Kingdom of Sardinia and is still in the hands of the Savoy King, Carlo Alberto. Everyone born inside the kingdom is called Sardinian, even if not native from the island.

Sardinians wanted

-equality in administration with the people of the "continent" (as we say). Things didn't turn out exactly that way, but that's another discourse. We're still waiting for it today

Before unification, modern Italy was like this , divided in several kingdoms.

Lombardy and part of upper Italy was at that time in the hands of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The Savoy, the Kingdom of Sardinia, wanted more. They wanted to "liberate" Italy from the strangers (just a way to legitimise their conquest).

It was common sentiment at that time-

-that Italy should have been united. The Savoy took the idea in their hands and led the conquest, starting in 1848 with the first Independence War which actually fails.

What is interesting at this point is that Sardinians (insulars) wanted a unified Italy and also went to battle

-in the continent. We have many commanders who were Sardinians, common people joined the battle too. Many politician advocated for a unified Italy, hoping then for an economic progress in the Island too.

It's ironic how Sardinia was never considered Italy up until that time.

The soldiers of the whole kingdom were recognised as Sardinians, look at these pictures. They speak of Sardinian army, including all the people from the Kingdom (the soldiers definitely don't look islanders).

This is to say everyone was Sardinian and Sardinia was the actual-

-precursor of Italy. What's controversial about this? That Italians would see it as an insult. As we say: Sardinia was the beginning of Italy, now we are at the end.

Btw, the one in red is a militiamen from Cagliari, islander then, in comparison with one from the continent.

They are definitely different but both were Sardinians then, at least from a political point of view and less from culture/heritage.

Look also how they had the Tricolore, first a Sardinian flag and then Italian. The Tricolore was born before 1861.

Now, straight to the point. In 1861 we have the second independence war which finally leads to the unification. During the previous months/years, several other peninsular kingdoms have a vote in which they decide annexation to the Kingdom of Sardinia.

The last step, and most-

-difficult, is the conquest of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, handed over to Garibaldi. He goes with his 1000 men, several Sardinian islanders too, kicks away the Bourbons and takes the power.

The Savoy, fearing his rise to power, will then send him in exile (where? -

-In Sardinia, where he lived. His house is a museum in Caprera).

Vittorio Emanuele II takes the title of King of Italy, without changing his numeral though, in continuation to the Kingdom of Sardinia.

This is Italy in 1860, everything was Kingdom of Sardinia.

The unification of Italy is not complete though. Rome and the Papal States will be annexed in 1871 (third war of independence) and the last parts will join after the First World War.

To finish, the Italian anthem was written by a young man born in Genoa -

-of clearly Sardinian origins, as his surname shows. Goffredo Mameli also died during the second war of independence.