Why did Giuseppe Mazzini not join Cavour’s war against Austria in 1859?

Giuseppe Mazzini did not participate in the 1859 Franco-Piedmontese war against Austria primarily because of his fundamental political convictions. As an uncompromising republican, Mazzini opposed the monarchical framework of the House of Savoy, which led the Piedmontese government under Count Cavour.12

While Cavour sought to unify Italy through diplomatic alliances and state-led military action, Mazzini advocated for popular insurrection and the creation of a republic. Their programs were often in direct opposition; Cavour viewed Mazzini’s revolutionary conspiracies as dangerous and utopian, even labeling him the "chief of the assassins," while Mazzini remained skeptical of the monarchy's commitment to true national liberty. Consequently, Mazzini remained outside of the state-sponsored military efforts, maintaining his focus on his own revolutionary ideals rather than aligning with the monarchist-led war effort.134