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Why did Cavour send Piedmontese troops into Umbria and the Marche?
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unification of Italy
The unification of Italy. The dates are those of annexation, first to Sardinia-Piedmont and after 1861 to the Kingdom of Italy.
Cavour sent Piedmontese troops into the Papal States of Umbria and the Marche in 1860 primarily to regain political initiative and maintain control over the process of Italian unification.12
Following the military successes of Giuseppe Garibaldi in the south, Cavour faced a growing rivalry between the moderate, monarchist movement he led and the revolutionary, republican forces represented by Garibaldi. By occupying these territories, Cavour aimed to achieve several strategic objectives:2
- Check Revolutionary Excesses: He sought to position himself before European powers as a defender of law and order against potential revolutionary instability.2
- Protect Papal Territory: He aimed to reassure Napoleon III that he was acting to prevent Garibaldi from attacking the remaining papal lands, thereby limiting French opposition to a mere perfunctory protest.12
- Unify the Peninsula: The occupation allowed Piedmont to intercept Garibaldiās forces, effectively welding the northern and southern movements into a single, united kingdom under Victor Emmanuel II.12