Count Camillo di Cavour played a crucial role in the unification of Italy, primarily through diplomatic and strategic means rather than outright military aggression or forceful actions against the Pope or the Church. Here are some key means he employed:
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Diplomacy and Alliances: Cavour skillfully used diplomacy to form alliances, particularly with France. He sought French support to drive Austria out of northern Italy, which was a significant step toward unification.
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Military Action: While he did not personally lead military invasions, Cavour supported military campaigns that contributed to the unification process, such as the Second Italian War of Independence in 1859, which involved forces led by Giuseppe Garibaldi.
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Popular Support: Cavour recognized the importance of popular sentiment and nationalism among the Italian states. Although he did not call for a direct popular vote in a significant manner, he encouraged and supported the nationalistic movements that rallied public support for unification.
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Political Maneuvering: Cavour used political strategies to weaken the influence of Austria in Italy and to consolidate power among the various Italian states. This included weakening the power of regional rulers and fostering unification sentiment.
As for the specific statements you included:
- He did not "throw the pope out of Rome"; the Pope retained control over the Vatican after unification, although later developments led to the loss of the Papal States.
- He did not "take away the power of Venezia" directly; rather, Venezia was incorporated into Italy through the Austro-Prussian War and diplomatic negotiations.
Overall, Cavour's methods were predominantly characterized by diplomatic negotiations, strategic military actions, and fostering nationalist sentiments rather than by outright force or aggression.
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