In 1846, the Austrian lackey Gregory XVI died. The Italians did not have a good impression of this pope who had been controlled by Austria, and they did not feel any pity for his death.
The entire Catholic world, or the entire Italy, was more concerned about who would be the next pope. At that time, Pius IX was not particularly outstanding, and neither his ability nor his qualifications seemed to be enough to be elected pope.
But what is surprising is that after only two days of closed-door discussion in the College of Cardinals, the liberal cardinal defeated Lucchi Lambruschini and was elected as the new pope.
To be honest, this really surprised the Catholic world. Because the traditionally conservative Catholic Cardinals actually elected a new pope who seemed to be more liberal. Italian liberals were delighted and had high expectations for the new pope.
At the beginning of taking office, Pius IX was like that. After taking office, he appointed liberals as ministers of state of the Papal States, announced a general amnesty for political fans, and introduced a number of reform measures for the management of the Papal States and Rome.
Everything seemed so good, but by the end of 1847, the situation changed. Faced with the Italian unification movement sweeping across the Apennines and the Italians' calls for unification, the enlightened pope hesitated.
In fact, it cannot be said that he is hesitant, because from the beginning to the end, this new pope of Italian origin cannot be a pope who can promote the unification of Italy. After all, the position under his butt is not given by Italians, without France and Austria.
Nodding, how could he possibly become the Pope?
In other words, whether it is reciprocation or self-protection, if he wants to continue to be pope safely, Pius IX must respect the interests of France and Austria. Let him sing praises for the Italian unification movement, and he is not an old man eating arsenic.
Tired of it.
Anyway, the once moderate liberal pope immediately became conservative, pouring cold water on the Italian unification movement in various public occasions, and even openly criticizing it. This undoubtedly made those who longed for Italian unification quite unhappy.
For example, Mazzini, Garibaldi, and the benefactor behind them, Carlo Alberto. As the most powerful kingdom among the divided Italian states, the Kingdom of Sardinia does not have a very good relationship with Austria.
As a descendant of the Savoy royal family, he has not forgotten the scenes of being beaten in various ways by his previous pro-Austrian relatives.
Whether it was revenge or the realization of personal ambitions, the Italian unification movement was beneficial to Carlo Alberto. Therefore, Pius IX threw cold water on the Italian unification movement, which was to speak against him.
In Carlo Alberto's view, it is a very realistic option to deal with the Pope and the Papal States through a war. The reason is very simple, because in Italy, which is divided into eight countries, except for the Papal States and the Kingdom of Sardinia, the remaining six
, in fact, they are all closely related to France and Austria.
Among them, the Austrian Empire directly governs the Kingdom of Lombardy-Venecia, as well as the three principalities of Tuscany, Parma, Modena and Luca, which are indirectly controlled by the Austrian Empire, and finally the Spanish Bourbon system of the French Bourbon dynasty.
The Kingdom of the Two Sicilies under his descendants.
This also determines that if Carlo Alberto does not want to directly conflict with Austria, there are very few countries that he can choose to attack. The only ones to choose from are the Papal States and the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies.
Among them, the Kingdom of Two Sicilies cannot be touched. After all, it is a descendant of the Bourbon dynasty and is considered a French private territory in Italy. Moreover, the mother of the current King of the Kingdom of Two Sicilies, Fernando II, is an Austrian princess. It can be regarded as having both France and Austria.
Relationships are not something you can make casually.
To put it bluntly, Carlo Alberto had very little choice. He had no choice but the Papal State. First of all, the military force of the Papal State was very weak and easy to deal with. Secondly, the people of the Papal State had serious anti-Austrian sentiments and were easy to incite. Finally,
Winning the Papal States will also be more beneficial for him in the next stage of his actions!
Why?
The reason is simple. After defeating the Pope, under the threat of Carlo Alberto's bayonet, he will do whatever he wants Pius IX to say. At that time, all Italian Catholics, inspired by the Pope, will definitely stand with him.
Together, at that time he was not afraid even if there was a war with Austria.
At that time, he who has gathered all the strength of Italy will only need to defeat the decrepit Austria. Tuscany, Parma, Modena and Luga are all local chickens and dogs. Once his iron hoof comes, they will either bow to him or the people.
Spontaneously eating pots of pulp to welcome Master Wang.
By then, what resistance will be left in the whole of Italy? Maybe if he runs for another ten or eight years, Lombardy-Venecia and the Two Sicilies will not be a big problem.
As long as he gets rid of these two little followers of the Austrians and the French, will he still be far away from the position of King of Italy?
Therefore, Carlo Alberto has already prepared to target Pius IX. On the one hand, he is preparing to incite the people of the Papal State to strive for more "freedom". On the other hand, he is also actively preparing to send troops to intervene after Pius IX suppresses the people.
.
On the one hand, Carlo Alberto actively prepared for the war, and on the other hand, he also united with those who actively worked for the unification of Italy. For example, Mazzini and Garibaldi. With his acquiescence and fueling, these two people were fighting for Italy.
Only then could the Kingdom of Ding be able to conduct public activities and play a huge role in the future.
It's just that not everyone is optimistic about Carlo Alberto's ambitions. Cavour is more realistic and sober. Coming from a large aristocratic family, he understands better than Mazzini and Garibaldi how stubborn the old order in Europe is.
and powerful.
Neither Austria nor France will give up Italy's interests. And although the Papal State seems weak, it is not something that the Kingdom of Sardinia can easily manipulate.
"What if the Pope doesn't cooperate?" Cavour asked a very real question, "What will we do if the Pope categorically refuses to cooperate?"
Mazzini and Garibaldi were silent because they had hardly thought about this issue. They always believed that Pius IX, as a pure Italian and a moderate liberal, should be sympathetic to the Italian unification movement.
They believe that the Pope's previous opposition and cold water were just a forced statement under Austrian pressure, which was helpless. Therefore, as long as the Pope is "liberated" from the Austrian bayonet, the Pope will inevitably stand on Italy's side again.
Cavour sighed again and said helplessly: "Gentlemen, I have dealt with the Pope and I should know him well. With all due respect, he is more stubborn and determined than you think. He is not the kind of person who is easy to talk to.
People. You must consider what you are going to do if the Pope refuses to cooperate?!"