Italian nationalism
In 1344, the poet Francesco Petrarca wrote a famous patriotic song called Italia mia. He railed against the petty lords of Italy for yielding their country to German fury and called for peace and unification. This work marked one of the earliest expressions of Italian national sentiment among intellectual elites rather than the general populace. Around the same time, Cola di Rienzo attempted to unite all of Italy under Roman hegemony. He assumed the title Libertatis, Pacis Iustitiaeque Tribunus in 1347. Petrarch hailed him as the reincarnation of classical spirit in his own song Spirto gentil che quelle membra reggi.
Niccolò Machiavelli published The Prince in 1532 with an appeal to Italian patriotism urging citizens to seize Italy and free her from barbarians. Machiavelli quoted four verses from Petrarch's Italia mia looking forward to a political leader who would unite Italy. Pope Julius II made every effort between 1503 and 1513 to forge Italian alliances to drive French enemies out of the country. His rallying cry fuori i barbari summed up the feeling of many Italians though it may be apocryphal.
Girolamo Muzio published Discorso sopra il concilio in 1566 advocating for the first time the political unification of Italy. In 1559 the Peace of Cateau-Cambrésis ended Italian liberty and began a period of uncontested Spanish domination. Trajano Boccalini wrote anti-Spanish pamphlets such as Pietra del paragone politico after his death in 1615. Followers of Boccalini printed similar works like Esequie delle reputazione di Spagna in 1615 where the corpse of Spain's reputation was dissected by famous anatomists.
Giuseppe Mazzini became a nationalist in the 1820s and held objectives including liberation from Austrian occupation and princely despotism. He considered ancient Rome the temple of humanity and sought to establish a united Italy as a Third Rome emphasizing Roman spiritual values. Mazzini formed the revolutionary patriotic Young Italy society in 1832. Upon its breakup in the 1830s he reconstituted it in 1839 with intentions to gain support from workers' groups.
Vincenzo Gioberti published On the Civil and Moral Primacy of the Italians in 1843 advocating a federal state led by the Pope. Camillo Benso worked as editor for the nationalist newspaper Il Risorgimento during the 1840s. Economic nationalism influenced businessmen and government authorities to promote a united Italy before unification occurred. Tariff walls between Italian states and disorganized railway systems prevented economic development of the peninsula prior to revolutions of 1848.
The Italian National Society was created in 1857 by Daniele Manin and Giorgio Pallevicino following liberalization of press laws in Piedmont. This organization promoted nationalism among political moderates raising money holding public meetings and producing newspapers. By 1860 the National Society influenced dominant liberal circles winning middle class support for union of Piedmont and Lombardy. The Risorgimento served as an ideological movement inciting feelings of brotherhood calling for unification and pushing out foreign powers.
After unification completed in 1870 the Italian government faced domestic political paralysis resorting to colonial policy to divert attention from internal issues. Francesco Crispi served as prime minister with actions characterized by nationalism appearing as obsession for national unity and defense against hostile countries. Italy managed to colonize East African coast regions including Eritrea and Somalia but failed to conquer Ethiopia resulting in death of fifteen thousand Italians who were forced to retreat.
Italy waged war with Ottoman Empire from 1911 to 1912 gaining Libya and Dodecanese Islands from Turkey. These attempts to gain popular support failed causing rebellions and violent protests so intense that observers believed the young Kingdom would not survive. Tired of internal conflicts a movement of bourgeois intellectuals led by Gabriele d'Annunzio declared war on parliamentary system. Their position gained respect among Italians while d'Annunzio called upon youth to seek fulfillment in violent action ending politically maneuvering governments.
The Italian Nationalist Association founded in Florence in 1910 by Enrico Corradini emphasized martial heroism total sacrifice of individualism equality to nation discipline obedience grandeur power of ancient Rome need for people to live dangerously. Corradini's ANI extremist appeals received enthusiastic support from many Italians despite these efforts failing to secure lasting stability or public approval.
At outbreak of World War I in 1914 Italy maintained neutrality despite official alliance with Germany and Austria-Hungary since 1882. In 1915 Italy decided to enter war on British and French side against Austria-Hungary and Germany entering with promise of substantial territorial gains including west Inner Carniola former Austrian Littoral and Dalmatia parts of Ottoman Empire. The Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye signed in 1919 allowed annexation of Trentino Alto-Adige Julian March Istria Kvarner Gulf and Dalmatian city Zara.
Italian nationalists enraged by Allies denying right to annex Fiume claiming it violated self-determination principle disregarding mainly Slavic suburb Sušak. A larger part of Dalmatia had vast majority Slavic population and Italian minority claiming Italian annexation would violate Woodrow Wilson Fourteen Points. Gabriele d'Annunzio mobilized two thousand veterans seizing Fiume by force meeting international condemnation but supported by majority of Italians though his government forced from power eventually leading to Italian annexation years later.
Since Italy did not receive other territories promised by Treaty of London outcome denounced as mutilated victory by Benito Mussolini helping lead rise of Italian fascism. Historians regard mutilated victory as political myth used by fascists fueling Italian imperialism. Freemasonry served influential semi-secret force with strong presence among professionals middle class across Italy having twenty-five thousand members in five hundred or more lodges mobilizing press public opinion leading political parties supporting joining Allies.
Benito Mussolini seized power as Prime Minister of Italy in 1922 developing fascist totalitarian state involving appeal to nationalism seeking expansion via irredentist claims based on Roman Venetian empire legacies. In 1935 Mussolini invaded Ethiopia founding Italian East Africa resulting in international isolation leading withdrawal from League of Nations. Italy then allied with Nazi Germany Empire of Japan strongly supporting Francisco Franco Spanish Civil War annexing Albania in 1939.
Mussolini's foreign policy contained three major themes continuing preceding Liberal regime objectives profound disillusionment after heavy First World War losses small territorial gains insufficient compensation promise restoring pride glory Roman Empire. Ever since badly defeated in Ethiopia 1896 strong demand existed seizing that country again. To east Fascists claimed Dalmatia land of Italian culture claiming Malta belonging United Kingdom Corfu belonging Greece Italian Switzerland north Corsica Nice Savoy west belonging France.
In 1940 Mussolini entered Second World War side Hitler's Germany but September 1943 Italy forced surrender Allies. After fall Fascism birth Republic interest nationalism scholars politicians masses relatively low mainly close relation Fascism consequently bad memories World War II. Only notable active political party clearly declared Italian nationalism main ideology neo-fascist Italian Social Movement becoming fourth largest party early 1960s.
After Treaty of Paris signed 1947 and Treaty of Osimo 1975 all territorial claims abandoned by Italian Republic making irredentist movement vanish from politics. In 1953 Question Trieste claim full control city largely endorsed most Italian society patriotic demonstrations revitalized nationalism among Italians. In 1995 MSI developed Alleanza Nazionale part Berlusconi governments Italy party included House Freedoms coalition governments led Silvio Berlusconi Gianfranco Fini nominated Deputy Prime Minister after 2001 general election.
Regional identities challenged unified Italian identity like Friuli-Venezia Giulia Naples Sardinia Sicily Veneto evoking strong opposition after Piedmontese-led unification plans Piedmontization Italy. Italian identity strained ever growing north-south divide partly economic differences highly industrialized North highly agricultural South. Nationalist ideologies often present during anti-globalization protests today still supported right-wing parties Brothers of Italy minor far-right The Right CasaPound Forza Nuova Tricolour Flame.
President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi praised patriotism mentioning national events Risorgimento Resistenza symbols Flag Anthem though wanting stress self-confidence plain nationalism. Liberal parties Forza Italia centrist Union Centre centre-left Democratic Party occasionally embraced form banal nationalism despite facing great deal opposition within Italy itself.
Brothers of Italy operates as current major party since 2012 alongside Lega starting 2017. Current minor parties include Fascism Freedom Movement active 1991-present Tricolour Flame 1995-present Unitalia 1996-present National Front 1997-present New Force 1997-present New Italian Social Movement 2000-present CasaPound 2003-present Social Idea Movement 2004-present Social Right 2013-present United Right 2014-present.
Former organizations listed include Action Party 1848-1867 Italian Nationalist Association 1910-1923 Fascio Rivoluzionario d'Azione Internazionalista 1914 Fasci d'Azione Rivoluzionaria 1915-1919 Futurist Political Party 1918-1920 Fasci Italiani di Combattimento 1919-1921 National Fascist Party 1921-1943 Republican Fascist Party 1943-1945 Democratic Fascist Party 1945-1946 Italian Movement of Social Unity 1946 Italian Social Movement 1946-1995 Alleanza Nazionale 1995-2009 National Front 1967-1970 and 1990-2000 The Right 2007-2017 National Movement for Sovereignty 2017-2019.
Today Italian nationalism remains mainly supported right-wing political parties Brothers of Italy minor far-right groups The Right CasaPound Forza Nuova Tricolour Flame. Nonetheless recent times Italian nationalism occasionally embraced form banal nationalism liberal parties Forza Italia centrist Union Centre centre-left Democratic Party. Regionalism municipal identities continue challenge concept unified Italian identity like Friuli-Venezia Giulia Naples Sardinia Sicily Veneto.
Common questions
When did Francesco Petrarca write the patriotic song Italia mia?
Francesco Petrarca wrote the famous patriotic song called Italia mia in 1344. This work marked one of the earliest expressions of Italian national sentiment among intellectual elites rather than the general populace.
What year did Giuseppe Mazzini form the Young Italy society?
Giuseppe Mazzini formed the revolutionary patriotic Young Italy society in 1832. He reconstituted it in 1839 after its breakup with intentions to gain support from workers' groups.
Which territories did Italy annex following World War I under the Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye signed in 1919?
The Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye signed on the 10th of September 1919 allowed annexation of Trentino Alto-Adige Julian March Istria Kvarner Gulf and Dalmatian city Zara. These territorial gains were part of the agreement ending hostilities between Italy and Austria-Hungary.
Who founded the Italian Nationalist Association in Florence in 1910?
Enrico Corradini founded the Italian Nationalist Association in Florence in 1910. The organization emphasized martial heroism total sacrifice of individualism equality to nation discipline obedience grandeur power of ancient Rome need for people to live dangerously.
When did Benito Mussolini seize power as Prime Minister of Italy?
Benito Mussolini seized power as Prime Minister of Italy in 1922 developing fascist totalitarian state involving appeal to nationalism seeking expansion via irredentist claims based on Roman Venetian empire legacies.
What year was the Treaty of Paris signed regarding Italian territorial claims?
The Treaty of Paris was signed in 1947 which led to all territorial claims being abandoned by Italian Republic making irredentist movement vanish from politics. This treaty followed World War II and preceded the signing of the Treaty of Osimo in 1975.