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Italia Und Germania 1 Italia und Germania The idea of the existence of a “shared fate” between the Italian and German processes of national unification in Italian public discourse (1848-1871) Stefano Lissi 2 Cover illustration: Friedrich Overbeck, Italia und Germania, 1828, Oil on canvas, 94.5 x 104.7 cm, Neue Pinakothek, Munich 3 ITALIA UND GERMANIA The idea of the existence of a “shared fate” between the Italian and German processes of national unification in Italian public discourse (1848-1871) Stefano Lissi Student number: 6531849 E-mails: [email protected] [email protected] Research Master History Thesis Utrecht University Supervisor: Prof. dr. Jacco Pekelder Date: 11/08/2020 Second Reader: Dr. mr. Frans Willem Lantink Word Count: 38.910 4 Abstract What does it take for two political entities to consider themselves allies? Usually two elements are required: shared interests and a shared enemy. Many among the ranks of the Italian national movement felt between 1848 and 1871 that the German and Italian national causes possessed both of them. It was believed that both nationalities aimed at the unification of their respective countries and were both being obstructed in this by the Habsburg Empire. Consequently, a “shared fate” was envisioned for the two nationalities: Germans and Italians were “natural allies” and were destined to forge their national unifications together by collaborating against the Habsburgs. Such an idea of a fundamental commonality of destinies between the two national causes experienced a widespread diffusion in the discourse of the Risorgimento, often also entering the political vocabulary of official relations between the two nationalities. Historiography has however until now often overlooked this idea, taking its existence mostly for granted and leaving the idea itself, its cultural origins, and its diffusion unproblematized. This thesis analyzes how such a concept, which could be considered as the product of early 19th century historicism and romantic nationalism, entered the political vocabulary of the Italian national movement and was used to foster political action. Using the history of ideas’ framework, along with a contextualist approach, this thesis not only sheds new light on an important episode of the history of relations between the Italian and German world, but also provides a powerful portrait of the element of transnationality of the Italian Risorgimento in the European scenario. 5 Contents Acknowledgements .............................................................................................................................. 6 Introduction .......................................................................................................................................... 7 Historiographical Debate ............................................................................................................... 10 Theoretical Framework and Methodology ..................................................................................... 13 Sources ............................................................................................................................................ 18 Chapter I: The Origins ....................................................................................................................... 21 Historical Teleology ....................................................................................................................... 21 Romantic Nationalism .................................................................................................................... 25 The Italian Scenario ....................................................................................................................... 28 Mazzini and the Collaboration of Nationalities ............................................................................. 31 Conclusion ...................................................................................................................................... 34 Chapter II: The Springtime of Peoples .............................................................................................. 37 Fraternity in the Year of Revolutions ............................................................................................. 37 Great Expectations ......................................................................................................................... 41 The Milanese Proclamation of Friendship ..................................................................................... 44 The Great Illusion ........................................................................................................................... 48 Conclusion ...................................................................................................................................... 51 Chapter IV: The Birth of Nations ...................................................................................................... 53 Piedmont and the Risorgimento ...................................................................................................... 53 Cavour’s Prussian Policy ............................................................................................................... 58 Prussia: a Germanic Piedmont? .................................................................................................... 63 The Italo-Prussian Alliance ............................................................................................................ 67 The Decline of the Idea of Shared Fate .......................................................................................... 72 Conclusion ...................................................................................................................................... 74 Conclusions ........................................................................................................................................ 76 Bibliography....................................................................................................................................... 81 Primary Sources: Published Source Collections ............................................................................ 81 Primary Sources: Newspaper Articles ............................................................................................ 82 Secondary Literature ...................................................................................................................... 83 Plagiarism Rules Awareness Statement ............................................................................................. 88 6 Acknowledgements Even if the front cover only portrays my name as author, countless other magnificent people contributed to the writing of this thesis, supporting me during the challenging times in which it was written. Firstly, I would like to express my truly heartfelt gratitude to my thesis supervisor, Jacco Pekelder, for the extraordinary guidance he offered me during the entire writing process. Even during the difficult times of the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown, Jacco always followed me with remarkable constancy and commitment, providing me with inspirational advice and motivation. He is truly a model of the researcher and academic I would love to become. A massive thank you goes also to all the friends and colleagues that offered me so much help and support during these times, encouraging me to give my absolute best. Most crucially, I would like to thank David, Diego, Michele, and Tom, for their inspiring feedback and suggestions, and, most importantly, for being amazing friends and always being there in time of need; Elia, my brother from another mother, for giving me unconditional support every day; Veronica, for the inspiration that I always get from our amazing conversations; Nikos, my Greek αδελφός. An immense thank you goes also to Anne, my girlfriend, for the special support she gave me during the entire writing process, and for her inspiring feedback. I could not have made it without her. Last but not least, my most important thank you goes to my family, which has been supporting me since the day I was born. This thesis is dedicated to them. 7 Introduction During a visit to the Neue Pinakothek in Munich, my attention was captured by one painting in particular. The painting, whose imposing, yet humble aura seemed to draw the eye of every single visitor in the room, depicted two young women dressed in pastel-colored robes holding each other’s hand: their calm facial expression conveyed a sense of shared empathy and understanding. The background appeared to present two landscapes from two different geographical locations. On the left, one could distinguish a small Romanic church typical of Northern Italy; on the right, a slim and pointy bell tower, typical of Germany, spired from a fortified city towards the blue sky. As the museum guide explained, the painting answered to the name of Italia und Germania, the two women being personifications of the two countries. It took Friedrich Overbeck seventeen years to complete the painting, from 1811 to 1828. The painting’s most striking feature, apart from its unquestionable beauty, was the fact that neither Germany nor Italy existed as nation-states at the time the painting was finished. Why did Overbeck pay homage to two countries that did not formally exist? Why did the painter pair Germany with Italy, among all possible options? The answer to both questions resided in the apparent “shared condition”
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