Primavera d'Italia: War, Love and Revolution

[Neoteros]

It'd be interesting to see who is it that joined the revolution in Dalmatia and Istria - the coastal cities are a given, but what about the largely Croat/Slovene interior? Even though they didn't exactly like Vienna, and even though some of them might very well had fond memories of Venice (especially the so-called Morlachs), the risk is that for most of them, the new boss might end up becoming just like the old one.

 

[LordKalvan]

For the time being, the insurrection is in Dalmatia, which is also where the Sardinian, Papal and Venetian forces are going.
Since we are in 1848, a Croat identity in Dalmatia is quite doubtful, for a number of reasons:

• Croats and Italians (I should say better Venetian-speaking Dalmats) are both catholic, have been intermarrying for centuries and most of them are bilingual. How do you differentiate between them?
• The (few) newspapers and gazettes which are published in Dalmatia are in Italian. The schools are in Italian, in particular the gymnasium and the lycee (I am quite sure that there are a few parish schools in Croat, but mostly in the interior)
• Even those who speak Croat at home are peppering them with a very high number of Italian/Venetian words
• There is a reason why the official language of the Austrian navy is Venetian: there are some German-speaking officers at the top of the greased pole, but the majority of the officers and the crews are Italian/Venetian speaking (the father of the Fratelli Bandiera was anadmiral in the Austrian navy)

The Croatization of Dalmatia started later on in the century, in the 1860s, with incentivation of Croatian immigration from Zagreb and surrounding area, but also with making sure that bishops were German-speakers, and parish priests mostly Croatian (the census was based on parish registers, and there was a growing pressure to write down surnames in the Croat form).
Now, if the reborn republic of St. Mark deals with Dalmatia on a colonial basis (importing from the mainland officials, forcing Croat speakers to learn Italian and so on) it might raise resentment, but why they should do it? The "federalist" approach is going to prevail in the republic mark 2, quite a number of Venetian patricians have blood ties in Dalmatia, the Proveditor di Dalmazia who is despatched to Zara is Tommaseo, born in Sebenico, and also the acting commodore in charge of the brigs sent to Zara is from a patrician family with roots in Dalmatia.
The farmers and shepherds in the interior of Dalmatia are mostly Croats, with a large minority of Serbs, most of them coming from Ottoman Bosnia.
I do not see a resistance coming from there, not when there is the religion barrier and also some linguistic barriers.

Incidentally, the Croats from the Military Frontier never agitated to recreate a kingdom of Croatia, they just wanted not to be under the Hungarian heel, and were looking at the emperor in Vienna as their protector and defender. Over the 1848-49, the war in Hungary and Croatia (Military Frontier and Banat) quite often became an ethnic strife: there were Croat and Serb villages (usually cultivating the land allotted to them under military tenure in common, and providing regiments to the empire, in lieu of taxes and rents, Magyar villages and towns, even Rumanian villages in the Banat, and atrocities started to mount up pretty fast.

Istria is pretty similar on the coast, but the interior was not Venetian: most of the time it was under the Counts of Gorizia, and therefore with more German presence.

 

[Neoteros]

For the time being, the insurrection is in Dalmatia, which is also where the Sardinian, Papal and Venetian forces are going.
Since we are in 1848, a Croat identity in Dalmatia is quite doubtful, for a number of reasons:

• Croats and Italians (I should say better Venetian-speaking Dalmats) are both catholic, have been intermarrying for centuries and most of them are bilingual. How do you differentiate between them?
• The (few) newspapers and gazettes which are published in Dalmatia are in Italian. The schools are in Italian, in particular the gymnasium and the lycee (I am quite sure that there are a few parish schools in Croat, but mostly in the interior)
• Even those who speak Croat at home are peppering them with a very high number of Italian/Venetian words
• There is a reason why the official language of the Austrian navy is Venetian: there are some German-speaking officers at the top of the greased pole, but the majority of the officers and the crews are Italian/Venetian speaking (the father of the Fratelli Bandiera was anadmiral in the Austrian navy)

The Croatization of Dalmatia started later on in the century, in the 1860s, with incentivation of Croatian immigration from Zagreb and surrounding area, but also with making sure that bishops were German-speakers, and parish priests mostly Croatian (the census was based on parish registers, and there was a growing pressure to write down surnames in the Croat form).
Now, if the reborn republic of St. Mark deals with Dalmatia on a colonial basis (importing from the mainland officials, forcing Croat speakers to learn Italian and so on) it might raise resentment, but why they should do it? The "federalist" approach is going to prevail in the republic mark 2, quite a number of Venetian patricians have blood ties in Dalmatia, the Proveditor di Dalmazia who is despatched to Zara is Tommaseo, born in Sebenico, and also the acting commodore in charge of the brigs sent to Zara is from a patrician family with roots in Dalmatia.
The farmers and shepherds in the interior of Dalmatia are mostly Croats, with a large minority of Serbs, most of them coming from Ottoman Bosnia.
I do not see a resistance coming from there, not when there is the religion barrier and also some linguistic barriers.

Incidentally, the Croats from the Military Frontier never agitated to recreate a kingdom of Croatia, they just wanted not to be under the Hungarian heel, and were looking at the emperor in Vienna as their protector and defender. Over the 1848-49, the war in Hungary and Croatia (Military Frontier and Banat) quite often became an ethnic strife: there were Croat and Serb villages (usually cultivating the land allotted to them under military tenure in common, and providing regiments to the empire, in lieu of taxes and rents, Magyar villages and towns, even Rumanian villages in the Banat, and atrocities started to mount up pretty fast.

Istria is pretty similar on the coast, but the interior was not Venetian: most of the time it was under the Counts of Gorizia, and therefore with more German presence.

Guess inland Dalmatia and Istria will become more or less like an Aosta Valley on steroids, then - quite distinct (and proudly so) but satisfied with the status quo nonetheless. That said, the Aosta Valley itself won't be alone here, since Nice and Savoy, AFAIK, are still attached to Piedmont. By the way, where did you find that bit about Victor Emmanuel II trying to bargain a formal Papal recognition of Italy through a crusade? It's so batshit insane as a proposal it could be its own timeline, but I can't find anything about it on Google.

 

[Tarabas]

Guess inland Dalmatia and Istria will become more or less like an Aosta Valley on steroids, then - quite distinct (and proudly so) but satisfied with the status quo nonetheless. That said, the Aosta Valley itself won't be alone here, since Nice and Savoy, AFAIK, are still attached to Piedmont. By the way, where did you find that bit about Victor Emmanuel II trying to bargain a formal Papal recognition of Italy through a crusade? It's so batshit insane as a proposal it could be its own timeline, but I can't find anything about it on Google.

That might well be the case, and will largely depend on the future structure that the Italian states will take. I would also mention that, from an analysis of the articles published OTL in Dalmatia in 1848 (I have found studies regarding "La Gazzetta di Zara" "La Dalmazia Costituzionale", both from Zara, "Le rimembranze della settimana" and "L'Avvenire", in Ragusa) it would seem that the local identity (zaratean, fiuman, ragusean) was the prevailing one (although I have not had the time to look deeper into the matter). I need to study further, but from what I gather, it can be inferred that at a first stage the preferred option was the formation of a Constitutional Kingdom of Dalmatia within the Empire (akin to the first stages of 1848 in Venice). Now, OTL the situation is wildly different, and as @LordKalvan pointed out, this Republic of Saint Mark is going to be wildly different from the old one, born on different premises. Even the cities in Veneto and Friuli joined of their own will.

As for "VEII's crusade", the only mention I found is in this article

Savoia corsari e re del Madagascar: dieci scoop dagli archivi di Torino e di Cagliari

In un libro di Luigi Grassia avventure coloniali, principini scambiati in culla, omicidi col veleno e roghi di streghe: storie vere ma misconosciute, con la di…

www.lastampa.it

so I guess one should look into this book to find out. Note that this articles does not mention the reasons why VE was planning this; it was just an educated guess of mine the part of bargaining Papal recognition, but it seemed something our dear VE would have thought. I guess that there came a point in his life where he could not believe anymore that "with all the Saints in my family, my Eternal Salvation is granted" could still hold.

 

[LordKalvan]

That might well be the case, and will largely depend on the future structure that the Italian states will take. I would also mention that, from an analysis of the articles published OTL in Dalmatia in 1848 (I have found studies regarding "La Gazzetta di Zara" "La Dalmazia Costituzionale", both from Zara, "Le rimembranze della settimana" and "L'Avvenire", in Ragusa) it would seem that the local identity (zaratean, fiuman, ragusean) was the prevailing one (although I have not had the time to look deeper into the matter). I need to study further, but from what I gather, it can be inferred that at a first stage the preferred option was the formation of a Constitutional Kingdom of Dalmatia within the Empire (akin to the first stages of 1848 in Venice). Now, OTL the situation is wildly different, and as @LordKalvan pointed out, this Republic of Saint Mark is going to be wildly different from the old one, born on different premises. Even the cities in Veneto and Friuli joined of their own will

Very true: the newly born Republic of St. Mark will be built on a different foundation. Even more significantly, Niccolo' Tommaseo will shape the new Dalmatian provinces, in his role as Proveditor di Dalmazia, and Tommaseo (born in Sebenico and with deep roots in Dalmatia) was an outspoken supporter of a "Dalmatian identity": a fusion between the Latin and the Slavic worlds, as well as a bridge between them. Which means no forced assimilation, because no assimilation is really needed.
Anyway, the most important thing to remember is that these events happen in 1848, not in 1918 as IOTL, and therefore the relations between Italians and Croats have not been poisoned by 70 years of Austrian policies aimed to build a wedge between "faithful Croats" and "politically unreliable Italians" (and the memory of the Serenissima is still well alive, just 50 years after its demise).
The last flag of the Winged Lion was lowered in the town of Perasto (in the bay of Cattaro, part of what was known as "Albania Veneziana") on 23 August 1797, and reverently placed under the altar of the town cathedral. The last Venetian military commander, count Giuseppe Viscovich, gave a moving speech on the occasion, recalling the long time under the protection of Saint Mark, the past glories and swearing never to forget: "Nu con ti, ti con nu" [We with you and you with us"]. The speech, known as "Discorso de Perasto" can be found here: Discorso de Perasto - Wikisource (unfortunately it is in Venetian dialect, but should be easy to understand for Italian-speakers).

Guess what? The flag will be removed from its hiding place and hoisted again in Perasto

 

[Neoteros]

Very true: the newly born Republic of St. Mark will be built on a different foundation. Even more significantly, Niccolo' Tommaseo will shape the new Dalmatian provinces, in his role as Proveditor di Dalmazia, and Tommaseo (born in Sebenico and with deep roots in Dalmatia) was an outspoken supporter of a "Dalmatian identity": a fusion between the Latin and the Slavic worlds, as well as a bridge between them. Which means no forced assimilation, because no assimilation is really needed.
Anyway, the most important thing to remember is that these events happen in 1848, not in 1918 as IOTL, and therefore the relations between Italians and Croats have not been poisoned by 70 years of Austrian policies aimed to build a wedge between "faithful Croats" and "politically unreliable Italians" (and the memory of the Serenissima is still well alive, just 50 years after its demise).
The last flag of the Winged Lion was lowered in the town of Perasto (in the bay of Cattaro, part of what was known as "Albania Veneziana") on 23 August 1797, and reverently placed under the altar of the town cathedral. The last Venetian military commander, count Giuseppe Viscovich, gave a moving speech on the occasion, recalling the long time under the protection of Saint Mark, the past glories and swearing never to forget: "Nu con ti, ti con nu" [We with you and you with us"]. The speech, known as "Discorso de Perasto" can be found here: Discorso de Perasto - Wikisource (unfortunately it is in Venetian dialect, but should be easy to understand for Italian-speakers).

Guess what? The flag will be removed from its hiding place and hoisted again in Perasto

AFAIK, Viscovich originally made that speech in Croatian (his mother tongue) and then either repeated it (or wrote it down) in Venetian.

If, on one hand, Venice's modus operandi was not so different from that of today's multinational corporations - indeed, it was a merchant fleet with a state in the same way Prussia was an army with a state - on the other hand, that's exactly why it could earn the loyalty of every people it came to govern, provided they weren't too far from the coast - unlike, ironically, most of Veneto itself: if you're looking to do business on a vast scale, you can't exactly be picky about who to do business with.

And since, due to Ferdinand's Paradox video game-worthy galaxy brain, Venice and Veneto will be under different management, the proto-libertarian character of the Adriatic coast might very well be reborn, cut off from the conservative bent of mainland Veneto. And, speaking of libertarianism, but the left wing kind of it, Italy's stereotypically left leaning areas might get scrambled a bit, too - a more industrialized south could become a breeding ground for anarchist and socialist movements, for example: many radical thinkers, from Pisacane to Gramsci, had their roots there, and the peasant struggle against the landowning class even gave birth to some proto-liberation theology ideas (the Fasci Siciliani, for example), but in the end the average southerner remained under the spell of the most reactionary corners of the Church.

 

[Tarabas]

Isola della Scala - 3 April 1848, Mid Morning

The General Staff meeting had been introduced by Ferdinando at the beginning of the mobilization: after a couple of months it was still much of a work in progress. There were more a dozen people around the big table in the ballroom of Villa Pindemonte, and Ferdinando looked at them one by one: Henri d'Orleans, Gen. Bava, Major Carlo Griffino of the Bersaglieri (1), Major Luciano Manara (2) of the Lombard Volunteers, colonel Giuseppe Montanelli (3) of the Tuscan Student Volunteers (still with his left arm in a sling after being wounded in Trentino), general Carlo of Bourbon-Parma (a late addition decided by Ferdinando not without some doubts), Frigate Captain Emilio Graziani (4) of the Republic of St. Mark, Captain Augusto di Cavour (promoted again, and aide-de-camp to the Prince), a handful of majors and captains recently added to the General Staff and to the Quartermaster Staff and...
"Welcome to Villa Pindemonte, gen. Menabrea (5)" The Prince smiled warmly at his old teacher and friend "I am quite happy to see you here, you're just the man I need. I will need to speak to you later about the political situation in the Cispadanian Duchies, but let me also tell you that you are hereby appointed Quartermaster General: I need a reliable man in charge of supply and logistics issues: the next phase of the war is going to put even more pressure on us, since it will be fought in Eastern Friuli and Dalmatia".
A hubbub of surprised comments around the table: Friuli was not a surprise, the advance guard of De Sonnaz's Corps had almost reached Udine, but Dalmatia was quite a surprise.
"We will deal with Friuli and Dalmatia later on, though. As of now, I would ask you to put me abreast of the situation in Veneto and Trentino".
Henri nodded to gen. Bava, who stood and used a wooden pointer to indicate on a large map spread on the table:
"The main concentration of Austrian troops, around 10-12,000 strong, is holed up in Verona. They have been very quiet for the duration, and never tried to sortie from the city, not even when we called for the surrender of Peschiera, which yielded two days ago.
It was a wise decision for them, since they couldn't hope to prevail, given our concentration of troops at the Ponte di Zevio on the south of Verona and at Valeggio, between Peschiera and Verona on the north. We are currently negotiating the surrender of Legnago and Mantua, the two southernmost fortresses of the Quadrilateral. Legnago could have been stormed easily, an old fortress which couldn't put up a serious resistance. Mantua is much stronger, but the Austrian garrison is less than 5,000 men, and couldn't held the perimeter of the fortress. I anticipate that both fortresses will surrender within a few days. At this stage, we control both the crossing of the Po near Mantua and the road to the Brenner pass, along the western shore of lake Garda. Our troops have entered Trentino, under gen. Alfonso Lamarmora, and have advanced without encountering serious resistance up to Trento, which is in our hands. Unfortunately, a further advance northward was stopped north of Salorno, some 30 km short of Bolzano, where our advance guard was ambushed by Austrian Jaegers shooting from the woods and a couple of batteries on the slopes of Monte Corno. I have to commend the behavior of the Student Volunteer Regiment, which charged with bayonets the Jaegers in the wood, and allowed the advance guard to retreat to Salorno. Colonel Montanelli here " a respectful nod in his direction " was wounded leading the countercharge".
"That was very well done, colonel Montanelli. I spoke with some of your students in Zevio just yesterday, and they impressed me with their courage as well as with their respect for you".​

"I thank Your Highness on behalf of my volunteers".

Gen. Bava took up again the narrative: "Gen. Lamarmora is confident that he can force the narrows north of Salorno, but he will need more men and guns".
"Tell him to stop, and fortify the position at Salorno. I am not sending more men into that meat grinder, the more so since I am sure that the Austrians will have fortified their positions by now. It would have been nice to push up to the Brenner pass, but there's not any real strategic gain to be achieved. We control the road to the Brenner, no Austrian army can march down to relieve the garrison in Verona, and this is what it matters. It would have also been nice if Gen. Lamarmora had deployed scouts in advance, to avoid being mousetrapped, but that's spilt milk."
"I will convey the message and your orders, Your Highness. Now, looking at the east, we are controlling all significant bridges and crossings on the Adige and the Piave rivers. The population is friendly, and we have liaised with the provisional governments of Treviso and Belluno: the supply situation is a bit tight, but manageable. Our advance guard has crossed the Tagliamento, securing the bridges, and is expected to be in Udine and Palmanova day after tomorrow.​

The reinforcements ordered by Your Highness have started the march 2 days ago, and should start the crossing of the Adige right now.
No organized Austrian troops appear to be present west of Isonzo, but general Nugent is reported to be in Gorizia with 12-15,000 men".

"Very well." The prince started speaking again " The information I gathered in Venice matches pretty well with your report. The fortress of Palmanova is held by insurgents, and it is important that our troops are ready to support them if necessary. Udine has declared its willingness to rejoin the Republic of Saint Mark, and the same has been done by the other cities of Veneto and Friuli. General Durando has crossed into Veneto, and is marching towards Friuli with 6,000 regulars and 4,000 volunteers: I met him in Venice, and we are in agreement on the strategy to be implemented. General d'Orleans, you will be in command of the eastern front. Secure bridgeheads across the Isonzo if possible, but refrain from attacking entrenched enemy positions. You will have numerical superiority, so you'll be able to feint and threaten to encircle them. I spoke early of logistics: they will come by sea, which means that you'll need to secure a good harbor. Monfalcone should do the trick, given the sea superiority that the Serenissima is enjoying, and the fact that Nugent cannot cover it without leaving his secure hole in Gorizia. If the situation is well in hands, you are authorized to send probing forces towards Trieste and Istria, the Venetian navy will support amphibious operations. Don't forget, however, that your main objective is to keep general Nugent bottled in Gorizia, and to defeat him if he tries to leave the city. Liaise with Gen. Durando when he arrives: he was a Sardinian officer until a few years ago, there will be no difficulty. Liaise also with the irregulars in Cadore as well as in Udine: they can protect the mountainside, provide you with guides, conduct raids in Austrian territory. General di Borbone, you'll be under the command of general d'Orleans. Your lancers will be very useful for scouting and raiding, but no cavalry charges unless d'Orleans orders it.

Last war theatre: Dalmatia. After the successful mutiny in Pola, a squadron of brigs was sent to Zara, to assess the situation in Dalmatia: they took the harbor by stealth, neutralized the harbor batteries and secured the other ships there. The day after they supported the insurgents in the city, and now Zara is free. The same brigs raised the flag of insurrection all along the coast: Sebenico, Spalato, Trau, Ragusa, Pregasto have been freed, with little or no resistance from the small Austrian garrisons. The Serenissima and the kingdom of Sardinia have joined forces to secure the freedom of Dalmatia, and general Durando has agreed to join this fight, sending a mixed force of regulars and volunteers to Zara under general Ferrari (6). Venetian ships are transporting them across the Adriatic. General Alessandro Lamarmora and two regiments of Bersaglieri have also departed for Zara. Gen. Lamarmora will command this theatre, and will operate in accordance with the political instructions of Signor Tommaseo, Provveditore per la Dalmazia. Some 7,000 volunteers from the papal States have remained in Ferrara, as a strategic reserve: they may be shipped to Friuli or to Dalmatia, or to... Never mind, to Friuli or Dalmatia, as I said, depending on how the events unfold.​

We are coming close to achieving a victory that no one could anticipate or even hope: I have the utmost confidence in you all

Footnotes:

1. Captain Griffino fought with distinction at Goito IOTL; he does the same ITTL, and is promoted to Major
2. Major Luciano Manara, Milanese patriot and insurgent. OTL he died in 1849, gallantly fighting in the defense of the Roman Republic against the French troops of gen. Oudinot. ITTL his future may be more rewarding
3. Giuseppe Montanelli, university professor and moderate democrat, commanding the Student Volunteers regiment. IOTL he was wounded at the battle of Curtatone and Montanara, where the Volunteers stopped Radetzki's attempt to relieve the garrison of Peschiera. ITTL he's still wounded, but in Trentino
4. Emilio Graziani, fictional brother of captain Leone Graziani, who is in the provisional government of the Republic of Saint Mark
5. Luigi Federico Menabrea, Commander of the Military Academy in Turin. Well known artillerist and sapper. He's back from a tour of the duchies of Parma and Modena
6. General Andrea Ferrari, an old war horse who started his career in the Napoleonic war, and subsequently fought all over Europe and North Africa with distinction. He's in charge of the volunteers, since he's a fervent democrat

Made in @LordKalvan​

 

[Tarabas]

AFAIK, Viscovich originally made that speech in Croatian (his mother tongue) and then either repeated it (or wrote it down) in Venetian.

If, on one hand, Venice's modus operandi was not so different from that of today's multinational corporations - indeed, it was a merchant fleet with a state in the same way Prussia was an army with a state - on the other hand, that's exactly why it could earn the loyalty of every people it came to govern, provided they weren't too far from the coast - unlike, ironically, most of Veneto itself: if you're looking to do business on a vast scale, you can't exactly be picky about who to do business with.

And since, due to Ferdinand's Paradox video game-worthy galaxy brain, Venice and Veneto will be under different management, the proto-libertarian character of the Adriatic coast might very well be reborn, cut off from the conservative bent of mainland Veneto. And, speaking of libertarianism, but the left wing kind of it, Italy's stereotypically left leaning areas might get scrambled a bit, too - a more industrialized south could become a breeding ground for anarchist and socialist movements, for example: many radical thinkers, from Pisacane to Gramsci, had their roots there, and the peasant struggle against the landowning class even gave birth to some proto-liberation theology ideas (the Fasci Siciliani, for example), but in the end the average southerner remained under the spell of the most reactionary corners of the Church.

Good point on the "scrambling". As for the socio-political development of Italy and its parts, let me just say that we have some surprise tricks upon our sleeves, isn't that so, @LordKalvan ?

 

[ArmageddonZ4747]

...I wonder what will happen with Venezia Giulia and Fiume, by this point. It seems that they're pretty much off the cards at the moment

 

[LordKalvan]

AFAIK, Viscovich originally made that speech in Croatian (his mother tongue) and then either repeated it (or wrote it down) in Venetian.

If, on one hand, Venice's modus operandi was not so different from that of today's multinational corporations - indeed, it was a merchant fleet with a state in the same way Prussia was an army with a state - on the other hand, that's exactly why it could earn the loyalty of every people it came to govern, provided they weren't too far from the coast - unlike, ironically, most of Veneto itself: if you're looking to do business on a vast scale, you can't exactly be picky about who to do business with.

And since, due to Ferdinand's Paradox video game-worthy galaxy brain, Venice and Veneto will be under different management, the proto-libertarian character of the Adriatic coast might very well be reborn, cut off from the conservative bent of mainland Veneto. And, speaking of libertarianism, but the left wing kind of it, Italy's stereotypically left leaning areas might get scrambled a bit, too - a more industrialized south could become a breeding ground for anarchist and socialist movements, for example: many radical thinkers, from Pisacane to Gramsci, had their roots there, and the peasant struggle against the landowning class even gave birth to some proto-liberation theology ideas (the Fasci Siciliani, for example), but in the end the average southerner remained under the spell of the most reactionary corners of the Church.

I can certainly believe that Viscovich spoke his piece in both Venetian and Croat (and that he wrote it down in Venetian, because written Croat was quite rare), but that's not the point. The title of Viscovich was "count", which means he was not just the military commander of Pregasto but also the civilian magistrate for the town (the titles for civilian magistrates were different, depending on the way a certain town had been annexed to the republic: from the title of Viscovich, Pregasto was a fief). His speech is without possibility of doubt a confirmation of his allegiance to the republic, even if it was already dead, and this is also stressed by preserving the Lion flag under the altar of the cathedral.

Interesting take on Venice. I do not agree completely with your approach, and anyway the modus operandi of Venice changed, usually very slowly but also with some more evident upheaval, over the centuries. It would be a pleasure to discuss this topic with you, but it would derail the thread in a major way. Maybe it's a discussion for another day.
However, since you're well read in the history of Venice, I have recently found a link to the essays submitted for a Conference held in Venice and Verona in 2011: "Le Armi di San Marco" [The Weapons of Saint Mark]. It makes a fascinating reading, even if it is pretty long (300 pages)
Le Armi di San Marco - Società Italiana di Storia Militare (doczz.it)

Venice in 1848 was not the Venice of the past: it was feeling the winds of change, and the economic tide had turned from a mercantilist approach to the opportunities offered by the scientific progress: raiways, steamships, mechanical looms, the list would be going on and on. In Venice there was a sharp divide between the traditional patriciate still relying on agricultural rents and the "new men", bankers, merchants, proto-industrialists, which were chomping at the bite. Even Manin, a lawyer, was interested in scientific progress and investments (he was mostly interested in the railway project to link Venice and Milan, for example, which he also represented as a lawyer when there was a ferocious discussion between the supporters of the quicker link to Milan, through Treviglio, and the more traditionalist investors who argued for going through Bergamo. It's very likely it gave him the opportunity to meet Carlo Cattaneo, who was among the Milanese investors and a supporter of the Treviglio option).
The point I am aiming to make is that the winds of change blow in Veneto too, in particular in Vicenza where proto-industry is more advanced.

As far as the southern regions of Italy, it is undeniable that the peasants have not a political ideology for sure: they know that they suffer at the hands of the great and absent land owners, but don't have a road map to a better life other than raising up in jacqueries (and usually venting their rage on the "liberals"). IOTL, after the unification, the land owners of the south joined forces with their counterparts in the north and with the reactionary exponents of the Piedmontese aristocracy (the infamous Camarilla), and the result was what Tommasi di Lampedusa called "to change everything in order to change nothing". Maybe ITTL the immediate changes will be less evident, but more significant. One may hope, at least.

 

[LordKalvan]

...I wonder what will happen with Venezia Giulia and Fiume, by this point. It seems that they're pretty much off the cards at the moment

There is an obvious problem with Trieste and Fiume: their economic hinterland is not Italy, but rather Austria and Slovenia for the former and Hungary and Croatia for the latter (the same problem does not apply to Dalmatia). However I can assure you that @Tarabas and I are diligently working to find a solution to an unsolvable problem

Good point on the "scrambling". As for the socio-political development of Italy and its parts, let me just say that we have some surprise tricks upon our sleeves, isn't that so, @LordKalvan ?

Where there is a will, there is a way

 

[Tarabas]

Isola della Scala, April 3rd, 1848-Lunch time

At noon, the morning was evolving into a gorgeous afternoon. Still, Ferdinand forced himself not notice the luxuries of this beautiful spring day; he simply had no time for this. Still, he was a member of House Savoy, and could not avoid a certain degree of formality.
"I am sorry we could not speak earlier, my dearest sister. It's just..."
"There is no need to apologize, brother. As Lieutenant of the Realm and Commander in Chief, you have many important things to worry about."
"Which does not mean I have the right to make a Queen wait for me..." To this, Maria Cristina blushed prettily, while Henri gave a nervous laugh, but then their eyes met, and, somehow, the room turned brighter. Ferdinand could not help but noticing this, and thought briefly of his Maria Adelaide, and the... calmer, steadier love they shared. But those were thoughts for after the war.
"So, let me guess... Father gave his blessing to your accession to the Sicilian Throne?"
"Yes, he did. He looked confused, spoke at length of a dream he had. He said he was seeing a crown on my head, and for a brief moment he looked more resolute, calmer, even younger. But then..." Maria Cristina suddenly looked worried, and Henri took her hand gently.
"He seemed to falter", Henri continued for her. "I solemnly swore to him that I will always protect my wife-and my Queen and her throne."
Ferdinand nodded gravely.
"I am sure you will, Henri: no queen could ask for a truer Champion. But before anything else, I have to ask, Maria Cristina... Do you really want the crown?"
"I... have never thought of myself as a Queen before, I have to be honest. Most of times, especially before meeting Henri, I hardly felt a Princess. And yet somehow the people of Sicily, who do not know me, asked me to become their rightful ruler, and..." she paused. She squeezed Henri's hand looked at her husband, and continued, fierce emerging in her eyes.
"... I want to heed this call. I might not be a hero of the battlefield as you, brother, or as my beloved Henri, but I want to make a difference, and I understand that any ruler owes a duty to her people. So yes, I want to become Queen of Sicily, and lead my new people towards a better future. I want to be in Palermo as soon as possible"
Ferdinand contemplated for a moment the woman before him. Maria Cristina had never looked so vibrant, so beautiful, so alive.
"Very well, then. You have my wholehearted support. But... we will need to secure your position, sister. Ferdinando di Borbone will not take this lightly, and will react. The British are sympathetic but will not help us directly. In short..."
"...we have a war to win before going to Palermo." Henri finished the sentence for him. Ferdinand nodded.
"And what should I do while you two win the war?" For a second, Ferdinand pictured her as a modern Joanne d'Arc, tricolor in hand, guiding a charge in the battlefield. Henri lowered his eyes for a second.
"Meet with the Sicilian envoys regularly. Listen to the problems of your people, get to know them, make plans. Build consent. In short, sis... Do your queenly homework."​

An argentine burst of laughter from Maria Cristina.

"This is what I love about you, Ferdi: you never change. Lieutenant of the Realm, Commander in Chief, the Prince of the Italians, the Hero of Goito, and what is your advice to a future Queen? "Do your homework". Henri, my love, how can this possibly work on the battlefield?" "Bersaglieri, do your math against the Austrians", she mused, in a pretty decent imitation of Ferdinand. "That's artillery in a nutshell. My studies are applicable to other parts of the military equation too", Ferdinand thought.
"Je ne sais même pas, mon amour." Henri answered. He then looked intensely at Ferdinand.​

"But I have seen it works bloody well", he added.

"I have ordered a light lunch to be served. Join me and my best advisor, the count of Cavour, and we can talk a little more. Talk to him, Maria Cristina, it will be worth your while: Camillo will introduce you to the murky waters of politics, teach you how to keep always your counsel until the right moment comes, introduce to you people from other Italian states. Some of them are high in the councils of their monarchs, others are little better than revolutionaries, but it doesn't matter. Trust me in this, sister: if he thinks you should meet them, you would be a fool to refuse. The next couple of weeks here in Isola della Scala will teach you many things : this little, sleepy town in the countryside will become the political beating heart of all Italy."
​

Made in Tarabas & @LordKalvan ​

 

[Neoteros]

"Bersaglieri, do your math against the Austrians"

Artillery in a nutshell.

 

[Tarabas]

Artillery in a nutshell.

That's exactly what Ferdinand thought with your permission, may add this line to the canon?

 

[Neoteros]

That's exactly what Ferdinand thought with your permission, may add this line to the canon?

Yep.

 

[Tarabas]

Yep.

Done it

 

[Tarabas]

@Neoteros and @LordKalvan I could not resist and bought that book regarding the "mysteries" of House Savoy. Apparently, VEII's plan for a "crusade" were laid down in 1876, when he summoned the British ambassador Paget to (informally) deliver his plans to the British government (he did do twice, in January and May). VE claimed that he had already asked the Austrian and German Emperor " a free hand to solve the Eastern Question". He envisioned a partition of the Empire between the powers, with the Sultan relegated to Central Asia. And, VE being VE, he claimed "If I had 200000, I could solve the Balcanic Question. The main source for this is D. Mack Smith's "The Savoy Kings of Italy".

 

[LordKalvan]

@Neoteros and @LordKalvan I could not resist and bought that book regarding the "mysteries" of House Savoy. Apparently, VEII's plan for a "crusade" were laid down in 1876, when he summoned the British ambassador Paget to (informally) deliver his plans to the British government (he did do twice, in January and May). VE claimed that he had already asked the Austrian and German Emperor " a free hand to solve the Eastern Question". He envisioned a partition of the Empire between the powers, with the Sultan relegated to Central Asia. And, VE being VE, he claimed "If I had 200000, I could solve the Balcanic Question. The main source for this is D. Mack Smith's "The Savoy Kings of Italy".

One has to wonder if it is one of those cases where reality trumps fiction or just a sign of early onset of Alzheimer.
I'd love to know what Paget reported to London on the matter.

 

[Tarabas]

One has to wonder if it is one of those cases where reality trumps fiction or just a sign of early onset of Alzheimer.
I'd love to know what Paget reported to London on the matter.

Apparently, Paget's report of the meeting to London was the main source on the matter, although the author of the book curiously does not include the ambassador's personal comments.

 

[Neoteros]

@Neoteros and @LordKalvan I could not resist and bought that book regarding the "mysteries" of House Savoy. Apparently, VEII's plan for a "crusade" were laid down in 1876, when he summoned the British ambassador Paget to (informally) deliver his plans to the British government (he did do twice, in January and May). VE claimed that he had already asked the Austrian and German Emperor " a free hand to solve the Eastern Question". He envisioned a partition of the Empire between the powers, with the Sultan relegated to Central Asia. And, VE being VE, he claimed "If I had 200000, I could solve the Balcanic Question. The main source for this is D. Mack Smith's "The Savoy Kings of Italy".

Did he come up with this plan while high on opium or