An Earlier Unification of Italy

Would be possible/plausibly for Italy to be unified early than it had in OTL. If so how (a Timeline may ensue :) )
 
Now, I don't know the exact situation, but Milan around the close of the 14th century was one of the largest Italian states, territorially at least, in the north. One way that I can conceive of an earlier unified Italy is that whatever dynasty was in control at the time in Milan retains control of Milan and it's territory. This dynasty would then go out to inherit/be inherited by the dynasty controlling the Kingdom of Naples. Such a situation would put a single ruler in charge of much of the Italian peninsula.

This hypothetical ruler would obviously want to unify his domains and could conceivably do that since much of the Papal States were de facto independent lands without the might to defeat the power of Milan-Naples. We've now got a single dominate power on the peninsula that is in a good position to annex the remaining Italian nations. If this is occuring in the early 15th century, then Milan-Naples has a good chance of pulling this unification off. I say this because the two biggest powers that would likey back the smaller italian state, France and Austria, were busy during this time with other nations. While both France and Austria would not like a powerful Italy, limited resources would force France to concentrate on England and Burgandy while Austria deals with Bohemia and Hungary
 
Historianofalt is correct. Milan became, under its first Duke, Giangalleazo Visconti, an incredible powerhouse. If not for his early death in 1402, he may very well have taken Florence, having already held much of the rest of northern and north-central Italy.

Of his son, Filippo Maria Visconti, the exact same can be said. He was close, even closer than his father, some might say, to complete domination, but died early in 1447, prompting the fall of his extremely personal Duchy.
 
Okay these are all great ideas If any one else has anything ideas post them. I am going to write the time line in a couple days
 
Last edited:
It depends on how much of what is now Italy you want to unify. At the time, the North and the South of Italy had gone through diverging paths, as they had been more or less since the invasion of the Longobards. You could have a relatively large state in the North calling itself Italy, and it would be more or less acceptable.

However it goes, consider two local obstacles: the Pope and Venice. Neither of them are going to like a powerful italian state encroaching on their border, so they might well drag foreign powers in to fight alt-Italy.
 
It depends on how much of what is now Italy you want to unify. At the time, the North and the South of Italy had gone through diverging paths, as they had been more or less since the invasion of the Longobards. You could have a relatively large state in the North calling itself Italy, and it would be more or less acceptable.

However it goes, consider two local obstacles: the Pope and Venice. Neither of them are going to like a powerful italian state encroaching on their border, so they might well drag foreign powers in to fight alt-Italy.

I plan to Unify both the North and the south under Milan via a royal marriage between Milan and Naples. As for Venice, Venice will be the local rival to Milan. As for the Papal expect them lose territory but I do not know if they will annexed. As for dragging in foreign powers expect a major conflict for the domination of Italy between Milan (backed by the Holy Roman Empire and Austria) and Venice (backed by France) during the reign of Filippo Maria Visconti.
 
From:
Wikipedia's article on Pope John X.

The defeat and death of Berengar in 924, through the combination of the Italian princes, again frustrated the hopes of a united Italy.

Is a united Italy in the tenth century plausible? How long would it stay united?

Thanks.

Until the emperor notices the fact.
5 minutes later he will be around with an army.
Oh, and the italian ruler will be excommunicated by the pope, as well.

Regarinig a northern italian kingdom first you have imperial-papal struggle, and then (later) you have french-spanish struggle carving pieces of it.

I do not see Milan as an unifying force, since it is too near to germany and france (both the empire and the french kingdom had claims on it)
 
But...John X crowned Berengar as Emperor in 915. So he has the support of the Pope; I was thinking that he doesn't get assassinated and he keeps his throne.

A more valid objection is that Berengar must have been close to 80 in 924. But he did have a son, Berengar II, who was old enough to take the throne.

We just have to do something about the Crescentii family and Rudolph II of Burgundy. Would having Rudolph fall off his horse and break his neck be too easy?

I don't know what to do about the French-Spanish rivalry over Italy.
 
Top