Earlier Italian Unification and its effects?

How could Italy have been unified at an earlier date than it was OTL, and depending on the when and how, what sort of effects and consequences might there be?

To make this potentially easier, what sort of scenario can we all agree on to be the most likely case of an earlier Italian unification, and what effects do we think it might have on Europe?
 
Lasting "Ostrogothic Italy", "Lombard Italy" and " Carolingian Italy" are the best odds in my opinion.

The effects would have been interesting : the king of Italy would have more trouble to deal with Islamic states for trade than OTL cities-states. Maybe the harbours would known an autonomy.

If 1) Ostrogothic Italy. No Gothic Wars would have been a benediction for Italy. It just ravaged the territory during 20 years.

2)Lombard Italy would probably means no Carolingians as a POD. Huge butterflies.

3)Carolingian Italy. Italy would have likely turn like occitan feudality with even more power to the cities and tied condatos.
 
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