French Sicily

I've read in some old threads that if Garibaldi's expedition had failed, the Sicilians (of Sicily) would likely still have appealed to the Savoys for assistance as Sicily had long had a separatist movement from Naples.

So here's a thought: Let's say the expedition of the thousand fails and the Sicilians appeal to Napoleon III for assistance. The end result is the French acquiring Sicily. What now?

I can imagine a lot of Sicilians going to Algeria TTL.
 
I do not think the British would allow this; besides having strong interests in Sicily itself, they definitely don't want such a strong French presence in the central Med.
 
What is the advantage for Sicily joining France instead of Naples/Italy?

Sicily has always been fairly jealous of its autonomy and grew especially restless in the period in which it was subject to "direct rule from Naples", leading to several revolts.
Inizio_rivolta_siciliana.jpg


Having a distant overlord (especially if framed as a protectorate) in France might sound appealing. Of course France might have different ideas on which degree of autonomy to allow to a strategic Mediterranean island (not much, if we look at Corsica).

I do not think the British would allow this; besides having strong interests in Sicily itself, they definitely don't want such a strong French presence in the central Med.

This is a very good point and I would add to it, if I may, that Sicilian sulphur was a strategic resource on which Britain had an almost monopoly thanks to treaties with the Bourbon government. For an hint on the reaction that Britain would have to, say, France accepting a proposal to offer protectorate to Ruggero Settimo's Sicily in 1848 one has just to look at the sulphur crisis of few years earlier:
https://it.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Questione_degli_zolfi [Article in Italian and French only]

An interesting counterproposal could be British dominated Sicily. For that a possibility would be if Murat is allowed to keep the Kingdom of Naples, because at the time there was a significant British presence in Sicily, with Bentinck, the British ambassador, having huge amount of influence and being the driving force behind the 1812 Sicilian Constitution.
 
Sicily has always been fairly jealous of its autonomy and grew especially restless in the period in which it was subject to "direct rule from Naples", leading to several revolts.
Inizio_rivolta_siciliana.jpg


Having a distant overlord (especially if framed as a protectorate) in France might sound appealing. Of course France might have different ideas on which degree of autonomy to allow to a strategic Mediterranean island (not much, if we look at Corsica).



This is a very good point and I would add to it, if I may, that Sicilian sulphur was a strategic resource on which Britain had an almost monopoly thanks to treaties with the Bourbon government. For an hint on the reaction that Britain would have to, say, France accepting a proposal to offer protectorate to Ruggero Settimo's Sicily in 1848 one has just to look at the sulphur crisis of few years earlier:
https://it.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Questione_degli_zolfi [Article in Italian and French only]

An interesting counterproposal could be British dominated Sicily. For that a possibility would be if Murat is allowed to keep the Kingdom of Naples, because at the time there was a significant British presence in Sicily, with Bentinck, the British ambassador, having huge amount of influence and being the driving force behind the 1812 Sicilian Constitution.

I have to admit I did not remember the "Questione degli Zolfi"... thanks! To be honest, this why did the British help Garibaldi so much when the status quo was so favorable to them. The only thing I can think about is that they saw a United Italy as an interesting opportunity to distract if not to counterbalance the French in the Med. On the other side, I do agree that a British dominated Sicily is very interesting, especially with the PoD you suggest. The French are in no position to protest, and the Austrians can be easily bought off. As for the Sicilians, as you pointed out, they had a significant presence, had money to offer and invest, and where a really distant overlord to appease to need for autonomy. Now, this Super-Malta would totally change the dynamics and the balance of power in the Med, with really interesting ramifications.
 
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