Italian territorial goals after successful blitz Risorigimento & Irredentism ?

[Grumpy young Man]

Let's say that Italy had much more luck in accomplishing all her territorial goals by the end of 3rd independence war of 1866. Austrians are so caught by surprise that in the end they not only have to cede Veneto but all the lands that were goal of irredentism of Italy ( South Tirol, Trieste, Istria, Dalmatia, Kotor ).

Now, it is still 1866 and Italy has her ambitions set where? Would her next step be as IRL conquest of Libya from Ottomans or would she want something else?

I know they wanted Tuinis but France beat them to it. Maybe more stuff around the Med ( Cyprus, it is still not British ), Levant maybe? Or something more improbable, wars with France for the ceded Savoy and Nice or with British for the control of the Med, Malta and Gibraltar?

 

[FellowNerd]

Let's say that Italy had much more luck in accomplishing all her territorial goals by the end of 3rd independence war of 1866. Austrians are so caught by surprise that in the end they not only have to cede Veneto but all the lands that were goal of irredentism of Italy ( South Tirol, Trieste, Istria, Dalmatia, Kotor ).

Now, it is still 1866 and Italy has her ambitions set where? Would her next step be as IRL conquest of Libya from Ottomans or would she want something else?

I know they wanted Tuinis but France beat them to it. Maybe more stuff around the Med ( Cyprus, it is still not British ), Levant maybe? Or something more improbable, wars with France for the ceded Savoy and Nice or with British for the control of the Med, Malta and Gibraltar?

I don't remember my dates but I'm assuming Italy had given Savoy and Nice at this point so I see them focusing that way with Corsica on the list as well. Otherwise its all going to be colonies, historically somalia/Ethopia interested them but who know what they'll really go after

 

[Falecius]

Nice and Corsica are definitely in the cards, even more so if there's a grudge with France about Tunisia, which is also set to be eyed by Italy with interest.
And of course, the biggest prize of all, namely Rome. France qite stands in he way to it too. I can see Italy being at least rival with France if not outright enemy positing a total victory in 1866. Which, however, is a fairly unlikely premise to begin with. Taking Trieste from Austria was rightly seen as tantamount to destroying the Austrian empire for good, and it's not very clear what could fill that void, though I can imagine Russia nt being too dissatisfied with such an outcome.
Italy could possibly align with Germany/Prussia vs. France, though if Germany takes over the German-speaking parts of former Austria, things may get very tricky, with places like South Tirol having the potential for becoming stumbling blocks in the way of an alliance. If Italy is diplomatically isolated in Europe, which she cannot affrod and knows it, they'r likely turn very pro-British.
However, there COULD b side issues with Malta.
The Levant IS a possibility, though remote, as Vittorio Emanuele could "credibly" claim a shot at the titles of King of Cyprus and Jerusalem, which his family did IOTL to no political effect I know of.
East Africa was quite a sort of semi-random pick. Possible, yeah, but not bound to happen. Big prize in Italian eyes is clearly Tunis.

 

[Monty Burns]

If it's 1866, there's the French-German war still as a possibility. As long as Bismarck stays in power, he'll try to play the war-with-France card. ITTL, it's not that unlikely that unified and victorious Italy joins that war as well, securing Nice, Savoy, Corsica and a secure position in Tunisia right away. Whatever made them more successful against Austria should work here as well.

Bismarck might have been hesitating annexing French lands to Germany, but ensuring Italian-French enmity after the war would definitely be in his interest!

Now that leaves a unified Italy in the early 1870s with a better military, rather hostile to France and far less problems with AH than IOTL. Next steps are in the Balkans/in the partition of the Ottoman empire.

 

[aktarian]

Historicaly speaking Italy first got involved Abessinia (1869 or 1882, depends on how you count it), then China (supression of Boxer rebellion and obtaining part of Tianjin), then Aegean though not by territorial expansion (Crete), Balkans (Macedonia, Greece) then territorial expansion at the Ottoman expense.

So if you get unified Italy much sooner and no further large groups outside I'd say Abessinia is high on the list. Depending on relations with France Corsica is a possibility though I don't think North Africa is. So going by OTL expansion Abessinia then Aegean/Libya.

 

[Cornelius]

Let's see. First of all there's Rome which was under the French protection. But Italy wouldn't go to war against Napoleon the third so easily, if anything else for a kind of gratitude.
Going to war against a french republic could be different, but Italy used to consider the french as natural allies rather than possible enemies and relations were usually good a part for a short period at the turn of the century.

There's Nice and Savoy. But those were ceded through a treaty which was also ratified with a plebiscite. The claim is weak. Even weaker is the claim to Corsica (which would came after Savoy in any request to France).

Italy wouls surely try to expand and consolidate her rule on Adriatic sea and the bordering region, so Albania and Montenegro and maybe the ionian isles or even Greece if possible.

Vittorio Emanuele inherited the titles of King of Cyprus and Jerusalem, but I'm afraid no one ever thought to go and conquest the Holy Sepulcher (which could be an interesting idea for a TL: Italy and Russia wage war against the Ottoman empire to "liberate" Jerusalem)

There's the horn of Africa, conquest of Erythrea began in those years and Somalia followed but Abyssinia is a nut too big to crack easily.

There was also a talking of exapandig the italian presence in the far east: usually getting involved in Atjeh, or; later, trying to obtain some concession from China. I saw a TL where Italy managed to get New Guinea (I think Grey Wolf's).

 

[Razgriz 2K9]

Should Italy gain all of their irredentist claims from Austria, it largely depends on what Germany does next. Obviously should Germany turn to France, of course we might see the Italians work with Germany to reconquer Nice, and Savoy and conquer Corsica. If they succeed there, then it would be the colonial game, most likely starting with Tunisia and Libya, both still under Ottoman Suzerainty at this time.

This could play Italy into a alliance of mutual benefit with Russia, as a successful war would get them said colonies, and maybe, (though probably ASB), Cyprus and Jerusalem, to be put under personal union with the Savoyard crown with Italy.

 

[M79]

If Italy gains unification early then Nice and Corsica will be the next targets, followed by:

1. Tunisia
2. Libya
3. Levant/Jerusalem
4. Ethiopia
5. Somalia
6. Chinese territories (Taiwan?)
7. Almost anything else left open to colonization

I think the Berlin conference might give them significant opportunity in East Africa, perhaps combining modern Somalia, Ethiopia, (Djibouti?) and perhaps even flecks of Sudan or Kenya under the right circumstances. If nothing else it could make for a larger Ethiopia after independence under the right circumstances.