What is the best way to derail Italian unification?

CaliGuy

Banned
I am curious about this--what exactly is the best way to derail Italian unification (in your honest opinion)?

Also, bonus points if you do this as late as possible.
 

CaliGuy

Banned
Well, you could also have Napoleon die in the early phases of his Italian campaign, that would slow down the spread of nationalism quite a bit.

Another early POD I am fond of is a French victory in the Siege of Turin during the War of Spanish succession, leading to a Piedmont that never becomes a Kingdom and gains succicientvweight to be a relevant player post 1800. If butterflies mean a better outcome for Franch in the WoSS and later in the century I wouldn't exclude large swathes of Piedmont ending up permanently annexed to France and gradually frenchified.

Getting rid of Cavour would also at the very least delay unification for a generation imho.
 
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Have Napoléon III die before 1859. (There were several assassination attempts on his life.) The Austrian army was not in great shape in this time period and to have it beat the French/Sardinians isn't that easy. But without Napoléon III, France never gets involved in this scheme to begin with.
 
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CaliGuy

Banned
Have Napoléon III die before 1859. (There were several assassination attempts on his life.) The Austrian army was not in great shape in this time period and to have it beat the French/Sardinians isn't that easy. But without Napoléon III, France never gets involved in this scheme to begin with.
Why exactly was Napoleon III an Italophile?
 
What would happen if the 1858 Italian assassination attempt of Napoleon III ended up killing the guy instead?

Good question. The Prince Imperial could officially succeed him, but he's just a little kid at this point, so there will have to be a regency, for a long time. I suspect the Bonapartes would be overthrow instead, though I'm not certain if it would mean the Third Republic or an attempted restoration. It could be messy.
 
Good question. The Prince Imperial could officially succeed him, but he's just a little kid at this point, so there will have to be a regency, for a long time. I suspect the Bonapartes would be overthrow instead, though I'm not certain if it would mean the Third Republic or an attempted restoration. It could be messy.

Would the Bonapartes be overthrown? I thought Nappy III was domestically quite popular - could be wrong though.
 
Would the Bonapartes be overthrown? I thought Nappy III was domestically quite popular - could be wrong though.

It depends at many times, actually.

Napoleon III was almost killed by an Italian radical in 1859 before the Second Italian War of Independence, so there's another opportunity to get rid of him.
 
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