alternatehistory.com

So this is something I've been wondering about for a good little while now. If it wasn't for France and Napoleon III Sardinia-Piedmont would have never been able to defeat Austria, thus preventing them from unifying Italy. So lets say for whatever reason Napoleon III decides to not support Sardinia for whatever reason, either the Orsini assassination attempt never happens, there are earlier tensions between France and Prussia (thus the French need closer relations with Austria) or the French Catholics are more vocal in supporting the Papal states. The reason doesn't really matter.

What would the short and long term repercussions be with Italy still divided among many states? How would this affect Austria and its policies in Germany and Italy? How would continuing Papal rule in Italy affect Europe? Would Italy eventually unify on a federal level, similar to the German Empire?
Top