<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="2" > introduction:</h1>
The unification of Italy has a proper name in Italy: Italian Revival Movement.
The reason is that the Italians believe that their move is not to unify Italy but to revive Italy and restore the glory of Rome.
The background of this demand is related to italy's long-term division of city-states and the absence of a state.
From the 16th century onwards, most of the territory of the Italian region was occupied by France, Spain, and Austria, and the originally rich city-states such as Venice, Genoa, Milan, and the Papal States were no longer beautiful, and became the objects of voyeurism of countless European powers.
(Fragmented Italy)
All this triggered the awakening of the Italian nation-state consciousness.
From 1815 onwards, the wave of Italian independence began to rise, the Charcoal Burning Party appeared as the earliest Italian national party dedicated to unification, after more than a decade of development of the independence movement, in 1831, the rising star of the Young Italian Party put forward the slogan of political reform, and then sounded the clarion call for independence.
After the horn, the Italian War of Independence (1848-1849) began, and a campaign against feudal division and Austrian rule swept through Italy like a whirlwind.
The Kingdom of Sardinia, which was committed to the unification of Italy, took up the banner of unified Italy, relied on the red shirts led by Garibaldi, liberated Sicily and Naples successively, and in 1861, established the Kingdom of Italy, and in 1870 Italy was basically unified.
In 1871, just after the unification of Italy, Germany also completed its unification in the central region of Europe.
The successive unification of Italy and Germany shattered the old European pattern.
Compared to Germany's pivotal role. After reunification, Italy can only be described in one word.
(Fragmented Europe is in pieces)
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="109" >: The European powers despise the chain. </h1>
Italy and Germany were unified successively, and with the help of the long-established industrial base and bourgeois ideas, they became the new powers of Europe.
But this power also has a hierarchy!
The German Empire, which occupies the core area of the European continent, inherited the strong military strength of Prussia, and after the rebirth, it became a proper great power, and after practicing taoguang and obscurity for ten years, Germany became the strongest industrial country in Europe.
Looking at Germany and then looking at Italy is not that thing at all.
Compared with the strong industrialization foundation of the German city-states and the resource endowment of coal and steel, the innate conditions for The development of the Italian economy are undoubtedly insufficient.
The northern region, with its developed economy and high industrial output, was an economically rich region, as it is today. But the southern region can only be described in one word, a large agricultural population, up to 70% illiteracy rate, so that the italian south has almost no industry except agriculture.
The gap between the rich and the poor in the north and the south is too large, which divides Italy into two pieces, and also makes the unified Italy a power worthy of the name.
(Italian Army in World War I)
According to the Europeans at that time, the world empire was Great Britain, looked down on the germans who had become rich and the long-time enemies of the French, Germany and France looked down on each other because of the dirty things of German unification, Russia's appetite was very large but not strong, Britain, France and Germany all looked down on Russia, Russia could not afford Britain, France and Germany, but it also looked down on the loose Austro-Hungarian Empire, austria-Hungary was looked down upon by all the great powers in Europe, but he also had an object of contempt, that is, Italy.
After this chain of contempt is finished, we understand the composition of the five major European powers.
Britain, Germany, France, Russia, and Austria are the protagonists of Europe who can speak, and as for Italy, it is either a pawn or a chip.
If you really want to pull on the table to fight in the ring, it is a dragging cargo.
This is also the root cause of World War I and World War II, Germany pulled Italy into the company, and successively was pitted.
At that time, in Italy, the gap between the north and the south was too large, the resource endowment was insufficient, and it could not meet the standards of the great powers at all, and it could only be a spoiler, and even those who were spoiled were not qualified.
However, Italy does not think so, in europe where the great powers are rising, it is always okay for me to go to other places to fight the autumn wind, right?
(Italian Army)
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="110" > two: play the first round of black Africa in the autumn wind. </h1>
From 1894 to 1896, Italy, which could not be mixed in Europe, could not afford the five great masters of Europe, and set its sights on Ethiopia in the Horn of Africa. The reason for his eyeing Ethiopia was simple: the only African independent country he could do at the time.
So, the Italians, pushing cannons, embarked on the African war with great ambition, hoping to use the superior weapons and equipment to carry out a Spanish conquest of the Americas.
Who would have thought that the 17,000 Italian troops armed to the teeth would be defeated when facing the 120,000 Ethiopian army? After the battle, the Italian army of 17,000 was captured, 4,000 were captured, the casualties were as high as 11,000, and less than 2,000 escaped, almost completely destroyed.
After this news reached Europe, it surprised countless Europeans who watched the drama.
Yes, we can't win the fight against an African native, and we want us to recognize your status as a great power, and we are ashamed to be with you.
(Beaten by indigenous Africans)
At that moment, Italy became the object of ridicule of the five great powers of Britain, Germany, France, Russia and Austria.
Western public opinion exclaimed even more: I dare not imagine that the army of a civilized European country would suffer such a huge disaster at the hands of an African chief and soldier.
In addition to the ridicule of the European powers, the situation in Italy is even funnier.
After the news of the fiasco spread back to Italy, instead of shouting for revenge, countless Italians took to the streets to strongly condemn the government's wanton war and demand that Italy withdraw its troops from Africa.
People who love pasta really don't like to fight.
Under the boiling of public opinion, the italian prime minister at that time, Crispi, could only choose to resign, the cabinet also fell, and even the commander-in-chief of the African colonial army, General Bagetili, was sent to a military court, although he was acquitted, he still retired at an early age.
Peaceful Italians have caused the Italian government a great headache.
The new prime minister who immediately came to power immediately sent people to seek peace talks with Ethiopia, and in the subsequent Treaty of Addis Ababa, Italy abandoned its demand to make Ethiopia a protectorate, recognized Ethiopia's independence, and not only that, but also compensated Ethiopia with 10 million lira in exchange for the 4,000 captives.
This is undoubtedly a humiliating move, a modern Industrial Country in Europe has lost to a backward African feudal country, and since the time the world entered Europe after the Age of Great Navigation, there has not been such a strange thing.
But such a strange thing is still not over.
(Ethiopian Army)
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="111" > three: forced lease of Sanmen Bay. </h1>
After suffering a great loss in Africa, Italy's ambitions remain unchanged, looking at the globe and constantly thinking of new goals.
Subsequently, a great power in the East became his new target.
This country is the Qing Dynasty, which had just been defeated by Japan in the Sino-Japanese War, signed the humiliating Treaty of Maguan, and was still licking its wounds.
At that time, the Qing Dynasty was in a very bad situation, and after being beaten by the great powers one after another, it was painfully decided to make the foreign affairs movement for decades, who had thought that they were actually beaten by the little Japanese they looked down upon.
The opponent that Japan can bully, of course, Italy is handy.
With this in mind, optimistic Italians sent warships to China.
It was hoped that the Qing Dynasty would be forced to cut off the place as an Italian leased place in China.
(All come to take advantage)
In fact, Italy did not dare to come at the beginning, but there were many people who set an example in front of it.
Before Italy could take advantage of the italian troops, Britain, Russia, Germany, and France all fulfilled their demands and obtained leased land. The Qing government agreed to Britain, France, Germany, and Russia, as if suffering from European phobia.
All this made the Italians rise up, thinking that the Qing Dynasty could be bullied and bullied.
In order to keep things safe, in 1898, the then Italian Prime Minister Rudini once tested his ambassador to China, the Marquis salvag, and asked him about the possibility of obtaining a leased land in China as a naval base in the Far East.
The Marquis looked at Prime Minister Rudini's thoughts and said bluntly: Now is not the time, wait and see the opportunity.
A year later, the new Prime Minister Pelou came to power.
At that time, Italy was not very peaceful at home, the economic development was not good, and the external expansion was not good.
In order to divert domestic contradictions and stabilize his cabinet, Prime Minister Pelu insisted on going his own way, and without informing the Italian ambassador to China, he directly sent a note to the Qing government.
The Qing government was asked to agree to italy's three conditions.
First: Ceded Sanmen Bay in Zhejiang Province to Italy as a concession. (This is the occupation stronghold)
Second: Italy is allowed to build a railway from Sanmen Bay to Poyang Lake. (This is a plot)
Third: Ask the Qing government to recognize that two-thirds of the southern territory of Zhejiang Province is an Italian sphere of influence and cannot be leased to other countries. (This is to exclude the opponent)
Such three major requirements, with points and surfaces layer by layer, can be described as a lot of appetite.
I can't help but think of Bismarck's words: Italy has a good appetite, but its teeth are extremely bad.
However, Italy at that time did not have such self-awareness, and in a note to the Qing government, they said that Italy was one of the six major powers in Europe, and since China had given the concessions to Britain, Germany, France, Russia, and Austria, it should give Italy the same rights.
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="112" >4: Qing Response, Preparation. </h1>
At that time, the Qing Dynasty, after being bullied and miserable by the European powers, also knew the importance of knowing oneself and knowing the other.
After receiving the Italian note, the Prime Minister Yamen also understood that the ugliness of Italy in the Ethiopian war three years ago was well known. The strength of Italy, the Qing Dynasty is aware.
Prime Minister Yamen, faced with Italian coercion, did not hesitate to send the note back as it was.
The implication is: where to fight, there is no effort to take care of you.
When the Representative of Italy received the reply, he was furious.
Claiming that this was detrimental to the face of the Italian state and contrary to international exchange practices, they immediately began to clamor for war and sent three warships to the sea of Sanmen Bay to demonstrate.
Upon hearing that the warship was coming, the Qing Dynasty was a little panicked, but after seeing the true appearance of the warship, the Qing Dynasty was at ease.
What a thing, it is not as good as my Great Qing Beiyang Fleet.
So what exactly is the Italian warship is a problem.
At that time, the three warships sent by Italy were the strongest equipment of the Italians, and the leading flagship was the Marco Polo-class armored cruiser that had just been launched, and the protection and firepower were not bad, that is, the speed was only 17 knots, and the other two were worse than this.
In terms of equipment level, it is completely inferior to the Beiyang Fleet rebuilt by the Qing Dynasty after the Sino-Japanese War!
At that time, the steel-armored cruisers "Haitian Ship" and "Haiji Ship" imported by the Qing government from Britain had similar fire protection to the Italian flagship Marco Polo class, but the speed was more than seven knots higher than that of the Marco Polo class.
The speed advantage made the Qing Fleet not worry about winning the Italian fleet at all, and the Qing government warships had more home field advantages.
Therefore, when the Italian fleet arrived at Sanmen Bay to demonstrate, Prime Minister Yamen once again simply refused italy's request and reported it to Empress Dowager Cixi.
Seeing the report of the prime minister Yamen, Empress Dowager Cixi had a number in mind, so in the name of the Guangxu Emperor, she asked the governors of the five southeastern provinces to cooperate with the Beiyang Fleet and prepare for war.
This is really a little face not to leave for Italy!
(Empress Dowager Cixi)
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="113" > five: Embarrassing Italian dead duck with a hard mouth. </h1>
The tough attitude of the Qing Dynasty infuriated the Italians, but the Italians, who were bluffing, did not have the courage to go to war, but continued to harass the prime minister Yamen.
The statement said that he had no intention of forcing the demand, withdrew the ultimatum, and explained his actions to the Qing government.
But after the explanation, the Italian authorities changed their minds again, presumably because domestic pressure could not withstand it, and Prime Minister Pelou was afraid to step down.
In May 1899, Salvag, italy's new minister to China, took four warships and ran to the Yangtze River Delta to demonstrate, hoping to deter the Qing Dynasty.
Seeing that Italy has come to touch porcelain again, the Qing Dynasty still maintains a tough attitude, you want to fight that battle, the Italians can not retreat, the situation is embarrassing. Helpless Italy thought of a way to use the pressure of the European powers, hoping that Britain, Germany, France, Russia and Austria could help themselves.
But Italy has clearly overestimated its place in the minds of the Continental Powers.
(Location of Sanmen Bay)
Austria-Hungary and Italy had contradictions in the Alps and the Balkans and did not want to help, while Germany and Austria-Hungary were allies and did not want to help. Italy and France also have contradictions in North Africa, and France is not willing to help, even Russia, which has just allied with France, is not willing to step on muddy waters.
The only reason for supporting the first round of Britain also set conditions, only diplomatic support, and also demanded that Italy not use force, and if it really wanted to use force, Britain would not care.
The five great powers, four without support, one with verbal support, made Italy feel helpless and could only go back in ashes.
After returning to Italy, I still wanted to find face for myself, so I said to the Qing government, I don't want Sanmen Bay, you get me a navy coal station headquarters along the coast of Zhejiang, right?
When Empress Dowager Cixi heard this, she said bluntly that not a single inch of yellow soil would be given to the Italians.
This reply finally made Italy die, and in October 1899, it officially abandoned all demands.
(The Italians are doing very well)
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="114" > epilogue:</h1>
In this Sanmen Bay crisis, Empress Dowager Cixi changed her past weakness and was so tough.
There are three biggest reasons.
First of all: Italy's strength is insufficient, and the imperialism at the end is not enough to pinch the strength of the Qing Dynasty.
Secondly: in the Qing Dynasty at that time, the conservative faction had already become a force, and this group of people all advocated toughness, which made Empress Dowager Cixi gain a lot of support.
Finally: blind weakness makes the position of Empress Dowager Cixi unstable, and if she does not brush some prestige out, the Qing Dynasty will be unstable.
These three reasons contributed to the victory of Sanmen Bay and laid the groundwork for the subsequent invasion of China by the Eight-Power Alliance.
Toughness can retreat from the great powers, so that above the Qing government, the conservative hardliners have come to power, and under their coercion, cixi's brazen declaration of war was only when the Eight-Nation Alliance was joined.
After declaring war on the Eight-Power Alliance, Italy followed the pace of the Eight-Power Alliance and sent 50 Marines to participate in the war, and then in the subsequent peace talks, it received indemnities and the port of Tianjin as a trade distribution center.
The great power game is the product of toughness, compromise, and checks and balances, and there are problems with blindly being tough and blindly compromising.
Not knowing this eventually led the Qing Dynasty, under the auspices of Cixi, to win at Sanmen Bay and lose in the city of Beijing.