Second Italian War of Independence

The Second Italian War of Independence (1859) was a conflict between the Kingdom of Sardinia (Piedmont) and Austria, which controlled much of northern Italy. Sparked by Italy’s desire for unification, Sardinia allied with France to challenge Austria’s dominance. The war resulted in significant victories for Sardinia and France, leading to the liberation of Lombardy and other northern Italian regions from Austrian control. This conflict was a crucial step toward unifying Italy into a single nation, demonstrating the power of strategic alliances and popular national aspirations in shaping political change during the 19th century.