Italy, up until its unification in 1861, was a conglomeration of city-states, republics, and other political entities. The following is a list of the various Italian states during that period. Following the fall of the Western Roman Empire and the arrival of the Middle Ages (in particular from the 11th century), the Italian Peninsula was divided into numerous states. Many of these states consolidated into major political units that balanced the power on the Italian Peninsula: the Papal States, the Venetian Republic, the Republic of Florence, the Duchy of Milan, the Kingdom of Naples and the Kingdom of Sicily. Unlike all the other Italian states of the medieval and early modern period, the republics of Venice and Genoa, thanks to their maritime power, went beyond territorial conquests within the Italian Peninsula, conquering various regions across the Mediterranean and Black Seas.[1][2]
Ancient Italy
[edit]The ancient peoples of Italy are broadly referred to in historiography as Italic peoples, although in modern linguistics this term is used to define only the speakers of the Italic languages, namely the Latino-Faliscans and the Osco-Umbrians. They include:
- Etruscans
- Italic peoples in the strict sense:
- Latino-Faliscans:
- Osco-Umbrians, also called Sabellians:
- Ligures
- Sardinians
- Greek colonies in Magna Graecia
- Phoenician settlements in insular Italy
- Carthaginian settlements in insular Italy
- Cisalpine Gauls
Early Middle Ages
[edit]- Kingdom of Italy
- Ostrogothic Kingdom[3]
- Lombard Kingdom
- Duchy of Rome (under the Byzantine Empire)
- Exarchate of Ravenna (under the Byzantine Empire)
- Exarchate of Carthage (under the Byzantine Empire)
- Thema of Sicily (under the Byzantine Empire)
- Catepanate of Italy (under the Byzantine Empire)
- π Image
Duchy of Benevento - π Image
Duchy of Spoleto - Duchy of Naples
- Papal States
- Republic of Venice
High Middle Ages
[edit]States in Central and Northern Italy
[edit]- Papal States
- π Image
Republic of Venice - π Image
Republic of Genoa - π Image
Republic of Pisa - π Image
Republic of Florence - π Image
Republic of Lucca - π Image
Republic of Siena - π Image
Republic of Ancona - π Image
Republic of Noli - π Image
Republic of Ragusa - Republic of San Marino
- π Image
Principality of Benevento - π Image
Principality of Salerno - Catepanate of Italy (under the Byzantine Empire)
- Principality of Capua
- π Image
Duchy of Gaeta - Duchy of Naples
- π Image
Duchy of Amalfi - π Image
Duchy of Sorrento - π Image
Emirate of Sicily (under the Fatimid Caliphate) - π Image
County of Sicily - π Image
County of Apulia - π Image
Duchy of Apulia - π Image
Duchy of Calabria - π Image
Duchy of Apulia and Calabria - π Image
Kingdom of Sicily
States of the Holy Roman Empire
[edit]- π Image
Kingdom of Italy - π Image
March of Tuscany - π Image
March of Verona - March of Treviso
- March of Ivrea (Before turning into the Commune of Ivrea)
- March of Turin
- π Image
March of Montferrat - March of Genoa
- π Image
Patriarchate of Aquileia (including March of Friuli and March of Istria) - π Image
Duchy of Spoleto - π Image
Bishopric of Brixen - π Image
Bishopric of Trent - Bishopric of Acqui
- Commune of Acqui
- Commune of Alba
- Commune of Alessandria
- Commune of Arezzo
- π Image
Commune of Bergamo - π Image
Commune of Bologna - Commune of Brescia
- Commune of Camerino
- Commune of Chieri
- π Image
Commune of Como - π Image
Commune of Crema - π Image
Commune of Cremona - Commune of Faenza
- π Image
Commune of Ferrara - Commune of Lodi
- Commune of Mantua
- π Image
Commune of Milan - Commune of Modena
- Commune of Novara
- Commune of Orvieto
- Commune of Padau
- Commune of Pavia
- π Image
Commune of Parma - π Image
Commune of Perugia - π Image
Commune of Piacenza - Commune of Reggio
- Commune of San Gimignano
- π Image
Commune of Savona - Commune of Terdona
- Commune of Treviso
- Commune of Vercelli
- Commune of Vicenza
- Municipality of Ascoli
- π Image
County of Desana - π Image
County of Savoy - π Image
County of Gorizia - π Image
Marquisate of Saluzzo - π Image
Marquisate of Ceva - π Image
Marquisate of Incisa - π Image
Marquisate of Finale - π Image
Republic of Sassari
- π Image
Agugliastra - π Image
Arborea - π Image
Cagliari - π Image
Gallura - π Image
Logudoro
Late Middle Ages
[edit]Major states
[edit]- π Image
Papal States - π Image
Republic of Venice - π Image
Republic of Florence - π Image
Kingdom of Naples - π Image
Duchy of Milan - π Image
Republic of Genoa
Minor states
[edit]- π Image
Kingdom of Sardinia and Corsica - π Image
Kingdom of Sicily - π Image
Duchy of Ferrara - π Image
Lordship of Bologna - π Image
Lordship of Faenza - π Image
Lordship of Milan (before being raised to Duchy in 1395) - π Image
Lordship of Padua - π Image
Lordship of Perugia - π Image
Duchy of Modena and Reggio - π Image
Prince-Bishopric of Brixen - π Image
Prince-Bishopric of Trent - π Image
Principality of Compiano - π Image
Marquisate of Bastia - π Image
Marquisate of Ceva - π Image
Marquisate of Finale - π Image
Marquisate of Fosdinovo - π Image
Marquisate of Incisa - π Image
Marquisate of Mantua - π Image
Marquisate of Massa - π Image
Marquisate of Saluzzo - π Image
Marquisate of Montferrat - π Image
County of Asti - County of Cocconato
- π Image
County of Correggio - π Image
County of Desana - π Image
County of Gorizia - π Image
County of Guastalla - π Image
County of Masserano - π Image
County of Mirandola - π Image
County of Montechiarugolo - π Image
County of Novellara - π Image
County of Pitigliano - π Image
County of Santa Fiora - π Image
County of Savoy (raised to Duchy of Savoy in 1416)- π Image
County of Nice (in personal union with Savoy)
- π Image
- County of Scandiano
- π Image
County of Sovana - π Image
County of Tende - π Image
County of Urbino (raised to Duchy of Urbino in 1443) - County of Correggio
- π Image
Commune of Savona - π Image
Golden Ambrosian Republic - π Image
Republic of Ancona - π Image
Republic of Cospaia - π Image
Republic of Lucca - π Image
Republic of Noli - π Image
Republic of Ragusa - Republic of San Marino
- Republic of Senarica
- π Image
Republic of Siena - Rebel city-states in Papal States
After the Italian Wars
[edit]The Peace of Cateau CambrΓ©sis ended the Italian Wars in 1559. The kingdoms of Sicily, Sardinia, Naples (inclusive of the State of Presidi) and the Duchy of Milan were left under the control of Spanish Habsburgs. France was in control of several fortresses and in particular of the Marquisate of Saluzzo. All the other Italian states remained independent, with the most powerful being the Venetian Republic, the Medici's Duchy of Tuscany, the Savoyard state, the Republic of Genoa, and the Papal States. The Gonzaga in Mantua, the Este in Modena and Ferrara and the Farnese in Parma and Piacenza continued to be important dynasties. Parts of the north of Italy remained a part of the Holy Roman Empire.[4][5][6]
Major states
[edit]- π Image
Papal States - π Image
Republic of Venice - π Image
Grand Duchy of Tuscany - π Image
Kingdom of Naples - π Image
Republic of Genoa - π Image
Duchy of Savoy - π Image
Duchy of Milan
Minor states
[edit]- π Image
Kingdom of Sardinia (under Spanish rule) - π Image
Kingdom of Sicily - π Image
Prince-Bishopric of Brixen - π Image
Prince-Bishopric of Trent - π Image
Principality of Compiano - π Image
Principality of Piombino - π Image
Principality of Monaco - Principality of Bozollo
- π Image
Duchy of Mantua - π Image
Duchy of Ferrara- π Image
Duchy of Modena and Reggio (In personal union with Ferrara)
- π Image
- π Image
Duchy of Parma and Piacenza- π Image
Duchy of Castro (in personal union with Parma)
- π Image
- π Image
Duchy of Urbino - Marquisate of Arquata
- π Image
Marquisate of Bastia - Marquisate of Castiglione (raised to Principality of Castiglione in 1609)
- π Image
Marquisate of Finale - π Image
Marquisate of Fosdinovo - π Image
Marquisate of Massa (raised to Principality of Massa in 1568)- Marquisate of Carrara (in personal union with Massa)
- π Image
Marquisate of Masserano (raised to Principality of Masserano in 1598) - π Image
Marquisate of Montferrat (raised to Duchy of Montferrat in 1574; in personal union with Mantua) - π Image
Marquisate of Sabbioneta (raised to Duchy of Sabbioneta in 1577) - π Image
Marquisate of Torriglia - π Image
County of Correggio (raised to Principality of Correggio in 1616) - π Image
County of Guastalla - π Image
County of Pitigliano - π Image
County of Mirandola - π Image
County of Montechiarugolo - π Image
County of Novellara and Bagnolo - π Image
County of Santa Fiora - π Image
County of Tende - County of Correggio (raised to Duchy of Coreggio in 1630)
- π Image
Monastic State of the Order of Malta - π Image
Republic of Ancona - π Image
Republic of Cospaia - π Image
Republic of Lucca - π Image
Republic of Noli - π Image
Republic of Ragusa - Republic of San Marino
After the Wars of Succession of the 18th century
[edit]During the War of the Spanish Succession (1701-1714), Savoy acquired Sicily, while the remaining Spanish dominions in Italy (Naples, Sardinia, and Milan) were taken over by the Austrian Habsburgs. In 1720, Savoy exchanged Sicily for Sardinia. Following the extinction of the House of Medici, the Grand Duchy of Tuscany was ruled by the Habsburg-Lorraine. Later on, Southern Italy passed to a cadet branch of the House of Bourbon, known as House of Bourbon-Two Sicilies. Other states such as Genoa, Venice, Modena, the Papal States and Lucca remained with their governments unchanged.
Major states
[edit]- Papal States
- Kingdom of Naples (under the Habsburg monarchy from 1714 to 1735; in personal union with Sicily under the Bourbon-Two Sicilies thereafter)
- π Image
Grand Duchy of Tuscany (under Habsburg-Lorraine after 1737) - π Image
Duchy of Milan (under Habsburg Monarchy) - π Image
Duchy of Savoy - π Image
Republic of Genoa - π Image
Republic of Venice
Minor states
[edit]- π Image
Kingdom of Sardinia (under Austrian monarchy from 1714 to 1720; in personal union with Savoy thereafter) - π Image
Kingdom of Sicily (under Savoy from 1713 to 1720; under Austrian monarchy from 1720 to 1734; in personal union with Naples under the House of Bourbon-Two Sicilies thereafter) - π Image
Duchy of Mantua (under House of Gonzaga until 1708, Austrian Monarchy thereafter) - π Image
Duchy of Parma and Piacenza (under Habsburg Monarchy from 1734 to 1748, under House of Bourbon-Parma thereafter) - π Image
Duchy of Guastalla (in personal union with Parma from 1748) - π Image
Duchy of Modena and Reggioπ Image Political map of Italy in the year 1796 - π Image
Duchy of Massa and Carrara (in personal union with Modena from 1731) - π Image
Duchy of Mirandola (in personal union with Modena from 1710) - π Image
Prince-Bishopric of Brixen - π Image
Prince-Bishopric of Trent - π Image
Principality of Masserano - π Image
Principality of Torriglia - π Image
Principality of Piombino - π Image
Principality of Monaco - π Image
Duchy of Montferrat, to House of Savoy from 1708 - π Image
Marquisate of Fosdinovo - π Image
Marquisate of Bastia - π Image
Republic of Lucca - Republic of San Marino
- π Image
Republic of Ragusa - π Image
Republic of Noli - π Image
Republic of Cospaia - π Image
City of Fiume and its District - π Image
Monastic State of the Order of Malta
Their populations and other vital statistics stood as follows in the late 18th century:[7]
- Kingdom of Naples (including Sicily): 6,000,000 (400,000 in Naples), army of 60,000 to 80,000, 2 ships of the lines and some frigates
- Republic of Venice: 3,500,000 (140,000 in the city of Venice itself), standing army and navy of 30,000, 12-15 ships of at least 54 guns plus frigates and brigs
- Kingdom of Sardinia: 2,900,000 (2,400,000 on the mainland and 500,000 on the island), 12-15 fortified cities and towns (largest being Turin at 80,000), standing army of 25,000, which could be raised to 50,000 in a time of war and 100,000 with militia
- Papal States: 2,400,000 (140,000 in the city of Rome), standing army of 6,000 to 7,000
- Austrian Lombardy (Duchy of Milan, Duchy of Mantua, and minor territories): 1,100,000 (40,000 in the city of Milan itself)
- Grand Duchy of Tuscany: 1,000,000 (80,000 in Florence), standing army of 6,000, navy of 3 frigates
- Republic of Genoa: 500,000 (100,000 in the city of Genoa itself)
- Duchy of Parma: 500,000 (40,000 in the city of Parma itself), standing army of 2,500 to 3,000
- Duchy of Modena: 350,000 (20,000 in the city of Modena itself), standing army of 5,000 to 6,000
- Republic of Lucca: 100,000
Total: 18.3 million
During Napoleonic times (1792β1815)
[edit]Sister republics of Revolutionary France
[edit]- π Image
Republic of Alba - π Image
Anconine Republic - π Image
Astese Republic - π Image
Republic of Bergamo - Bolognese Republic
- π Image
Republic of Brescia - π Image
Cisalpine Republic - π Image
Cispadane Republic - π Image
Republic of Crema - π Image
Italian Republic - π Image
Ligurian Republic - π Image
Jacobin State of Lucca - π Image
Parthenopean Republic - π Image
Republic of Pescara - Piedmontese Republic
- π Image
Roman Republic - Subalpine Republic
- Tiberina Republic
- π Image
Transpadane Republic
Client states of the First French Empire
[edit]- π Image
Kingdom of Etruria - π Image
Kingdom of Italy - π Image
Kingdom of Naples - π Image
Principality of Lucca and Piombino - π Image
Principality of Benevento - π Image
Principality of Pontecorvo
Other states
[edit]- π Image
Kingdom of Sardinia - Kingdom of Sicily
- π Image
Principality of Elba (non-hereditary Monarchy under the exiled Emperor Napoleon) - π Image
Republic of Cospaia - Republic of San Marino
From the restoration to the unification
[edit]Following the defeat of Napoleon's France, the Congress of Vienna (1815) was convened to redraw the European continent. In Italy, the Congress restored the pre-Napoleonic patchwork of independent governments, either directly ruled or strongly influenced by the prevailing European powers, particularly Austria. The Congress also determined the end of two millenary republics: Genoa was annexed by the then Savoyard Kingdom of Sardinia, and Venice was incorporated with Milan into a new kingdom of the Austrian Empire.
At the time, the struggle for Italian unification was perceived to be waged primarily against the Habsburgs, since they directly controlled the predominantly Italian-speaking northeastern part of present-day Italy and were the most powerful force against the Italian unification. The Austrian Empire vigorously repressed nationalist sentiment growing in its domains on the Italian Peninsula, as well as in the other parts of Habsburg domains.
- π Image
Papal States - π Image
Kingdom of Sardinia - π Image
Kingdom of the Two Sicilies - π Image
Kingdom of LombardyβVenetia (under Austrian Empire) - π Image
Kingdom of Illyria (under Austrian Empire) - π Image
Grand Duchy of Tuscany - π Image
Duchy of Parma, Piacenza and Guastalla - π Image
Duchy of Modena and Reggio - π Image
Duchy of Massa and Carrara - π Image
Duchy of Lucca - π Image
Principality of Monaco - π Image
Republic of San Marino - π Image
Republic of Benevento - π Image
Republic of Pontecorvo - π Image
Republic of Cospaia - π Image
Republic of San Marco - π Image
Roman Republic - π Image
United Provinces of Central Italy
Post-unification states
[edit]Post-World War I microstates
[edit]Post-1922 states
[edit]- π Kingdom of Italy
Fascist Italy - π Image
Republic of San Marino - π Vatican City
Vatican City
States during World War II
[edit]- π Kingdom of Italy
Kingdom of Italy - Nazi occupied northern Italy
- π Italian Social Republic
Italian Social Republic - π Image
Republic of San Marino (Briefly in 1944)
- π Italian Social Republic
- π Vatican City
Vatican City - The Italian Partisan Republics were the provisional state entities liberated by Italian partisans from the rule and occupation of Nazi Germany and the Italian Social Republic in 1944 during the Second World War. They were universally short-lived, with most of them being reconquered by the Wehrmacht within weeks of their formal establishments and re-incorporated into the Italian Social Republic.
- π Image
Republic of Alba (10 October β 2 November) - π Image
Republic of Alto Monferrato (September β 2 December) - π Image
Republic of Alto Tortonese (September β December) - π Image
Republic of Bobbio (7 July β 27 August) - π Image
Republic of the Cansiglio (July β September) - π Image
Republic of Carnia (26 September β 10 October) - π Image
Republic of Carniola [it] (2 February β March) - π Image
Republic of Oriental Friuli (30 June β September) - π Image
Republic of Pigna (IM) (18 September β 8 October) - π Image
Republic of the Langhe (September β November) - π Image
Republic of Montefiorino [it] (17 June β 1 August) - π Image
Republic of Ossola (10 September β 23 October) - π Image
Republic of Torriglia [it] (26 June β 27 November) - π Image
Republic of the Ceno Valley (10 June β 11 July) - π Image
Republic of the Enza Valley and the Parma Valley (June β July) - π Image
Republic of the Maira Valley and the Varaita Valley (June β 21 August) - π Image
Republic of the Taro Valley [it] (15 June β 24 July) - π Image
Republic of the Lanzo Valley (25 June β September) - π Image
Republic of the Sesia Valley (11 June β 10 July) - π Image
Republic of Varzi (19/24 September β 29 November)
- π Image
Post-1946 states
[edit]- π Italy
Italian Republic - π San Marino
Republic of San Marino - π Vatican City
Vatican City State - π Image
Free Territory of Trieste (de facto dissolved 1954)
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "End of Europe's Middle Ages - Italy's City-States". www.faculty.umb.edu. Retrieved 2021-09-10.
- ^ Bragadin, Marc'Antonio (2010). Storia delle repubbliche marinare (in Italian). Odoya. ISBN 978-8862880824.
- ^ Flavius Magnus Aurelius Cassiodorus Senator, Variae, Lib. II., XLI. Luduin regi Francorum Theodericus rex.
- ^ Burman, Edward (1989). Italian Dynasties: Great Families of Italy from the Renaissance to the Present Day. Equation; First Edition. ISBN 1853360058.
- ^ Christine Shaw, Michael Mallett. The Italian Wars 1494-1559: War, State and Society in Early Modern Europe. Routledge.
- ^ "Peace of Cateau-CambrΓ©sis | European history". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 2020-09-08.
- ^ Journal of the Private Life and Conversations of the Emperor, Vol. 3. Emmanuel-Auguste-Dieudonne comte de Las Cases. 1816.
