The early history of Italy is that of Rome and -the Roman Empire, a martial and cultural administration which left its mark on the language and history of the Western World. This Empire was divided into two parts, Eastern and Western in the 4th century A.D. and began to break up the following century. Rome was taken by the Ostrogoths and the centralized government finally failed.

Throughout medieval times, the history of Italy followed no coherent form. It became a pattern of feudal states and fiefs which changed allegiances and led to many internal wars and tyrannic dynasties. From this nebulous grouping of dukedoms, emerged the Renaissance, a period of artistic and creative endeavour which led to the pre-eminence of Italian merchants throughout western Europe and the Levant. The need for these merchant princes to communicate throughout their areas of control led to the early establishment of regular messenger services which developed into an international European postal service.

The development of power of Venice into the control of the Adriatic and Aegean with services to many of the islands which they controlled saw the spread of Italian merchants towards the east, while the Florentines moved north. Merchant postal services in France, Britain and Germany were operating in the 16th century. Postal markings were not used, but letters which exist carry charge marks, sometimes in Italian or local currency and those which are marked with a Guild mark, do not appear to have been charged. An early example of Free Franking.

In the 17th and early 18th centuries, Italy became the battle grounds for the political interests of Spain, France and Austria. The War of the Spanish Succession began in Italy in 1701 and the country was divided into kingdoms and dukedoms at the Peace of Utrecht in 1713. In 1720, the Duke of Savoy became the King of Sardinia - a move which was to have far reaching results some 130 years later.

Postally, the states developed separately - in part because of the differences in currency which made the interchange of mail between them complicated. The use of handstamps developed during the 18th century and the spheres of influence were clearly defined by the outbreak of the French Revolutionary Wars.

In May 1796, Italy was invaded by France and gradually overrun until Rome was occupied. In 1797, at the Treaty of Campo Formi, the northern states of Italy were divided between France and Austria and the Cisalpine Republic was formed as a French puppet. The Roman Republic was formed soon afterwards. However, war continued between Austria and France and, after the Victory of Marengo in 1800, Bonaparte created the Italian Republic to replace the Cisalpine and Roman Republics. Italy became a kingdom within the French Empire in 1805.

Italy became incorporated into the French postal service and the provinces were given French style hand-stamps which were used until the collapse of the French control at the end of the Napoleonic Wars.

The Kingdom had taken over the Austrian provinces of North Italy in 1806 and they were returned in 1815 when the Lombardy-Venetia state was established. The boundaries of the dukedoms and kingdoms were ratified by the Congress of Vienna and the scene was set for the unification which finally began in the 1850s.

Unrest continued to trouble the provinces and in 1856 an amnesty was proclaimed for political offences. However, Austria felt animosity towards Sardinia following the uprising of 1848-9. In 1857 diplomatic relations were suspended and in April 1859 Austrian forces crossed the River Ticino into Piedmont. The French Emperor, Napoleon III, declared war on Austria and sent troops to the help of Sardinia. Although the war is notable for the bravery of the troops and the incompetence of the general staff, the Piedmontese and French armies overwhelmed the Austrians in a series of battles - culminating in Solferino on 24 June 1859. Henri Dunant, a young Swiss banker, was present at the battle; observing the carnage and suffering of the wounded he called for a neutral body to care for the wounded. This led to the formation of the Red Cross in 1864. War was ended by the Peace of Villafranca on 11 July 1859 and most of Lombardy was awarded to France. It was immediately transferred to Sardinia in return for Savoy and. Nice, which were incorporated into France.

Stamps for Lombardy-Venetia continued to be used in Venetia and the remainder of Lombardy until Venetia was incorporated into the kingdom of Italy in 1866. From that date these two provinces have remained part of Italy and have used Italian stamps.

On 16 March 1860, after a plebiscite, Modena became part of Sardinia, and stamps of Modena were replaced.

Garibaldi landed in Sicily in May 1860 and defeated the Neapolitan army. On 30 July the Neapolitans withdrew from Sicily, but more internal unrest led to a further invasion by Garibaldi of the mainland and he occupied Naples on 7 September 1860.

Stamps were issued under control of the Garibaldi regime on 6 November 1860. These were produced by modifying the earlier design on the printing plates. A further modification was made in December 1860 when stamps showing the cross of Savoy were produced by excising the arms of Naples from the original plate.

On 21 October 1860 Naples and Sicily voted by plebiscite to join Sardinia and on 26 October Garibaldi, as a step towards the unification of Italy, acclaimed the King of Sardinia as King of the Neapolitan provinces.

On 15 February 1861 stamps were issued for the Neapolitan provinces (Naples and Sicily). Though similar in design to those of Sardinia they used the currency of Naples. These were superseded by the stamps of Italy in 1862.

In 1798-9 during the Napoleonic wars the region became the Republic of Rome and was regained by the Neapolitans for the Pope. It was retaken by the French in 1800 but was restored by them to the Pope. It was annexed by Napoleon as part of the Kingdom of Italy in May 1808. Rome was declared the second city in the Empire.

The States were returned to the Pope in 1814. The population wished to join with Sardinia against the Austrians in 1848 and the government was defeated by insurrection in the town. The Romans demanded a democratic ministry and the proclamation of Italian nationality. In November the Pope (Pius IX) escaped from the city and appealed to the Catholic powers. After extensive fighting Rome surrendered to the French in June 1850 and was returned to the Pope.

Romagna seceded from the States in 1859. During the war for the unification of Italy, Rome was garrisoned by French troops, who assisted in the defence until they were withdrawn during the Franco-Prussian War of 1870. Italian troops were in control of the city from 20 September and a plebiscite was held on 2 October 1870 which led to the incorporation of the states into Italy. The Pope lost all temporal power (see also Vatican City).

The dukedom of Parma with Piacenza became part of the Kingdom of Sardinia on 18 March 1860 following a plebiscite. As a result stamps of Parma were withdrawn and Sardinian stamps introduced until the first Italian general issue in 1862.

On 12 June 1859 a provisional government was formed to prepare for unification with Sardinia. A plebiscite was held and on 25 March 1860 Romagna became part of Sardinia, and stamps of Romagna were replaced by those of Sardinia until the Italian general issue in 1862. Romagna became part of the province of Emilia with Modena and Parma.

1815-50
Centre of the movement to unify Italy. On 23 March 1848 the King openly began to support unification and an attack on the Austrians. After a successful campaign against the Austrians which led to the capture of Lombardy and Venetia (July 1848), the Sardinian army was defeated by the Austrians under Marshal Radetzky. The war ended with an armistice between Austria and Sardinia signed on 6 August 1849.

In 1859 the war with Austria began again, this time with the support of France. Lombardy was gained in July, but Sardinia gave up Savoy and Nice to France in return. With the activities of Garibaldi and Cavour the states of Italy gradually came under the control of Sardinia.

Sardinian stamps were used in most of the states as they decided to join unified Italy, as follows:

MODENA 16 March 1860
PARMA 18 March 1860
TUSCANY 22 March 1860
ROMAGNA 25 March 1860

Venetia and the Papal States did not use the stamps of Sardinia as by the time they joined the kingdom Italian stamps had been issued. Naples and Sicily had a special issue because they had a different currency. The King of Sardinia was recognized as King of Italy in February 1861.

Garibaldi landed in Sicily on 11 May 1860 and defeated the Neapolitan army which evacuated the island on 30 July. A new constitution was proclaimed in August but no new stamps appeared until the issue for the Neapolitan provinces on 15 February 1861. The Sicilians had voted to join Sardinia in October 1860 and stamps of Italy were issued in 1862.

Tuscany was incorporated into the French Empire in 1807 and was given as a grand-duchy to Eliza, sister of Napoleon. The Duke of Tuscany was reinstated in 1814. Lucca was united with Tuscany in 1847. After the insurrections of 1849 a provisional government was proclaimed but the duke was reinstated by the Austrians in July 1850.

The Tuscan army demanded alliance with the Sardinians in the war against Austria in April 1859. The duke refused and fled to Bologna. A provisional government was formed on 27 April and new stamps with the arms of Savoy were issued on 1 January 1860. On 22 March 1860, after a plebiscite, Tuscany became part of Sardinia, and the stamps of Tuscany were replaced. Sardinian stamps were used until the first Italian general issue in 1862.

Italian Unification 1850-70
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