Ottoman View on the Unification of Italy, 1796-1861

Abstract

While the Kingdom of Italy was officially established after half a century of struggle, the Ottoman Empire was living its last century. The unification period of Italy was a significant epoch in which these two states coincided with each other in history. This study is the examination of the period of the Italian Unification from the Ottoman point of view, which started in the Napoleonic period and until 1861 when the Kingdom of Italy was officially declared. During this era in the Italian peninsula, numerous events, relevant or irrelevant for the Ottoman Empire took place; On the other hand, the Ottoman state followed and examined all these events with great attention and tried to position itself in order to find a place in the changing world order. This article will examine how and for what purpose the Ottoman Empire observed the events that took place in the Italian peninsula and what actions it took based on these observations.