Avanti Italia?
War brews across the Italian peninsula, as the Kingdom of Italy faces off against the powers of Sardinia-Piedmont, Austria and France. The self proclaimed Kingdom of Italy(formerly the Kingdom of Two Sicilies) strives to unify the Italian people under one banner. Whilst the Sardinians, Austrians and French seek to hold onto the status quo. As tensions heat up, both sides attempt to gain leverage over the other in Italy.
The King of Sardinia Piedmont immediately sends out the call for 10,000 men, and he is enthusiastically met by his people who flock to him in droves, and the recruitment number is a more pleasing 20,000, instead of the original 10,000. [-14,000 SP₤, +20,000 Regulars to Sardinia-Piedmont]
Sardinian propaganda causes widespread anger at the actions of the Ferdinand, King of the Two Sicilies. Much of Northern Italy turns against him and his warmongering ways. [-1,000 SP₤, Northern Italy supports Sardinia-Piedmont and stands against the former Kingdom of the Two Sicilies]
Austrian attempts to fund rebels are stymied by the stalwart commitment to unification of the Southern Italian people. The funds are then diverted to the Papal Army, which had been swelled by the faithful from around the world, leaving them better equipped to fight off any Italian attempts at unification. [-40,000 Ausƒ, Papal troops better equipped, 35,000 strong Papal Army]
Calls by Ferdinand I for more Italians to rise against the traitors and invaders go awry as the people are somewhat sick of his firebrand rhetoric, as were the soldiers his agents attempted to enticed to desert from the army of Sardinia Piedmont.[-10,000 TS₤, More Italians favor peaceful unification]
Throughout the Italian regions of the Austrian Empire, reports of widespread revolt are overblown, as there seems to be no revolts anywhere. Still, someone seems to have setup a widespread spy network in Austrian controlled Italy.
Attempts to train the Italian Army are more successful, with new tactics and training in the new arms bought from abroad and the military ways being taught to the soldiers increases their combat effectiveness. [-42,000 TS₤, +1 Army level]
For the actual beginning of the war itself, the self proclaimed Kingdom of Italy struck first blood. 80,000 men set sail from Napoli, on transports protected a large war fleet, certainly not of it’s own navy. The Italian navy was actually blockading the Adriatic, but not doing a very good job of it. [Austria partially blockaded.]
The fleet split into two smaller squadrons, still each being extremely formidable. The first landed on the coast of Latium and disgorged some 30,000 troops to topple the Papal States whilst the second continued up the coast and landed the remaining 50,000 men in Tuscany. The fleet then disappeared off the coast of Italy, leaving the Italians to whatever may come.
The landing of the first army and their subsequent march towards Rome utterly surprised the Papal forces, who struggled to get organized enough to turn and face the new threat. Had the Italians attacked early in the day, they would have crushed the disorganized Papal Army, but alas they did not seize the day.
The Papal Army, now ready to fight, took strong defensive positions outside of Rome, blocking the Italians passage into Rome proper. The Italian commander, recognizing the strong defensive position held by the Papal forces and that his own forces were awkwardly trapped against the coast by the larger Papal forces, deftly maneuvered his forces north then east around Rome whilst distracting the Papal forces with small scale attacks and skirmishes. [-3,000 Regulars to Kingdom of Italy, -2,000 Regulars to Papal States]
Before the Pope knew it, the Italians had moved from the west to the east of Rome with direct access to further reinforcements from the South. The Pope, reluctant to leave Rome, simply watched on as much of his territory was captured by the Italians, who captured all areas of the Papacy except Romanga, Latium and a small corridor that connected both provinces.
In the meantime, the 2nd Italian Army had made short work of the Tuscan army, quickly capturing the entire Grand Duchy. Lucca was next to fall, and they did not even put up a fight. The Italian commander who was preparing to move against Modena and Parma, then received shocking news. Parma, Modena and the Tuscan enclave of Pontremoli had been peacefully annexed by Sardinia-Piedmont. [-5,000 Regulars to the Kingdom of Italy, Sardinia-Piedmont annexes Parma, Modena and Pontremoli]
After being counseled by his officers, the Italian commander decided to await reinforcements from the South and plan his next actions.
Following the opening moves of the Italian War of Unification, the New Italian Kingdom has gained much territory, whilst losing some support among Italians. The Sardinians have gained much support amongst the people and some land, but are still not ready to face the Italians(Sicilians) alone.
Italy at the end of 1837
