Treaty of Zürich facts for kids
The Treaty of Zurich was an important agreement signed on November 10, 1859. It involved three main powers: the Austrian Empire, the French Empire, and the Kingdom of Sardinia. This treaty officially ended the Austro-Sardinian War, also known as the Second Italian War of Independence.
The agreement actually included three separate treaties, all signed on the same day. These treaties confirmed the peace terms that had been agreed upon earlier in Villafranca.
What the Treaty Did
The Treaty of Zurich helped to reshape parts of Italy. It was a big step in the process of Italian unification.
The Three Treaties
Here's a simple breakdown of the three parts of the treaty:
- Treaty 1: France and Austria: This part officially brought peace between the French Emperor and the Austrian Emperor. It also confirmed that a region called Lombardy would be given to France.
- Treaty 2: France and Sardinia: In this treaty, France then gave Lombardy to the Kingdom of Sardinia. This was a key gain for Sardinia, which was working to unite Italy.
- Treaty 3: All Three Powers: This final treaty, signed by Austria, France, and Sardinia, officially re-established peace between Austria and Sardinia.
The Idea of an Italian Confederation
In the treaty between France and Austria, both countries talked about creating a group of Italian states, called a confederation. This group would have included Venice and would have been led by the Pope. However, this idea never actually happened.
See also
- Treaty of Turin (1860)
- Treaty of Vienna (1866)
