The Papal States: Greatest Territorial Loser in Italian Unification

The unification of Italy in the 19th century resulted in the most significant territorial loss for the Papal States. Once a vast region across central Italy ruled directly by the Pope, the Papal States were gradually absorbed into the new Kingdom of Italy. By 1870, the Pope retained only Vatican City, losing all temporal power and the vast majority of his former domains. This dramatic reduction reshaped the political map of the peninsula and defined the modern relationship between the Catholic Church and the Italian state.