1858:
- Cavour, the Prime Minister of Piedmont-Sardinia, secretly met with Napoleon III, the Emperor of France, in Plombières. They agreed on a secret alliance against Austria.
1859:
- The Second Italian War of Independence began. Piedmont-Sardinia, with French support, defeated Austria in the battles of Magenta and Solferino.
- The Peace of Villafranca was signed between France and Austria. Lombardy was ceded to Piedmont-Sardinia, but Austria retained Venetia.
- The Grand Duchy of Tuscany and the duchies of Parma, Modena, and Romagna revolted against their rulers and joined Piedmont-Sardinia.
1860:
- Giuseppe Garibaldi led the Expedition of the Thousand, a volunteer army, in a daring campaign to conquer the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies.
- The Garibaldines achieved several victories and entered Naples in triumph.
1861:
- Victor Emmanuel II, King of Piedmont-Sardinia, was proclaimed King of Italy on March 17, 1861.
- The Kingdom of Italy was officially established, marking the culmination of the Risorgimento.
1866:
- The Third Italian War of Independence (also known as the Austro-Prussian War) took place. Italy, allied with Prussia, defeated Austria and gained Venetia.
1870:
- Rome was captured by Italian troops, completing the unification of Italy under King Victor Emmanuel II.
- Rome became the capital of the Kingdom of Italy.