Editing Unification of Italy (section)

===Roman Question===
{{Main|Roman Question}}
[[File:Proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy.jpg|thumb|[[Proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy]]]]

Mazzini was discontented with the perpetuation of monarchical government and continued to agitate for a republic. With the motto "Free from the [[Alps]] to the [[Adriatic Sea|Adriatic]]", the unification movement set its gaze on Rome and Venice. There were obstacles, however. A challenge against the pope's temporal dominion was viewed with profound distrust by Catholics around the world, and there were French troops stationed in Rome. Victor Emmanuel was wary of the international repercussions of attacking the Papal States, and discouraged his subjects from participating in revolutionary ventures with such intentions.{{sfn|Smith|1969|pp=89–100}}

Nonetheless, Garibaldi believed that the government would support him if he attacked Rome. Frustrated at inaction by the king, and bristling over perceived snubs, he came out of retirement to organize a new venture. In June 1862, he sailed from Genoa and landed again at Palermo, where he gathered volunteers for the campaign, under the slogan ''o Roma o Morte'' ('either Rome or Death'). The garrison of Messina, loyal to the king's instructions, barred their passage to the mainland. Garibaldi's force, now numbering two thousand, turned south and set sail from [[Catania]]. Garibaldi declared that he would enter Rome as a victor or perish beneath its walls. He landed at [[Melito di Porto Salvo|Melito]] on 14 August and marched at once into the [[Calabria]]n mountains.

[[File:The Injured Garibaldi in the Aspromonte Mountains (oil on canvas).jpg|thumb|''The Injured Garibaldi in the [[Aspromonte|Aspromonte Mountains]]'' (oil on canvas), credited to [[Gerolamo Induno]]]]
Far from supporting this endeavour, the Italian government was quite disapproving. General Cialdini dispatched a division of the regular army, under Colonel Pallavicino, against the volunteer bands. On 28 August the two forces met at [[Battle of Aspromonte|Aspromonte]]. One of the regulars fired a chance shot, and several volleys followed, but Garibaldi forbade his men to return fire on fellow subjects of the Kingdom of Italy. The volunteers suffered several casualties, and Garibaldi himself was wounded; many were taken prisoner. Garibaldi was taken by steamer to [[Varignano, La Spezia|Varignano]], where he was honorably imprisoned for a time, but finally released.{{sfn|Smith|1969|pp=63–65}}

Meanwhile, Victor Emmanuel sought a safer means to the acquisition of the remaining Papal territory. He negotiated with the Emperor Napoleon for the removal of the French troops from Rome through a treaty. They agreed to the [[September Convention]] in September 1864, by which Napoleon agreed to withdraw the troops within two years. The pope was to expand his own army during that time so as to be self-sufficient. In December 1866, the last of the French troops departed from Rome, in spite of the efforts of the pope to retain them. By their withdrawal, Italy (excluding Venetia and Savoy) was freed from the presence of foreign soldiers.<ref>John W. Bush, ''Venetia Redeemed; Franco-Italian Relations, 1864–1866'' (Syracuse University Press, 1967).</ref>

The seat of government was moved in 1865 from [[Turin]], the old Sardinian capital, to [[Florence]]. This arrangement created such disturbances in Turin that the king was forced to leave that city hastily for his new capital.{{sfn|Smith|1969|pp=65–66}}