History of Ancona part 2

Ancona during Italian unification (Risorgimento)

Ancona played an importal role in italian unification and the city were actively involved in liberation riots.
In 1830s Carboneria (a freemasonry movement) spread across the country.
The Italian statesman Massimo d’Azeglio, Prime Minister of Sardinia, often visited Ancona where he spent a long time.
Many of our citizens took part into 1831 riots, including the patriot Lorenzo Lesti.
The riots were quickly repressed and ended with serious trials and sentences.
For example, on 8th February 1831 two patriots were killed and many others injured. The city definitively fell in the hands of Austrian on 29th March.
Pontifical army did not oppose French troops so they regained power on 22th february 1832 and settle down in Ancona until 30th November 1838, when the city was gave back Pope after many negotiations.
On 1st March 1832 a Young Italy congregation was established in Pope’s square.
Some conspiring efforts raised against Pope Gregory XVI, as Antonio Giannelli’s illegal sect did in spring 1846.

Giuseppe Garibaldi reached Ancona on 9th December 1848, received by local patriots Antonio Elia (a former friend), his son Augusto and Elia’s brother Fortunato.
When Roman Republic was established, Pope Pio IX asked austrian help to get Romagna and Marche domain back. This led to a siege in 1849 and Ancona was among the last three cities to resist during first Italian independence war.
The patriot Antonio Elia defended the city on a ship, bringing people food and medicines.
The young poet Luigi Mercantini and the anconitan hero Lorenzo Nesti helped him.
Also women were involved into the resistance, caring for injured. Priests were charged with taking them to hospitals.
On 21st June, the resistance gave up and Antonio Elia was shot. Austrian occupation began and lasted about 10 years.

Ancona joins Kingdom of Italy.

Pontifical troops, after Castelfidardo defeat, resisted and defended their last territories, but when Italian army rounded Ancona started a new siege. Then they entered Ancona. On 3rd october 1860 King Vittorio Emanuel II went to celebrate Ancona as part of Italy.

First world war

In the early 1900s Ancona was involved in many anarchist riots that led to “Red Week” (an antimilitarist rebellion) as a consequence of debate between interventist and neutralist just before Italy joined the first world war.
On 24th May 1915 Austrian bombed Ancona. Many people died and the Cathedral was seriously damaged. In addition, the city was affected by some earthquakes from 21st October 1916.
City harbour soon became a military motorboat (MAS) base led by Captain Luigi Rizzo. During the war Carlo Grassi and Giuseppe Maganuco standed out for their strong resistence against Austrian invasion. Emilio Bianchi was awarded a gold medal for his military valour.

Massimo D' Azeglio

Luigi Mercantini

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