While the Italian government was eagerly discussing how to complete its great unification project, Pius IX in Rome was not feeling joyful at all.
Although the Austro-Hungarian Empire promised to protect the security of the Papal States and provide defense, the problem is, where are your Austrian soldiers? You can't just shout across the Adriatic Sea towards Italy!
The Adriatic Sea may not be wide, and the Austro-Hungarian Empire's navy is not weak either, but the Austro-Hungarian navy cannot land and engage in a battle of attrition with the Italian army.
Since the Battle of Lissa, the Italian Kingdom's navy had become a laughing stock, and its budget was drastically reduced. Historically, until 1877, did the Italian Kingdom reinvest in developing its navy, so this period marks one of the weakest moments for the Italian navy.
