It must be admitted that looking at the history of Italian unification, apart from the unexpected factor of Garibaldi, the rest can be summed up as entirely reliant on luck, with not an ounce of actual strength.
The Austro-Prussian War allowed Italy to easily gain the Venetian region and the southern part of South Tyrol. This time, the Franco-Prussian War, triggered by the Spanish succession crisis, also gave the Italians a chance to reclaim Rome.
At this time, Rome was under the control of the Catholic Holy See, known as the Papal States. The Papal States received support from France, the dominant power in Europe. As a result, Italy, despite being unified, had been unable to reclaim the central region of Rome.
However, after the war broke out, the French troops stationed in Rome gradually began to withdraw.
Italy was waiting for the moment when all French troops had withdrawn. The army of the Roman Curia would be unable to stop Italy's march towards unification, and Rome was about to become the official capital of the Kingdom of Italy.
As Victor Emmanuel II anxiously awaited the complete withdrawal of French troops from Rome, the Spanish government also submitted a request for a diplomatic visit to the Italian government.
The Spanish delegation sent this time was very impressive, led by Prime Minister Prim, accompanied by several government ministers, and also included several high-ranking Spanish military generals.
Considering the recent Spanish succession event, Victor Emmanuel II appeared to understand the purpose of Spain's diplomatic visit.
However, there was one thing Victor Emmanuel II didn't quite understand: when the Spanish government investigated candidates from other countries, they only conducted covert investigations.
So why, when it came to Italy, did it turn into sending a diplomatic delegation for a visit? The head of the delegation was Spain's new Prime Minister, Prim, a figure who held both military and political power. Describing him as the most powerful man in Spain today is not an exaggeration.
Although he didn't quite understand Prim's intentions, Spain was, after all, a major power on the Mediterranean coast, and Italy naturally would not refuse the Spanish government's proactive visit.
Carlo, who was constantly following news from Spain, naturally also learned of the Spanish government's request for a diplomatic visit to Italy.
Regarding this event that had never happened in history, Carlo couldn't help but have a few more conjectures in his heart.
If Amadeus's name was the only one on the list of candidates for the Spanish throne, they would likely not have come to Italy.
After all, three of the four historical competitors had already withdrawn. If there were no other competitors, Amadeus would have already won.
Combining this with the Spanish government's request for a diplomatic visit, Carlo could conclude that he should also be on the list of candidates for the Spanish throne, and had reached the final round of competition with his brother, Amadeus.
This also meant that the choice for the Spanish throne would become clear with Prim's diplomatic visit. If Carlo wanted to become the King of Spain, he had to firmly seize every opportunity during this diplomatic visit and demonstrate his strengths to Prim.
The good news was that the historical Amadeus became the King of Spain not because he was exceptionally outstanding.
Compared to the other three candidates, Amadeus was only barely qualified. It was precisely because of the proactive withdrawal of the Portuguese Regent Ferdinand and the strong opposition from the French to Prince Leopold becoming the King of Spain that Amadeus benefited from the situation and ultimately won.
However, compared to Carlo, Amadeus also had his advantages. Firstly, he was six years older, and at 25, he appeared more mature and steady, which was relatively important for Spain.
But Carlo was not without his strengths either. He was definitely more familiar with Spain's two current power holders than Amadeus was.
Compared to Prim's aspirations for Spain, Amadeus's mere six-year age advantage wasn't much.
Moreover, Prim, who held military and political power, might not necessarily want to see a more mature and steady king vying for power.
Although being young meant being less mature and steady, it also meant being easier to control than someone older.
At least for Prim, who was currently focused on promoting reforms in Spain, Amadeus might not have the advantage.
After silently calculating his and his brother Amadeus's respective advantages, Carlo began to plan how to showcase his strengths during this diplomatic visit and make Prim choose him.
The first thing to do was to recognize his position.
Regardless of whether Amadeus or Carlo became the King of Spain, neither would be able to wield much real power in the early stages.
It would be fine if they had the support of Prim and Serrano, as these two held significant military and political power, which would be a considerable help to the king.
Without the support of these two, the King of Spain would be completely powerless, a commander without a single reliable subordinate.
In such a situation, Carlo's initial plan after becoming the King of Spain was never to seize power, but to help Prim and Serrano carry out reforms in Spain on the basis of stabilizing his own throne.
Although Spain was currently still a second-tier European country, it had fallen too far behind major powers like Britain, France, Prussia, Russia, and Austria.
Even Italy, which had only recently unified, surpassed Spain in overall strength. If Spain didn't reform and continued to decline, it would even become a third-tier European country.
Prim and Serrano both possessed great prestige, and having them proactively lead Spain's reforms would be smoother than Carlo pushing the reforms himself, and the Spanish people would also find it easier to accept.
More importantly, both Prim and Serrano were willing to see a monarch who supported reforms appear in Spain.
Especially Prim, as the most powerful man in Spain, was a thoroughgoing reformist.
Although the historical Prim was assassinated before Amadeus arrived in Spain, in the short time he served as Prime Minister, he promoted the enactment of several laws and was a representative figure of the Spanish reformist faction.
If Carlo could show his support for reforms during Prim's visit to Italy, he believed he would gain Prim's favor.
As long as either Prim or Serrano supported him, Carlo didn't think he would lose to his brother Amadeus in this competition for the throne.
After all, during his three years as King of Spain, Amadeus did not demonstrate any notable talent, nor did he show much ambition or aspiration.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Support my work and gain access to 15 advanced chapters at [email protected]/Dannycifer.