List of historical states of Italy


, up until its unification in 1861, was a conglomeration of city-states, republics, and other independent entities. The following is a list of the various Italian states during that period. Following the fall of the Western Roman Empire and the arrival of the Middle Ages, the Italian Peninsula was divided into numerous states. Many of these states consolidated into major political units that balanced the power on the Italian Peninsula: the Papal States, the Venetian Republic, the Republic of Florence, the Duchy of Milan, the Kingdom of Naples and the Kingdom of Sicily. Unlike all the other Italian states of the medieval and early modern period, the republics of Venice and Genoa, thanks to their maritime power, went beyond territorial conquests within the Italian Peninsula, conquering various regions across the Mediterranean and Black Seas.

Ancient Italy

The ancient peoples of Italy are broadly referred to in historiography as Italic peoples, although in modern linguistics this term is used to define only the speakers of the Italic languages, namely the Latino-Faliscans and the Osco-Umbrians. They include:

States in Central and Northern Italy

Major states

The Peace of Cateau Cambrésis ended the Italian Wars in 1559. The kingdoms of Sicily, Sardinia, Naples and the Duchy of Milan were left under the control of Spanish Habsburgs. France was in control of several fortresses and in particular of the Marquisate of Saluzzo. All the other Italian states remained independent, with the most powerful being the Venetian Republic, the Medici's Duchy of Tuscany, the Savoyard state, the Republic of Genoa, and the Papal States. The Gonzaga in Mantua, the Este in Modena and Ferrara and the Farnese in Parma and Piacenza continued to be important dynasties. Parts of the north of Italy remained a part of the Holy Roman Empire.

Major states

During the War of the Spanish Succession, Savoy acquired Sicily, while the remaining Spanish dominions in Italy were taken over by the Austrian Habsburgs. In 1720, Savoy exchanged Sicily for Sardinia. Following the extinction of the House of Medici, the Grand Duchy of Tuscany was ruled by the Habsburg-Lorraine. Later on, Southern Italy passed to a cadet branch of the House of Bourbon, known as House of Bourbon-Two Sicilies. Other states such as Genoa, Venice, Modena, the Papal States and Lucca remained with their governments unchanged.

Major states

Their populations and other vital statistics stood as follows in the late 18th century:
  • Kingdom of Naples : 6,000,000, army of 60,000 to 80,000, 2 ships of the lines and some frigates
  • Republic of Venice: 3,500,000, standing army and navy of 30,000, 12-15 ships of at least 54 guns plus frigates and brigs
  • Kingdom of Sardinia: 2,900,000, 12-15 fortified cities and towns, standing army of 25,000, which could be raised to 50,000 in a time of war and 100,000 with militia
  • Papal States: 2,400,000, standing army of 6,000 to 7,000
  • Austrian Lombardy : 1,100,000
  • Grand Duchy of Tuscany: 1,000,000, standing army of 6,000, navy of 3 frigates
  • Republic of Genoa: 500,000
  • Duchy of Parma: 500,000, standing army of 2,500 to 3,000
  • Duchy of Modena: 350,000, standing army of 5,000 to 6,000
  • Republic of Lucca: 100,000
Total: 18.3 million