collapse the Viennese government was forced to partake in the 1867 Austro-Hungarian Compromise, which forced the Austrian government to grant significant autonomy to the Hungarian portion of the Empire. This resulted in the Empire being renamed as the Austro-Hungarian Empire and brought about greater equality between Hungarian and German speaking peoples of the Empire. With the loss of Venetia Austrian influence on the Italian Peninsula established by the Congress of Vienna was brought to an end. All this combined reinforced the idea that Austria had become a second-rate great power. The treaty brought the Italian state greater prestige and elevated its diplomatic position in Europe as a great power. However, due to Italy’s poor performance in the war Austria was able to retain several strategic mountains passes and mountain peaks in the Alps. This would have serious strategic implications for Italy during the First World War when fighting on the Alpine Front against Austria. Italian Unification The Treaty of Vienna was a major milestone for the Unification of Italy, bringing Venice and the Veneto into the Italian State. After the war the Italian King, Victor Emmanuel, proclaimed that ‘Italy was made but not complete’. Although the treaty secured Venetia for Italy, sects of the Italian government and many Italian nationalists, including Garibaldi, did not feel Italy had gained enough territory, with many had hoping the treaty would also gain Trieste and Trentino for Italy, with some going as far lay claim to the South Tyrol, Fiume (Rijeka), and the Dalmatian Coast. This disappointment became the driving force of Italian Irredentism in the late nineteenth century. It would be this ongoing desire to claim Trieste and Trentino that would be the main cause for Italy’s entry into the First World War against Austria-Hungary. After the 1919 Paris Peace Settlement Italy’s territorial ambitions would be partially fulfilled with the acquisition of Trentino-South Tyrol, and Trieste, however, it was only under Mussolini that the full goals of 1866 would accomplished when Fascist Italy occupied the Dalmatian coast, an acquisition that was reversed following the end of the Second World War. See also Italian Unification Third Italian War of Independence Austro-Prussian War Peace of Prague (1866) Austro-Hungarian Compromise of 1867 References 1866 in the Austrian Empire 1866 in Italy Vienna 1866 treaties Vienna Treaties of the Second French Empire Treaties involving territorial changes Third Italian War of Independence