Next the Marches and Umbria

The feeling that the Marches and Umbria were next in the progress of revolution in Italy was powerful among virtually all the parties to the conflict. Whether to regard the prospect with dread or joy depended on one's allegiances. How it might happen no one knew. The expectation itself was to have an influence on the course of events.

The Italian National Society issued a proclamation on 22 March to papal and Neapolitan troops urging them not to resist the movement to liberate Italy, and inviting them to defect to Sardinia's side. Tens of thousands of copies were distributed throughout the Papal States. Some small demonstrations were held. Odo Russell reported low-key and well-disciplined demonstrations in Rome itself. The National Society was in direct and regular communication with Cavour on the matter.

Napoleon continued for the time being to desire no further revolution to break out in the Papal States. What Napoleon now wanted most was to take his troops out of Rome. Annexing Savoy and Nice appeared to be satiating him, and he could concentrate on extricating himself from his papal difficulty. Even before the plebiscites in the Romagna, the French government had reopened the topic of evacuation, suggesting to the papal government that troops from the king of Naples might replace the French in the Papal States. Antonelli did not oppose the idea.