Fanart: Malattia e Morte di Cavour

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Title: "Malattia e Morte di Cavour"
Author: J.J.
Warning: None
Notes: This takes part to the Italian project: 150 fanart per l'Italia.
Disclaimer:
"Axis Powers Hetalia" belong to Himaruya Hidekaz. I'm merely using his characters because I love them...
Summary: Veneziano & Romano during the sickness and death of Camillo Benso Count of Cavour.




Extra note:
For who's interested to know...

History:

You're probably familiar with June 2nd being the date in which had birth the Italian republic, but it's also the date in which Cavour fell sick (he'll die the 6th) and in which Garibaldi died.

Camillo Paolo Filippo Giulio Benso, Count of Cavour (Turin, August 10, 1810 - Turin, June 6, 1861) is considered a 'Padre della Patria' (Father of The Fatherland). He was the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Sardinia and later became the 1st Prime Minister of the kingdom of Italy. He orchestrated the assorted annexions the Kingdom of Sardinia made in 1859/61, turning it into the Kingdom of Italy (5 times bigger than how it was before) and a power in Europe. He managed to get an agreement between the Right party and the Left party called Connubio (litterally "Marriage") that basically allowed him to rule almost without opposition (it seems in one of the many, MANY aguments he had with the king he said 'I'm the KING'. Needless to say Vittorio Emanuele didn't love him much). He was also known for being a REALLY HARD worker.

It might look surprising to you but Cavour didn't speak Italian. Actually back then only few did. Cavour spoke French (the most widely known language at the time, the one usually used by royalties and diplomacies) and Piedmontese, which was at the time the official language of Piedmont. Italian began to SLOWLY spread after the unification of Italy.

In his own way Cavour was a patriot, as in he was ready to do everything he could for what he judged his country (the Kingdom of Sardinia). Although he was an amazing diplomat his methods weren't always ortodox. In his own opinion in politic there shouldn't be thankfulness or grudge.

For a long time Cavour didn't believe in Italian unity. Simply put he didn't judge it possible or profitable. What he wanted was to get all north Italy, which he deemed enough rich and Piemont-like to make a fine and easy addition to the Kingdom Of Sardinia. For the rest of Italy he planned a federation in which center Italy would be given to Napoléon (Jérôme) Bonaparte, who had married one of Vittorio Emanuele's daughters and south Italy would even remain in the hands of the Borboni or end up in the hands of a relative of Napoléon III. Also according to him the Pope could have honorary presidence of the federation or something like that (I doubt the Pope would have apprecciated it). When this plan was discharged (after the second war of independence the kingdom of Sardinia didn't get the Veneto as planned but he get Emilia and Tuscany) he still tried to find an agreement with Francesco II, who refused it (The agreement included taking part of the Pope's land. Franesco, who was very and honestly religious and greatly respect the Pope couldn't even conceive taking away what was of the Pope). However, once Garibaldi conqueared Sicily, he changed his mind, dismissed using diplomacy with the Borboni and did his best to assure all south Italy ended up in the kingdom of Sardinia's hands.

In his life Cavour never visited south nor had particular interest in it (for nearly all his life he didn't think he would get it and died short after south was annexed to Italy), however it was the kind of person who would try to do his best for his nation (or what he believed was the best). Although he wasn't a completely selfless man, before dying he recommended not to injury the southerns or to use the state of siege or weapons to govern them but to use freedom. It also seems he would have disliked a central state, favouring a more federalist model. Sadly, with his death neither of his ideas were attuated. Since he died so early in the kingom of Italy's history it's impossible to say if, had he survived, he would have put in act his own words (it might also be they were only the result of the fact he was raving in his last moments), but he was an amazingly good politician who aimed at the best for his own country and south now was part of it. Back then it was common opinion if there was someone who could have handled the situation Italy ended up after its unification, it was him. Too bad he died and the people he left behind, even if aimed with good will, weren't at his level.

Cavour and Vittorio Emanuele II didn't get along well. If it had been up to Vittorio Emanuele Cavour wouldn't have been Prime Minister. He guessed rather early Cavour would end up bossying them all though I guess he knew the man was a genius in his own work. Cavour didn't like the king either (I guess he didn't deem him smart and subtle enough) but, in his own way, was loyal to him (though he also tended to trow some scarying temper tantrums when things didn't go as he said). Cavour and Garibaldi didn't get along either. Garibaldi was too impulsive, risking to ruin Cavour's plans and couldn't forgive Cavour for giving his hometown, Nizza (Nice) to France, making him a foreigner in his own country. To be honest Cavour tried to give only Savoy to France but, when Napoleon insisted about Nizza, he let it go, judging the idea to get Lombardy and Veneto much more profitable than keeping Nizza.

As you could have read in the previous notes Cavour was a man from the north Italy and, basically, of the north Italy. It also seem the Piedmont (and maybe the rest of North Italy) felt honest grief for his sudden sickness and death, which is why Veneziano is so desperate. It also seem in his delirium Cavour said he was holding Italy in his arms which is why I've represented him hugging Veneziano. South Italy couldn't have felt a tie to this man (by the way in south Italy were already slowly starting troubles... Garibaldi, just before Cavour fell sick, had complained about how things were going there), however Romano is present anyway because his death will affect him too. Also, in his delirium Cavour worried for him (which is why Romano has a half pissed half sad expression) so I think it's fair for Romano to be present, rightfully pissed about his situation but, at the same time, saddened that the only man who ould probably handle better the problems he was about to face was about to die. Oh, about the clothes of the Italys... they were the standard ones of that time. Usually they were mostly brown but could be also black. I kept them black because black is a colour for mourning (you should wear it after the person is death though... or it's bad luck... but this is a fanart and I wanted to represent also the mourning of Cavour...). Also, it could be fitting that Romano and Veneziano already knew Cavour wouln't make it.
The room I draw with some minor differences really exists in Cavour's house... it's called the Green Room... only it wasn't Cavour's room. -_- But I discovered it only after I draw the fanart. :P