eadership, a large portion of central Italy broke into
revolt and declared for union with Victor Emmanuel's dominion. In
September, 1859, four assemblies, representing the grand-duchy of
Tuscany, the duchies of Modena and Parma, and the Romagna (the
northern portion of the Papal States), met at Florence, Modena, Parma,
and Bologna, respectively, and voted unanimously for incorporation
with Piedmont. During March, 1860, the alternatives of annexation and
independence were submitted to the choice of the inhabitants of each
of these districts, all males of age being privileged to vote, with
the result of an aggregate of 792,577 affirmative votes in a total of
807,502. Under authority conferred by the Piedmontese parliament the
king accepted the territories, the formal proclamation of the
incorporation of Parma, Modena, and the Romagna being dated March 18,
and that of the incorporation of Tuscany, March 22. Deputies were
elected forthwith to represent the annexed provinces, and April 2,
1860, the enlarged parliament was convened at Turin. Within the space
of a year the population of the kingdom had been more than doubled. It
was now 11,000,000, or approximately half of that of the peninsula.

*399. Further Annexations: the Kingdom of Italy, 1861.*--Meanwhile the
programme of Cavour and the king had been broadened to comprise a
thoroughgoing unification of the entire country. With amazing rapidity
the task was carried toward completion. Aided by Garibaldi and his
famous Thousand, the people of Sicily and Naples expelled their
Bourbon sovereign, and, at the plebiscite of October 21, 1860, they
declared, by a vote of 1,734,117 to 10,979, for annexation to
Piedmont. At the same time Umbria and the Marches were occupied by the
Piedmontese forces, leaving to the Pope nothing save the Eternal City
and a bit of territory immediately surrounding it. By votes of 97,040
to 380 and 133,077 to 1,212, respectively, these districts declared
for annexation, and, December 17, 1860, a royal decree announced their
final incorporation, together with that of Naples. January 27, 1861,
general elections were held, and, February 18, there was convened (p. 364)
at Turin a new and enlarged parliament by which, March 18, was
proclaimed the united Kingdom of Italy. Over the whole of the new
territories was extended the memorable _Statuto_ granted to Piedmont
by Charles Albert thirteen years before, and Victor Emmanuel II. was
acknowledged "by the gr