What state started the process of unifying the nation of italy?

Piedmont (western Italy with Torino as capital) ...at that time part of the Kingdom of Piedmont and  Sardinia. Crucial figure of unification (or of its initiation) was count of Cavour who was at that time prime minister of that kingdom (mid-19th century). Cavour´s initiation of unification means that the process of unification took place from above. He was prime minister of Piedmont-Sardinia under Victor Emmanuel II. As his prime minister initiated negotiations with Garibaldi and consequently Piedmont-Sardinia were united with Sicily and Southern Italy.  When Victor Emmanuel II declared Kingdom of Italy (1861), Cavour was his prime minister. Three crucial figures of the process: king Victor Emmanuel II, Camillo de Cavour, Garibaldi.

Explanation: Cavour believed in free trade and historical rights of Italians to have one unified state.

answer; taking up arms to defend the nation;

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