The success of this semi-unification could only be said as a by-product of Piedmontese aggrandizement with French aid for the expulsion of the Austrian influence and at the expense of the Central Italian states. In a real sense it was only unification by war and not unification by popular revolution. In the midst of the Austro-Piedmontese war risings which were engineered by the Italian national societies broke out in Tuscany, Modena and Parma in May 1859 and rulers of these central Duchies fled the country. The Villfrance Pact of July 1859 was reached at last. France and Austria yearly destroyed favour's project of Piedmontese aggrandizement but could no longer stop Italian nationalism and effect the restoration of the overthrow princes in the Central Duchies. It was only under the impact of nationalism that Piedmont and Central were unified-- a great step towards Italian unification.
The unification of north and Central Italy were soon followed by an heroic expedition to the south by Garibaldi and his thousand Red Shirts. After his landing at Marsala, Garibaldi proclaimed himself dictator of the island. The Sicilian people allied to him for the purpose of shaking off the despotic rule of Francis II of Naples. In August, Garibaldi led his forces across the Strait of Messina to attack Naples and took it early in September. The liberation of the south by Garibaldi marked the height of Italian nationalism. For fear that the nationalist mostly in the south might threaten the Piedmontese monarchical rule in the north as well as to forestall Garibaldi's march to take Rome. Cavour by agreement with France sent the Piedmontese army to invade the Marches: then march on to Naples. For the unification of North and South, Garibaldi handed over his conquest to Victor Emmanuel and set sail for his island home refusing all rewards. In February 1861, the first of all Italian parliament met at Turin and in March the kingdom of Italy was proclaimed with Victor Emmanuel II was the first king.