The Crimean war was fought between Russia and Turkey. But England and France sided with Turkey due to their own interests. Piedmont had no interest of her own in this war, because neither she was the enemy of Russia, nor she had any interest in the Eastern Question.

In spite of this, Cavour decided to send the army of Piedmont in support of England, France and Turkey. It was, no doubt, risky but also smacked of a sheer opportunism.

He was a farsighted man who wanted to seek the friendship of England and France and gain the sympathy of those great nations for the problems of Italy. In the words of Marriot:

“It was seemingly a crazy enterprise. But Cavour’s rashness was always the result of prudent calculation. That he was playing for high stakes he knew; but he was confident of victory.”

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In the war of Crimea, the future of Italy was decided. A treaty of Paris was concluded in 1856 to which Cavour was also invited. There, he got a chance to put the problems of Italy before the Great powers of Europe. He declared that the root cause of the problems of Italy was the influence and dominance of Austria. He clearly said:

“Austria is the arch enemy of Italian independence, the permanent danger to the only free nation in Italy, the nation which I have the honour to represent.”

It was the great diplomatic success of Cavour. Though he could not take any direct advantage from the Crimean war and the treaty of Paris, still they helped him in boosting his own prestige and the political power of Piedmont.

The countries of Europe like England and France accorded their recognition to the war of independence of Italy. In this way, the problems of Italy turned into international problems. Cavour was very much pleased with his success. He said:

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“The Italian question has become for the future a European question. The cause of Italy has not been defended by demagogues, revolutionists and party men, but has been discussed before the plenipotentiaries of the Great Powers.”