Empire Rising: Spain

Of course, this time going to Italy, Carlo will also bring along a portion of the guards. However, considering the only separation between Spain and Italy is the Mediterranean, the number of guards accompanying him is not large, totaling only a little over 100 people.

After all, currently, Carlo’s return to Italy is as if he’s going home, so there’s basically no need to worry about his personal safety.

The Italian Government and Royal Family will be concerned about Carlo, and besides, Italy’s current situation is not overly complex, as there aren’t many anti-government extremists.

Before leaving, Carlo specially instructed Duke Serrano and Deputy Prime Minister Canovas to ensure the stable operation of the Spanish government.

Currently, Spain only needs to steadily supply weapons and equipment to Russia and the Ottoman Empire, earning enough gold and other assets from these two warring countries.

Then utilize the money earned to vigorously develop Spain’s industry and economy, allowing Spain’s industrial and economic growth to maintain a relatively fast pace.

As for other matters, the Spanish government doesn’t need to consider them for the time being. Development is the most important issue for Spain; other matters are trivial.

After all matters were arranged, Carlo took Queen Sophie and his sons and daughters on a warship to Rome, Italy.

Accompanying them are three ironclads forming the escort fleet, among which one ironclad is the recently launched Rejuvenation.

This luxurious configuration is more than capable of not just ensuring Carlo’s safety, but even engaging in a small-scale naval battle with other countries.

The fleet departed from Valencia Port in Spain, briefly stopping at the Balearic Islands, then proceeded directly northeast towards Rome.

In Rome, the capital of Italy, the Italian Government has prepared a welcoming ceremony for the Spanish Royal Family.

Although Carlo’s main purpose for coming to Italy this time is to visit Vittorio Emanuele II, Carlo, as a ruler of a powerful European nation and a family member of the Italian Royal Family, the necessary welcoming ceremony cannot be omitted.

The current Prime Minister of Italy is Agostino Depretis, a figure worth mentioning.

This term is Agostino Depretis’ first as Prime Minister, and his political ideology is completely different from his three predecessors.

Agostino Depretis is the 12th Prime Minister since Italy’s establishment, and the third left-wing Prime Minister of Italy.

What do left-wing and right-wing mean?

This division of political ideologies originates from the French Revolution. During the meetings of the French Revolution, the moderate and conservative Royalists generally sat on the right side of the assembly, while the revolutionaries seeking radical democratic and republican reforms sat on the left side.

Sitting on opposite sides became a tradition in the French parliament, and ’left-wing’ and ’right-wing’ became terms representing officials’ political ideologies.

In simple terms, left-wing represents liberal democratic and republican ideas, while right-wing represents conservatism and nationalism.

Agostino Depretis is not simply a left-wing politician. In his early years, he joined the Young Italy movement and supported the Republican ideals of Mazzini.

Although he gradually transitioned to the Monarchist Constitutional Faction while serving as a member of the Sardinian Kingdom’s Parliament, some of his political ideologies have not significantly changed.

Agostino Depretis also joined Garibaldi’s Red Shirt Army and held a high position as a dictator in Sicily.

However, after the Red Shirt Army reclaimed the Sicily Kingdom, Agostino Depretis had differences with the then-democrat Crisspi over the ownership of the Sicily Kingdom, and was eventually dismissed by Garibaldi.

It was precisely because Agostino Depretis supported the Sardinian Kingdom in the ownership issue of the Sicily Kingdom that Vittorio Emanuele II put down his guard against this former Republican.

After the unification of Italy, Agostino Depretis served multiple times as a Cabinet Minister in the Spanish Cabinet and became recognized as the leader of the Italian left-wing group several years after Italy’s unification.

After the poor performance of right-wing officials last year, Agostino Depretis was tasked with leading the formation of a new Cabinet, marking the beginning of his premiership.

Although Agostino Depretis and his predecessor Giovanni had differing political ideologies, their attitudes towards Spain were united, which is to value the Spanish government.

Spain’s comprehensive strength is relatively strong, and at least Italy has no grounds to overlook Spain’s existence.

For Italy, Spain is an ally worth attracting. Agostino himself hopes Italy will actively pursue expansion in Africa and cultivate colonies, naturally making the alliance with Spain, one of the few allies able to assist Italy in Africa, vital.

The most recent and convenient regions for Italian expansion in Africa are Tunisia and Libya.

Particularly the region of Tunisia, which is less than 150 kilometers from Italy’s Sicily, can be said to be right at Italy’s doorstep.

However, for Italy, taking Tunisia is quite challenging. Tunisia is within the sphere of influence of the Ottoman Empire, and before this, Italy had no capability to contend with the Ottoman Empire.