<P> An important figure of this period was Francesco Melzi d'Eril, serving as vice-president of the Napoleonic Italian Republic (1802--1805) and consistent supporter of the Italian unification ideals that would lead to the Italian Risorgimento shortly after his death . Meanwhile, artistic and literary sentiment also turned towards nationalism; Vittorio Alfieri, Francesco Lomonaco and Niccolò Tommaseo are generally considered three great literary precursors of Italian nationalism, but the most famous of proto - nationalist works was Alessandro Manzoni's I promessi sposi (The Betrothed) widely read as a thinly - veiled allegorical critique of Austrian rule . Published in 1827 and extensively revised in the following years the 1840 version of I Promessi Sposi used a standardized version of the Tuscan dialect, a conscious effort by the author to provide a language and force people to learn it . </P> <P> Exiles dreamed of unification . Three ideals of unification appeared . Vincenzo Gioberti, a Piedmontese priest, had suggested a confederation of Italian states under leadership of the Pope in his 1842 book, Of the Moral and Civil Primacy of the Italians . Pope Pius IX at first appeared interested but he turned reactionary and led the battle against liberalism and nationalism . </P> <P> Giuseppe Mazzini and Carlo Cattaneo wanted the unification of Italy under a federal republic, which proved too extreme for most nationalists . The middle position was proposed by Cesare Balbo (1789--1853) as a confederation of separate Italian states led by Piedmont . </P> <P> One of the most influential revolutionary groups was the Carboneria, a secret political discussion group formed in Southern Italy early in the 19th century; the members were called Carbonari . After 1815, Freemasonry in Italy was repressed and discredited due to its French connections . A void was left that the Carboneria filled with a movement that closely resembled Freemasonry but with a commitment to Italian nationalism and no association with Napoleon and his government . The response came from middle class professionals and business men and some intellectuals . The Carboneria disowned Napoleon but nevertheless were inspired by the principles of the French Revolution regarding liberty, equality and fraternity . They developed their own rituals, and were strongly anticlerical . The Carboneria movement spread across Italy . </P>

Which kingdom led the way in creating a strong italian nation state