Italian unification, also known as Risorgimento, was the political and social movement that consolidated various states of the Italian Peninsula into the single nation of Italy during the 19th century. This process took place between 1815 and 1871, driven by a desire for national identity and independence from foreign rule. Key figures in this movement included Giuseppe Garibaldi, Count Camillo di Cavour, and King Victor Emmanuel II. The unification was achieved through a series of wars, diplomatic efforts, and popular uprisings, culminating in the proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy in 1861 and the capture of Rome in 1870.