Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

italia-irredenta

Noun
[ee-tah-lee-ah eer-reh-den-tah]
Definition
Italia Irredenta (Italian meaning ‘unredeemed Italy’) refers to the territories that Italian nationalists believed should be part of Italy due to ethnic and historical ties, primarily focusing on regions inhabited by Italians that were under foreign rule.
Examples
  • The concept of italia-irredenta was a key issue in Italy’s foreign policy in the early 20th century.
  • Prominent figures in this movement included poet Gabriele D’Annunzio, who fiercely advocated for territorial claims.
  • After World War I, the idea of italia-irredenta was partly realized with the annexation of certain territories.
Meaning
The term encapsulates the Italian nationalist movement that sought to unify all Italian-speaking and culturally Italian areas under one nation, especially during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Synonyms
  • Unredeemed Italy
  • Italian irredentism
  • Italian nationalism