Lombard nationalism
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2018}}
{{short description|Nationalist movement in Lombardy, Italy}}
File:Flag of Milan.svg and the Duchy of Milan)]]
Lombard nationalism is a nationalist, but primarily regionalist, movement active primarily in Lombardy, Italy. It seeks more autonomy or even independence from Italy for Lombardy and, possibly, all the lands that are linguistically or historically Lombard.{{cite web|url=http://www.prolombardia.eu/la-lombardia/|title=La Lombardia storica|language=IT}} During the 1990s, it was strictly connected with Padanian nationalism.
Today the main Lombard nationalist parties are the Lombard League and Pro Lombardy Independence.
History
Image:Baratta Lombardia.jpg: Allegory of Lombardy (Bode-Museum, Berlin)]]
Like in the rest of Europe, during the Romantic Era there was an awakening of the national sentiment in Lombardy. The Napoleonic creation of the Cispadane Republic, which was later replaced by the Cisalpine one, opened the doors to the political debate. Carlo Botta, a Piedmontese politician, wrote a book entitled Proposition to the Lombards about a way of free government, where he claimed the need of a constitution for the Lombard Nation, independent from the French one inspired by the Revolution.{{cite web|url=http://www.treccani.it/enciclopedia/carlo-botta_%28Dizionario-Biografico%29/|title=Carlo Botta – Biografia|language=IT|website=Treccani}} At the same time, Giuseppe Faroni proposed a draft constitution entitled Constitutional pole for the Lombard Republic.{{cite web|url=http://www.dircost.unito.it/altriDocumenti/docs/17970119_italiaProgettoFaroni_ita.pdf|title=Polo Costituzionale per la Repubblica Lombarda|language=IT}}
The first independence movements appeared in the first half of the 19th century. Carlo Porta, one of the most important Lombard intellectuals, presented his adhesion to this idea in some writings.{{cite web|url=https://www.culturacattolica.it/cultura/il-calendario-del-marciapiedaio/da-ricordare/5-gennaio-carlo-porta-grande-poeta-italiano-di-lingua-milanese|title=5 Gennaio. Carlo Porta, grande poeta italiano di lingua milanese.|language=IT}}{{cite web|url=http://www.turismo.milano.it/wps/portal/tur/it/arteecultura/architetturaemonumenti/monumenti/monumento_carlo_porta|title=Monumento a Carlo Porta |language=IT}} They were often associated with Italian federalist movements, but they considered Lombardy as a nation instead a mere administrative division of the future state:
{{quote|{{verse translation|Che vegga Italia e la nazion lombarda
strette ad un patto|That I'll see Italy and the Lombard nation
close to a deal}}|Pater Noster (dei Milanesi), a patriotic song of 1848{{cite web|url=http://www.aclorien.it/archiviocantipatriottici/song.php?id=5826|title=PATER NOSTER (DEI MILANESI)|language=IT}}}}
During the Five Days of Milan in 1848, at first, insurgents only wanted greater autonomy for Lombardy in the Austrian Empire, with the possibility to administrate itself. A large part of the leaders of the insurrection, such as Carlo Cattaneo, was opposed to the Piedmont intervention.{{cite web|url=http://www.ilgiornale.it/news/spettacoli/savoia-o-federalismo-svolta-centralista-nelle-cinque-1395141.html?mobile_detect=false#/regionali/tempo-reale/1|title=Savoia o federalismo? La svolta centralista nelle Cinque giornate della Milano insorta|language=IT}}{{cite web|url=http://www.treccani.it/enciclopedia/carlo-cattaneo_%28Enciclopedia-dei-ragazzi%29/|title=Carlo Cattaneo|website=Treccani|language=IT}}
After the annexation to the Kingdom of Sardinia (and the creation of the Italian state), it seemed that some republican and federalist movements wanted the creation of a State of Milan, because of the cultural, economical and social differences between Lombardy and the rest of Italy.{{cite book|title=L'Italia nel 1898: Tumulti e reazione|author=Napoleone Colajanni|url=https://archive.org/stream/litalianel1898tu00cola#page/240/mode/2up/search/separatismo|language=IT}}{{cite web|url=http://www.lindipendenzanuova.com/fu-milano-a-tentare-la-prima-secessione-dallitalia-e-lo-fece-la-sinistra/|title=Fu Milano a tentare la prima secessione dall'Italia. E lo fece la sinistra!|author=Romano Bracalini}}
File:Moti 1898 Piazza Duomo.jpg in Milan, 1898]]
During the riots of Milan in 1898 and the other strikes in the following years (especially in 1913, when the Kingdom had to move 30 000 soldiers), some rumours of separatism came to the Italian government.{{cite journal|journal=Sherbrooke Daily Record|title=General strike now in Italy|url=http://collections2.banq.qc.ca/jrn03/dn3097/src/1913/08/11/5274927_1913-08-11.pdf|date=11 August 1913}}{{cite journal|journal=The New York Times|title=MORE MILAN RIOTS; 30,000 TROOPS OUT; Strike Leaders Demand the Separation of Lombardy from Rest of Italy.|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1913/08/11/100640906.pdf|date=10 August 1913}}
In the 1950s, some small movements for autonomy appeared such as the Movimento Autonomista Bergamasco,{{cite book|title= Zibaldone autonomista d'un montanaro bergamasco|author=Guido Calderoli|place=Bergamo|publisher=Tip. TOM|year=1958|url=http://opac.sbn.it/opacsbn/opaclib?saveparams=false&db=solr_iccu&select_db=solr_iccu&searchForm=opac%2Ficcu%2Ffree.jsp&resultForward=opac%2Ficcu%2Ffull.jsp&do_cmd=search_show_cmd&x=0&y=0&nentries=1&rpnlabel=+Tutti+i+campi+%3D+Zibaldone+autonomista+d%27un+montanaro+bergamasco+%28parole+in+AND%29+&rpnquery=%2540attrset%2Bbib-1%2B%2B%2540attr%2B1%253D1016%2B%2540attr%2B4%253D6%2B%2522Zibaldone%2Bautonomista%2Bmontanaro%2Bbergamasco%2522&&fname=none&from=1|language=IT|id=IT\ICCU\SBL\0490367}}{{cite book|title=Breve storia del MAB|author=Anselmo Freddi|place=Bergamo|publisher=Tip. F.lli Carrara|year=1963|language=IT}} founded in 1947{{cite journal|url=https://purehost.bath.ac.uk/ws/files/186898924/MAB_article_revised._Final_Edit_for_Scholar_One.pdf|title=The Movimento Autonomista Bergamasco and the Lega Nord: continuities and discontinuities|doi=10.1017/mit.2018.4|last=Newt|first=George|journal=Modern Italy|date=1 March 2018|volume=23|issue=3|pages=235–252|s2cid=149319048}} by Guido Calderoli, which participated in the local elections in 1956,{{cite web|url=https://insorgenze.net/tag/movimento-autonomista-bergamasco/|title=Movimento autonomista bergamasco|language=IT}}{{cite book|title=Storia delle destre nell'Italia Repubblicana|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LYnRBAAAQBAJ&q=movimento+autonomista+bergamasco&pg=PT224|language=IT|author=Giovanni Orsina|isbn=978-8849843002|publisher=Rubbettino Editore|year=2014}} and later involved other Lombard provinces,{{cite web|url=http://www.linkiesta.it/it/blog-post/2012/04/05/lega-nord-il-futuro-ha-un-cuore-antico-che-sta-nelle-valli-e-ha-riscop/5400/|title=Lega Nord, il futuro ha un cuore antico che sta nelle valli e ha riscoperto il segno della croce|language=IT}} turning first into Movimento Autonomista Regionale Lombardo (asking for creation of the Lombard Region, as required by the Italian constitution){{cite web|url=http://bfscollezionidigitali.org/index.php/Detail/Object/Show/object_id/3121|title=Che cosa vuole il M.A.R.L.|language=IT|access-date=1 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180501231611/http://bfscollezionidigitali.org/index.php/Detail/Object/Show/object_id/3121|archive-date=1 May 2018|url-status=dead}} and then into Movimento Autonomie Regionali Padane (participating at political elections in 1958{{cite web|url=http://elezionistorico.interno.gov.it/index.php?tpel=C&dtel=25/05/1958&tpa=I&tpe=A&lev0=0&levsut0=0&es0=S&ms=S |title=Risultati elezioni 1958|language=IT}} and 1967), before dissolution in 1970. Another movement is the Unione autonomisti padani, created by Ugo Gavazzeni with the union of various autonomist movements in northern Italy, that participated at political elections in 1967.
From the legacy of this experiences{{cite book|title=L'idiota in politica: antropologia della Lega Nord|author=Lynda Dematteo|page=43|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZtEQoffwMxgC&q=movimento+autonomista+bergamasco&pg=PA43|language=IT|year=2011|publisher=Feltrinelli Editore|isbn=978-8807172076}} in the 1980s, the Lombard League was founded (since 1989 part of the Northern League). During the years, its political goal shifted between the separatism and the ask for a greater autonomy in the Italian state.{{cite web|url=http://www.treccani.it/enciclopedia/lega-nord_%28Dizionario-di-Storia%29/|title=Lega Nord (dizionario di storia)|website=Treccani|language=IT}} In 2018, the independentist tendency was officially abandoned by the federal secretary Matteo Salvini,{{cite web|url=http://www.tgcom24.mediaset.it/politica/speciale-politiche-2018/salvini-nel-2018-la-lega-non-parla-piu-di-secessione-_3123659-201802a.shtml|title=Salvini: "Nel 2018 la Lega non parla più di secessione"|language=IT}} after five years of ambiguity.{{cite web|url=https://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2015/11/22/lega-nord-la-base-chiede-ancora-la-secessione-a-salvini-ok-il-consenso-ma-non-dimenticare-il-tuo-popolo/2242186/amp/|title=Lega Nord, la base chiede ancora la secessione a Salvini: "Ok il consenso, ma non dimenticare il tuo popolo"|language=IT}}
File:Umberto Bossi, Pontida, 1990.jpg, founder of the Lombard League, in 1990]]
In the first decades of the 21st century, some cultural initiative and political parties appeared (among which Pro Lombardia Indipendenza is the best structured one).{{cite web|url=http://thefielder.net/10/12/2013/dal-pirellone-alla-laguna-lindipendentismo-lombardo-veneto/|title=Dal Pirellone alla Laguna: indipendentismo lombardo-veneto|language=IT|access-date=29 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180430050504/http://thefielder.net/10/12/2013/dal-pirellone-alla-laguna-lindipendentismo-lombardo-veneto/|archive-date=30 April 2018|url-status=dead}}
In 2017, an advisory referendum (done simultaneously with the Venetian one) about the concession of a greater autonomy to the Lombard Region took place. 38.3% of Lombards turned out for the referendum and 95.3% of them voted for greater autonomy.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/ng-interactive/2017/oct/27/beyond-catalonia-pro-independence-movements-in-europe-map|title=Beyond Catalonia: pro-independence movements in Europe|website=TheGuardian.com }}{{cite web|url=http://amp.ilsole24ore.com/pagina/AEKJAltC|title=Il Veneto supera il quorum (57,2%), Sì al 98,1%. Lombardia, affluenza del 38,5%|language=IT}} So the president of Lombardy, Roberto Maroni, opened the negotiations with Rome.{{cite web|url=http://formiche.net/2017/11/autonomia-regionale-lombardia-trattativa/|title=Regione Lombardia, ecco i 6 punti della trattativa con Roma sull'autonomia|language=IT}}
File:LOMBARDIA NAZIONE 3.jpg]]
After the latest elections for the central and regional government in 2018, the new Lombard president Attilio Fontana designated Stefano Bruno Galli as the autonomy assessor, waiting for the formation of the new Italian government.{{cite web|url=http://www.affaritaliani.it/milano/autonomia-la-lombardia-fara-ripartire-trattative-col-nuovo-governo-534238.html|title=Autonomia, Regione Lombardia: "Ripartiranno le trattative col nuovo governo"|language=IT}}
Definition of ''Lombardy''
File:Member Cities of the Lombard Leagues.png
During the ages, the concept of Lombardy changed quite frequently.
In Early Middle Ages, the word Longobardia indicated all the Lombard Kingdom. Since the 12th century, the archaic term was gradually replaced by Lombardia (as a linguistic evolution, first appeared in the Pauli Continuatio) and in the geographic view it indicated first the area of the Langobardia Maior and then only the Po Valley, where the centre of the Lombard power was located. Meanwhile, Lombardia took on a political meaning, with the creation of the Lombard League and the fight against the emperors for the municipal liberties.{{cite web|url=http://www.lombardiabeniculturali.it/istituzioni/storia/?unita=01|title=La Lombardia medievale (sec. VI – XII) – Istituzioni storiche|language=IT}}
The definition remained such until the 19th century,e.g. {{cite book|title=Lombardia ch ́ abbracia Gli Stati De ́ Duchi Di Savoja, Mantova, Parma E Modona, E Del Milanese|language=IT|year=1706|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=laJeAAAAcAAJ&q=lombardia+savoiarda&pg=PT1|author=Vincenzo Maria Coronelli}} when the new Italian state created the current administrative region in the territory of the so-called Austrian Lombardy, with the addition of Lomellina and Oltrepò Pavese.{{cite journal|title=Come si chiama questa Terra?|url=https://archivio.associazionegilbertooneto.org/ARCHIVIO/PDF/Quad_02.pdf|language=IT|author=Gilberto Oneto|journal=Quaderni Padani N.2 – 1995|pages=7–8}}
File:Visconti XIV century - Lombard language lmo.svg
Linguistically, the Lombard-speaking area is bigger than the administrative region, and also includes the provinces of Novara, Verbano-Cusio-Ossola plus a part of the Alessandria one in Piedmont, Canton Ticino and the southern valleys of Grigioni in Switzerland, and the western valleys of Trentino. It partially corresponds to the territory of the first Visconti domain in the 13th century.{{cite web|url=http://www.treccani.it/enciclopedia/dialetti-lombardi_(Enciclopedia-dell%27Italiano)|title= Lombardi, dialetti|website=Treccani|language=IT}}
Some independence parties use alternative expressions, such as Historical Lombardy, in opposition to the today's administrative region.{{cite web|url=http://www.grandelombardia.org/it/?page_id=9|title=Lombardia Etnica|language=IT}} According to Pro Lombardy Independence and Eurominority, it corresponds with the joined Lombard-speaking and Emilian-speaking areas.{{cite web|title=Europe of Nations|url=https://imgur.com/Fc6ZNy4}}
Symbolism
The Lombard movements today don't have a unique symbol recognized by all.
The statue of Legnano Warrior, erroneously identified as Alberto da Giussano, was first used in the end of 1950s by the journal La Regione Lombarda, official organ of the Movimento Autonomista Regionale Lombardo.{{cite web|url=http://www.isimbolidelladiscordia.it/2018/03/il-simbolo-del-carroccio-nacque-prima.html|title=Il simbolo del Carroccio? Nacque prima della Lega (lombarda)|language=IT}}{{cite web|url=http://www.isimbolidelladiscordia.it/2016/09/i-segreti-dello-spadone-da-giussano.html|title=I segreti dello spadone da Giussano|language=IT}} Later it was adopted by the Lombard League and finally became the symbol of the Northern League; today is recognized only as a symbol of that political party.{{cite web|url=https://www.tpi.it/2018/03/28/simbolo-lega-nord-storia/amp/|title=La storia del simbolo della Lega Nord|language=IT}}
The Saint Ambrose's Cross (often referred to as the most famous St. George Cross) is used by most independence and autonomy parties,{{cite web|url=http://www.prolombardia.eu/la-lombardia/la-bandiera-lombarda/|title=Croce di San Giorgio: la bandiera dei lombardi|language=IT}} some of them also use the flag of the Duchy of Milan (called Ducale),{{cite web|url=http://www.varesenews.it/lettera/il-ducale-simbolo-dell-insubria-non-e-inventato/|title=Il ducale simbolo dell'Insubria non è inventato|language=IT}} the Camunian rose (official flag of the Lombard region){{cite web|url=http://www.lindipendenzanuova.com/collettivo-avanti-rosa-camuna-la-nostra-bandiera/|title=Collettivo Avanti: Rosa Camuna la nostra bandiera|language=IT}} or a flag inspired by federalist movements of 1848, with St. Ambrose's Cross superimposed by green.{{cite web|url=https://avantilombardia.wordpress.com/2016/07/05/proposta-per-una-bandiera-lombarda/amp/|title=Proposta per una bandiera lombarda|language=IT}}{{cite web|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/vexillology/comments/6xz0tj/a_flag_for_northern_italy/|title=A flag for Northern Italy}} There is also the idea of using a flag with both the red cross and the Biscione of the House of Visconti.{{cite web|url=https://www.flaginstitute.org/wp/2015/04/the-many-crosses-of-st-george/|title=The many Crosses of St. George|date=20 April 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://www.prolombardia.eu/bene-la-bandiera-lombarda-ma-niente-italianate/|title=Bene la bandiera lombarda, ma niente italianate|language=IT|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220328044222/http://www.prolombardia.eu/bene-la-bandiera-lombarda-ma-niente-italianate/|archive-date=March 28, 2022}}
File:Flag of Milan.svg|St. Ambrose Cross (as used by the City of Milan)
File:Flag of the Golden Ambrosian Republic.svg|Flag of the Golden Ambrosian Republic
File:Flag of the Duchy of Milan (1450).svg|The Ducale (flag of the Duchy of Milan and modern symbol of Insubrian ethnicity)
File:Flag of Lombardy.svg|Camunian rose (flag of the Lombard Region)
File:Proposed flag of Northern Italy.svg|St. Ambrose's Cross superimposed by green (proposed)
References
{{Ethnic nationalism}}
{{Stateless nationalism in Europe}}