Lombardy votes "YES" in autonomy referendum; Veneto also votes "YES"

'Italy's 2 richest regions claim victory in autonomy votes'

MILAN (AP) — The presidents of Italy's wealthy northern regions of Veneto and Lombardy on Sunday claimed victory in autonomy referendums that seek to grab additional powers and tax revenue from Rome, riding a global tide of self-determination that has swamped Spain's Catalonia region.

The votes were nonbinding, but the leaders of the neighboring regions hope to leverage strong turnout in talks with Italy's center-left government. As leading members of the anti-migrant, anti-EU Northern League, they want to keep more tax revenue and have autonomy over such policy areas as immigration, security, education and environment.

"This is the big bang of institutional reform," Veneto President Luca Zaia said in Venice. "We are convinced, and I hope Rome understands, that this is not the wish of a political party. These are the wishes of the people."

In Milan, his counterpart in Lombardy, Roberto Maroni, said that with the votes, the two regions "can unify our forces so we can do the battle of the century." The two leaders say they will meet with their regional councils to finalize their requests before going to Rome to meet with Premier Paolo Gentiloni.

Unlike in Catalonia, the referendums do not seek independence and were approved by Italy's constitutional court. Still, the autonomy drive is a powerful threat to Rome's authority. Together, Veneto and Lombardy account for 30 percent of Italy's GDP and nearly one-quarter of the nation's electorate.

Maroni said an overwhelming 95 percent of his region's vote went to "yes," with turnout above 40 percent of Lombardy's 8 million voters. That far exceeded the bar for success that he set at 34 percent, which was the turnout for a national referendum on constitutional reform in 2001.

Independence-minded Veneto easily met a turnout threshold to validate the vote set by Zaia, with some 60 percent of the region's 4 million voters casting ballots. According to early returns, 98 percent voted "yes."

con't....

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'The Alpine Goddess' (an original new poem)

'The Alpine Goddess'

Oh Lady Reitia
The goddess of health
To your people
There was no greater wealth

You reigned from the frost of the mighty Alps
To the warmth of the sunny Adriatic
Your ancient shrine in the Euganean Hills
Still proudly stands emblematic

They left you offerings of pottery, metal, and inscription
And called you “the good and kind”
Which even today show us
Where you stood in your peoples’ mind

The winds of time have faded your memory
However, your place in history has been sewn
Although some may hold onto hope
That you may still be watching over your own

--by Camunlynx

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Hymn of the Lombardo-Venetian Kingdom

Although presented as "the hymn of the Lombardo-Venetian Kingdom" by the uploader, it seems to really be the hymn of the Austian Empire ("The Habsburgs") of which it was non-voluntarily part of. I believe that our people, on a cultural level, "own" the two regional flags. The double-headed eagle symbol has some roots in Lombardy, and the other flag has the crests of both Lombardy and Venetia, with the Austian flag in the middle. There's one version without the Austrian flag.

As far as the hymn, part of me fancies it as almost like what the Bonnie Blue flag hymn was to the South. However, what would be a stretch. Intrinsically, it's a great hymn. It's very spirited, and neither too gaudy, nor too bland. It could be a symbol of the Germanic influence (Langobards, Goths, Cimbrians, Austrians) of the northeast; as opposed to the French Piedmont or Roman Tuscany. "Transalpine vs. Cisalpine" struggles have been part of our history going back to ancient times. I think at this point it transcends a historically simplistic "Germanophile" or "Germanophobe" outlook.

One strange factoid relating to the period of Habsburg rule, was that during the Kingdom of the Lombards many centuries earlier, the region of Lombardy, the Tri-Veneto area, and the Trentino was called "Austria." The country that the English-speaking world now calls Austria, is really named Österreich.

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The "Real Austria"

Today, the word "Austria" is used in the English-speaking world to more easily refer to the German-speaking country of Österreich. In fact, this term was first used, in the former nation of Langbard, as the name of the eastern sector of the nation.

From 'History of the Lombards', page 245, footnote 1 in regards to an Austria reference (Edward Peters): "This name was used to designate the eastern part of the Langobard kingdom, and was often mentioned in the laws of king Liutprand (Waitz). Its western boundary was the Adda, and the land west of that stream was called Neustria, which, with the third division, Tuscia, constituted the main kingdom immediately subject to the king, as distinguished from the duchies of Spoleto and Benevento."

All this is further confused as Österreich had it's heel firmly planted on "Austria" (Lombardy, Trentino, and the Veneto) many centuries later. The above flag is either the flag of the "Langobard Austria" or a flag of the Österreich occupation. It's likely the original, since the official flag for the occupied "Lombardo-Venetia" puppet state was a tan flag with an arms of both Lombardy and the Veneto on it. The double-headed eagle was used by many European cultures over the centuries.

[Above: The three states in Langbard proper. Neustria, Austria, and Tuscia. Yes, Tuscany was part of Langbard.]

The Lost Connection: California Ticinese and the Trentinese Resistance

One historical period, which literally ties many of us together on both sides of the ocean, was the Austrian occupation of the northeast Italian peninsula. This occupation did not end in 1860, but continued on in the Trentino through World War I. The Lombardian resistance, and later the Trentinese resistance, hid out in Ticino. It was naturally an ideal location for many reasons. First, it was the same culture and even the same Lombard dialect. Also, when you view history, "nobody messes with the bank." Nobody interferes with Switzerland, as history shows us. Not Napoleon, not the Hapsburgs, not the National Socialists, nobody.

In response, the Austrian army blockaded the southern borders of Ticino. This cut off many people from employment, supplies, trade, produce, etc. Back then, it was just heavy Alpine mountains to the north. No express trains. I don't know how long or how many times this blockade may have been in place between 1850 and 1930, the years of Ticinese emigration. It must have been a long time since the resistance movements were operating between 1848 and 1918.

[Above: Cesare Battisti, probably the most important figure of the Trentinese resistance]

This time period, although socially and politically long past, is only a blip on the historical scale. Some of us were alive when Cesare Battisti was hanged in Trento in 1916. For a few of us, our grandparents may have been alive during the Cinque Giornate Revolt in Milano in 1848. It's even possible that they were even living in those cities and witnessed it. The Trentinese, the Lombardians, the Venetians, and the Ticinese, are all one people at the end of the day. The following in an article from May, from the 'Sonoma Valley Sun' newspaper, which ties into this subject.


Swiss in Sonoma

George McKale - 'Sonoma Valley Sun' - May 22, 2009

There are two kinds of assumptions. In science, a theory is an assumption, and it is the basis for how one interprets data collected during a scientific study. With this kind of assumption, it is necessary to explicitly describe and declare the underlying assumption (theory) for the investigation. The other assumption is a proposition that is taken for granted, as if it were true without preponderance of the facts. It is this type of assumption one looks to avoid. In last weeks segment I made the second type of assumption stating that Fernando Nichelini was Italian, when in fact, as Walt Picchi, Nichelini’s great nephew has pointed out, he is Swiss. According to Picchi, Nichelini was extremely proud of his Swiss heritage. In restitution, I dedicate this segment to Florindo’s homeland.

Florindo’s father, Francisco, immigrated from Verscio, Switzerland, located in the Italian-speaking Canton Ticino, in 1870. The Swiss nation is a confederation of 26 states called cantons. Francisco settled just north of Sonoma at what is now the Moon Mountain Christmas Tree Farm. Once established, his son Florindo arrived in Sonoma County in 1880 at the age of twelve. The rugged Moon Mountain property reminded Francisco of his homeland. A deed dated September 4, 1920 indicates that the Nichelinis sold the Moon Mountain property in 1920. Two other deeds dating to 1906 and 1908 show Florindo purchasing land from both Joshua and Henry Chauvet in Glen Ellen. In the early 19th century, Switzerland was troubled with political and economic turmoil. Just to the south of Ticino was Italy, and Northern Italian nationalists operated out of Switzerland in their war for independence from Austria. Austria reacted by blocking the Italian-Swiss border, which curtailed commerce between the two nations. Ticinesi families residing in both Switzerland and Italy were no longer able to support their families, and many made the difficult decision to leave their homeland for the United States.

In the first half of the nineteenth century large numbers of Swiss settled in the mid-West. The gold rush brought thousands of Swiss immigrants to California. One of California’s most notable Swiss immigrants was Johann August Sutter (John Sutter), who founded Sutter’s Fort. He referred to the fort as Nueva Helvetia, meaning New Switzerland. Migration out of Ticino and into California began in earnest by the mid-nineteenth century. Of all Swiss immigrants to California, the greatest number came from Ticino. Between 1820 and 1930, 290,000 Swiss migrated to California.

Many of the Ticinesi rebuilt their family life known back in the old country. In northern California, Ticinesi settled on ranches in the Salinas Valley, West Marin, and throughout Sonoma County, forming full-scale colonies. Ticinesi women often married Ticinesi men. Prior to 1869, Swiss immigrants to California had to make a long and grueling journey by boat around the southern tip of South America. With the transcontinental railroad completed in 1869, it took around ten days to travel from the East Coast to the West. This also enabled Swiss immigrants to return for extended visits to the home land, with a ten-day trip by train and a three-week trip across the Atlantic by boat.

The Swiss immigrants did very well in California and were exceptional vintners and ranchers. They were able to send or bring money back to the home land, building larger houses and spurring the economy. In one Ticinesi town, they built a new cemetery with large stone monuments dedicated for those who had returned from California. Ira Cross in his 1927 “History of Banking in California” states, “Among the people of foreign nations who have settled in this country, none have been more worthy of success than those from Switzerland … They possess to a marked degree the innate qualities that go to make a people great in the truest sense.” Picchi stated that Florindo was still climbing windmills well into his eighties. A picture of Florindo at Nichelini’s Hardware on First Street West can be seen hanging at one of our local bars and eatery. Where? None other than the Swiss Hotel. Go have a drink and peruse the wonderful collection of old Sonoma photographs hanging on the walls.

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This article has the quote that I had been looking for, which I had lost, regarding predominently the Ticinese immigrants. I suppose it reflected also the German-Swiss in California as well, whose history is also remarkable. The 290,000 number for immigrants from Ticino sounded very high. If that's true, then it changes my perception of their significance. Lastly, the Ticinse and the culture of southernmost part of the Graubünden canton (Grigioni) are Lombardian, as they speak the Lombard dialect.

The Lombardo-Venetian Flag: A Symbol of Heritage or Oppression?

One question, which I have never heard asked or mentioned, is whether or not the flag of the Kingdom of Lombardo-Venetia is rightfully a heritage symbol, or a symbol of Austrian/Hapsburg oppression? Although called a "kingdom," it was in fact the Hapsburg kingdom that was being referenced there. This is a flag that is used by some as a heritage symbol today.

The Lombardian-Venetian link may be confused a little bit with the fact that Eastern Lombardy is tied into the history of the Venetian Republic. Some see it as more "West Veneto" than "East Lombardy," but that is with a smaller minority of people.

Lombardia and the Veneto were two distinct nations at one point, until both were conquered by the powerful Austrian army. They even had their boots planted firmly on Trentino until less than a century ago. The revolts of 1848, while only initially successful, did lead to the eventual breaking with Austrian rule. During this difficult time of subjugation, the Lombarians and Venetians, which were already tied together historically, were tied together even closer. I don't know who designed this flag, but it does have both Lombardian and Venetian symbology on it, not Austrian.

This was about hanging tough during Hapsburg oppression. To me, this is the issue here. I'm realistic, the Venetians did some pushing of their own historically. In many ways, the Council of Ten had been much like the Hapsburg Dynasty. In my opinion, this flag IS a heritage symbol. It's not an Austrian flag. The crest has the symbols of both San Marco and the Visconti family on it. This can also be viewed as an era where both the ruling class and the general population were in the same boat. I know that, historically speaking, similar situations may be different, with puppet politicians of the colonized region selling out their nation and people. I don't get that sense here at all. I believe that this flag is a symbol of Lombardo-Venetian heritage, steadfastness, and eventual liberation.

[Left: The alternative flag for the Lombardo-Venetian Kingdom]

I think that we should accept this flag, however, what is called the "alternative flag" is very suspect. The symbol of the double-headed eagle was used by a number of nations, but mainly Germanic and Slavic I think. I don't really know if this was the official Austrian flag for this colony or not. There could have been two flags for the same region. One in an official capacity, and one as an internal regional flag, with perhaps a hint of rebel in it. Maybe somebody out there can help us out here?


This time period wasn't what one would call brutal, like a barbaric subjugation. It was, as far as what I have been able to gather, very unpleasant. There were forced marriages of women to Austrian soldiers, for example. In addition, there seems to just generally have been quite a bit of undue liberties leniency granted to Austrian soldiers as far as the law was concerned. That could be interpreted in different ways, so I will just leave it at that for now.

Lastly, I believe that the Lombardian Carbonari and the Venetian Carbonari were primarily interested in resisting the Austrians and achieving autonomy at the least, and less with joining an Italian multi-ethnic state. I think that sovereignty was their eventual goal.

Note [12-28-08]: It should be noted that there is an Austrian symbol in the middle of the crest, above the Lombardian and Venetian symbols. Therefore, in order for this to be thought of as a heritage symbol, that would need to be removed. The main point was that some well-intentioned people have used this as a heritage flag, without any challenge on these points.