Italia Irredenta

Poul Anderson, Time Patrol (New York, 2006).

When, in Poul Anderson's Time Patrol story, "Delenda Est," Boierik Wulfilasson of Cimberland whines that war is necessary because:

"'Carthaglann stole Egypt, our rightful possession.'" (p. 210)

- Everard murmurs, "'Italia irredenta...'" (ibid.)

- which, of course, Boierik does not understand, although it is exactly what he has just expressed.

Boierik speaks Cimbri, not Italian. When I first read "Delenda Est," I picked up some vague idea of what Everard's Italian phrase might mean from the context but now I have a policy of checking every word or phrase used by Anderson that I do not understand.

"Italia irredenta" means "Italy unredeemed." Italian irredentists aimed at the unification of all Italian speaking people and of all territories deemed to be Italian territory. Thus, Corsica, Nice and Savoy have been claimed: a perfect recipe for endless war in the Mediterranean. Anderson shows nationalism and the state perpetuating themselves through alternate histories:

"...man was man, in any history." (p. 203)

Everard reflects that his captors were probably married with children, probably enjoyed beer and dice, and maybe bred horses or roses:

"But none of this would do their captives a bit of good, when the almighty Nation locked horns with its kin." (p. 209)

Slogans

"The Plague of Masters."

The following phrases are not identical but similar in meaning: 

 "Erin go bragh!"

"Morte Alla Francia Italia Anela!"

"Italia irredenta!"

"Up the Republic!" 

"Down with Big Brother!"

"Orion shall rise!"

"'Confusion to moneylenders!'" (IX, p. 80)

"'Damnation to Biocontrol...'" (ibid.)

 

Much thought and emotion are concentrated in slogans. When Flandry wishes confusion on moneylenders, Djuanda responds by wishing damnation on Biocontrol although he immediately backtracks. Nevertheless, this is the first time that Flandry has heard anything said against Biocontrol and he judges that Djuanda is too young to have thought of it for himself. Therefore, in Ranau, one or more older persons have thought about revolution even though this word does not exist in the local language. Is this too much to deduce from just three words? As previously on Scotha, Flandry has to be alert to any possibility of an alliance or an escape route. He resists subversion within the Empire but gleefully encourages it among his enemies.

Inrai Demands

Poul Anderson, The Fleet Of Stars, 9.

Threedom sovereignty throughout Tharsis;

alliance with Prosrepina;

a sovereign (Lunarian) Mars;

return of Luna to the Lunarians;

full disclosure of astronomical discoveries by the solar lens and of the destinations of the new light-speed ships.

When Kinna hears the fourth demand, she thinks:

"...irrendentism..." (p. 124)

See Italia Irredenta.

Contrast The Johnnies' Demands.

Revanchism And Irredentism

Governor Saracoglu hopes that Avalon will not make the Domain of Ythri revanchist.

Revanchism is linked to irredentism, to which Manse Everard refers. See Italia Irredenta.

Thus, historical political movements might recur both in future history and in alternative history.

It pays to google every word rather than just to infer their meanings from context, which is what I used to do.