 Part of Italy, particularly the kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia (officially the "Kingdom of Sardinia"), was independent, but central Italy was still ruled by the Pope (in this era, Pope Pius IX), while Venice, Lombardy and much of the north was ruled by Austria.Other states were de jure independent (e.g.the Duchy of Parma or the Grand Duchy of Tuscany) but de facto totally under Austrian influence.