ROMAN STATE

Of antique origin (eighth century), it always expanded itself until to the 10th century. It is also know as the "Church State" and historically is the territory of the Popes who were the sovereign of the State. At the time of the first postage stamps (1852) the Pope was Pious IX (the Cardinal Giovanni Maria Mastai Ferretti) who became Pope in 1846.
At the beginning of the philatelic period the territory was quite large and its borders went from the Lombardy-Venetia Kingdom to the Naples Kingdom, touching two seas (Adriatic and Tyrrhenian seas). The overall surface was about 41,150 Sqkm (it comprehended also two small enclaves in the Naples territory assigned by the Vienna treaty: Benevento and Pontecorvo). It had about 3,5 millions inhabitants and the capital was Rome.
The territory was divided in 4 regions (Romagne, Marche, Umbria, Lazio), subdivided in provinces (in reality the correct denomination should be Legations and Delegations).

Various and complex are the events that brought to the complete (or almost complete) disappearance of the Roman State: they started with the 2nd Independence war. The first lost territories were the ones of Romagne (June 1859). The defeat of Magenta determined the withdrawal of the Austrian troops. In the same time the Roman State troops left the territories. The determination and the people turmoil brought first to the creation of a Government Board in Bologna, joined quickly by other cities. In June 15 the Provisional Government under the leadership of Lionello Cipriani took control. Between the November end and the 1859 December beginning together with the territories of the ex-Duchies of Modena and Parma, the Romagne were placed under the dictatorship of Carlo Farini (who became "Governor" from January 1860) with the name of "Royal Emilia Provinces" (Regie Provincie dell'Emilia).
After that it was the time, in 1860, of the Marche and Umbria, under the push of the always increasing people riots The Umbria invasion started September 11th 1860 and last not so much: already in September 18th Spoleto surrendered. In November the people plebiscites established the joining to the Sardinia Kingdom that happened December 17th. Also in Marche the invasion started September 11th and it was concluded with the conquest of Ancona in September 29th, already surrounded by land and by sea (bombed by the Sardinian fleet).
Together with Umbria the plebiscites were called that determined the annexation to the Vittorio Emanuele II Kingdom. The Roman State was therefore reduced to the "S. Peter Estate" ("Patrimonio di San Pietro") of about 11,700 SqKm and 700,000 inhabitants. The Sardinian offensive should have continued up to Rome (in fact this was happening) but from Turin arrived the order to stop it. In fact France, in help to the Roman State took the decision to defend the remaining territory. The various Sardinia troops stopped their action leaving even some territory already conquered.
In 1870, as follow up of the third Independence war, the Italian army attacked Rome on different fronts (do not forget that in the meantime the Two Sicilies Kingdom too was already Italian and therefore the Roman State was surrounded by every direction), occupying progressively all the territories of the S. Peter Estate. The French troops withdrew both for the war problems between France and Prussia that concerned quite a lot the French and because in fact it was impossible (and not so convenient...) to oppose the Italian unification.
The Italian army entered into the town in date September 20th 1870 through the famous "Porta Pia breach": at 2 p.m. Rome surrendered.
The town and Lazio annexation came later as consequence of the result of the referendum that took place October 2nd 1870.
The only Vatican City remained in the Pope hands: very small thing if we imagine the power and the dimensions of the State at the beginning!

As we can imagine the postal events have a complexity and a richness of cases really huge. Rates, usage of Roman State and Sardinia stamps, taxes, military mail, mixed combinations, etc., are really numerous and interesting. However it is not in the aim of this work to examine them, for the complexity of the subjects that would require historical discussions and separated detailed politics that go beyond my ability. In addition we can get lost in a fragmentation of explanations, fees, contents that would not have any organic content I leave to the specialized collectors to go deeper in the various chapters of this very interesting postal history period.

The currency used initially was the Scudo, subdivided in 100 Bajocchi. One Scudo was worth 5.375 Lire and one Bajocco was equated to 5 centesimi. From June 18th 1866 The Roman State introduced the metric-decimal system and the new currency was the Roman State Lira divided in 100 centesimi and equated to 18.66 Bajocchi.

Here are briefly the main postal rates in use for a letter first rate for the interior (one sheet letters. The double rate cost was double, triple three times and so on). Placing the postage stamp on the letter was left up to the sender will; there were no taxes added for missing or partial postage stamps (the receiving party paid only the difference).
To be mentioned that the rates were calculated on the basis on three "Distances" and 40 different Administrations ("Direzioni").