In 1897 the wheat harvest in Italy was substantially lower than the years before; it fell from on average 3.5 million tons in 1891–95 to 2.4 million tons that year.[1][2] Increasing wheat prices caused social unrest.
February
2 February – Despite the guarantees given by the
Great Powers on the Ottoman sovereignty over
Crete, Colonel
Timoleon Vassos unilaterally proclaimed the union of the island with Greece. The Powers reacted by demanding that the Greek Prime Minister
Theodoros Deligiannis immediately withdraw Greek forces from the island in exchange for a statute of autonomy. The demand was rejected, and on 7 February the first full-scale battle between Greeks and Turks occurred, when the Greek expeditionary force in Crete defeated a 4,000-strong Ottoman force at the
Battle of Livadeia, Crete. The bold action of the Greeks excites popular admiration in Italy and sympathy with the Cretan Christians.[3]
17 February – Vice Admiral
Felice Napoleone Canevaro, commanding the Italian warships in Cretan waters, is chosen to command the combined naval forces of the Great Powers, as the senior admiral of the united fleet, known as the
International Squadron. He warns Greece and Cretan insurgents to cease all hostile actions against the Turks.[4]
21 February – Popular manifestations in Rome and other towns in Italy in favour of the union of Greece and Crete, which is under Ottoman rule.[5]
5 April – 8 May –
Greco-Turkish War over the status of the
Ottoman province of Crete, whose Greek majority long desired union with Greece. Italian volunteers under the command of
Ricciotti Garibaldi go to Crete to fight for the unification of Crete with Greece.[7] Greece will suffer a heavy defeat and the Great Powers will force the Greek army to abandon the island.
12 April – After four days of debate Prime Minister
Antonio di Rudinì survives a vote of confidence over the policy towards Greece in relation with the
Cretan State.[8]
22 April – King Umberto I is attacked by an unemployed anarchist ironsmith,
Pietro Acciarito, who tried to stab him near Rome.
5 December – Minister of War, General
Luigi Pelloux, resigns over a conflict about army promotions.[9] Prime Minister Di Rudini is tasked with forming a new Cabinet. The previous one was riddled with irreconcilable positions, Di Rudini now tries to form a more unified government.[10]
14 December – Prime Minister Di Rudini forms a new Cabinet, which includes the Liberal
Giuseppe Zanardelli as Minister of Justice.[11][12]