I'm reading Sleepwalkers: How Europe Went to War in 1914, and in one passage, the author discusses how the Serbian Union or Death movement viewed Serbia as the "Piedmont" of the Serbian people. I don't understand this reference. What is "Piedmont" a reference to, other than an area in Italy?
It's been a while since I have read Sleepwalkers (which is a great book btw) but I would assume that the author is referencing the formation of Italy. The Kingdom of Piedmonte, or Piedmonte-Sardinia is the predecessor state of the Kingdom of Italy. The author is saying that Serbian Union movement viewed Serbia as the beginnings of a larger Serbian nationalist state. There was quite a big movement in Serbia pre-WW1 that wanted the establishment of larger Serbian nationalist state, similar to the size of the Serbian Empire before it fell in the 14th century. Hope I helped!