When Ricci-Curbastro began his studies in Rome, although the Kingdom of Italy had been created a few years earlier, Rome was not part of that Kingdom being part of the Papal States in which Ricci was born and brought up. Rome had been attacked by Italian troops in 1867 but France had defended the city and employed its troops against the attack.
Kapag Ricci-Curbastro nagsimula ang kanyang pag-aaral sa Roma, kahit na ang Kaharian ng Italya ay nagawa na ng ilang taon na mas maaga, Roma ay hindi bahagi ng Kaharian na ang pagiging bahagi ng "Papal States sa kung saan Ricci ay ipinanganak at nagdala up. Rome had been attacked by Italian tropa sa 1867 ngunit France had defended ang mga lungsod at mga empleyado nito sa mga tropa laban sa mga atake.