The roots of Generali date back to the 1830s and the Bora wind and rough seas that hit the Trieste region. Over that decade Generali sought to expand throughout Italy, but this growth was held back by the fragmented nature of Italy. The Italian Revolution in the 1840s paved the way for easier expansion in the country. After the First World War Trieste was eventually handed back to Italy. The dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire created a fragmented Europe and a fragmented Generali. While to this day Generali remains quite a diversified company, its core operations remain in historical Austro-Hungarian countries of Italy, Germany, Austria, and Central and Eastern Europe. This is the case in Generali’s nonlife business. France is also an important contributor to life and savings.
