My dissertation analyses how motherhood was used and represented by different political cultures in nineteenth century Italy and France. I focus on two case studies: on the one hand, the friendship and political network of the milanese patriot Laura Solera Mantegazza; on the other hand, the Archiconfrérie des Mères Chrétiennes. The first group was close to radical italian democracy; between 1850 and 1870 its members founded three important philanthropic institutions: the Pio istituto di maternità per i bambini lattanti e slattati di Milano, the Società di mutuo soccorso per le operaie di Milano and the Scuola professionale femminile. These institutions were aimed to educate and support women workers and were a useful tool of nationalization too. The Archiconfrérie des Mères Chrétiennes was founded by Louise Josson in 1850 and had its spiritual director in Théodore Ratisbonne, a Jew converted to Catholicism. Starting from France, the organization spread throughout Europe and reached Italy. The Archiconfrérie developed and coordinated female counterrevolutionary action against the modern world. Determined to establish a truly catholic society, the Mères Chrétiennes were active in many different spheres: in France they converted fathers, sons and husband that had lost their faith; in Italy and France they supported zouaves; in Algeria they were involved in Lavigerie's religious project, aimed to convert all of the African society, and gave money to build orphanages for Muslim children.