Garibaldi and the Unification of Italy
By the 1840s, Garibaldi had become involved with the Young Italy movement founded by Giuseppe Mazzini, which sought to unify Italy into a single republic. Though his vision sometimes conflicted with monarchist supporters of unification, especially the House of Savoy, Garibaldi's military prowess proved indispensable.
His most famous military campaign—the Expedition of the Thousand in 1860—saw Garibaldi and his volunteer force conquer the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, overthrowing the Bourbon monarchy there. This dramatic campaign demonstrated how a relatively small but dedicated force could challenge established kings and kingdoms.
Garibaldi's efforts ultimately paved the way for the Kingdom of Italy, proclaimed in 1861 under the Savoy monarchy. Though Garibaldi himself was a republican and often clashed with King Victor Emmanuel II, his actions made the Italian monarchy’s unification ambitions possible.
Garibaldi’s life story illustrates the complex relationship between monarchy, rebellion, and grassroots mobilization.
- Kings: Garibaldi was simultaneously an enemy and an enabler of kingship. His republican ideals opposed monarchy, yet his military campaigns helped establish a kingdom that unified Italy under a king. He famously referred to Victor Emmanuel II as the “King of Italy” but insisted the people should remain sovereign.
- Gangs and Volunteers: Garibaldi’s forces were often composed of irregular volunteers rather than formal armies. These groups bore similarities to gangs in terms of their loose organization, fierce loyalty, and reliance on local support. Many were common people, peasants, or urban workers, whose participation in Garibaldi’s campaigns reflected the growing politicization of social groups. shutdown123