Who was Giuseppe Garibaldi?

Giuseppe Garibaldi (1807-1882) was an Italian general, patriot, and republican who played a central role in the unification of Italy (Risorgimento). Known as the "Hero of Two Worlds" for his military campaigns in South America and Europe, Garibaldi is best remembered for leading the Expedition of the Thousand (1860), which overthrew the Bourbon Kingdom of the Two Sicilies and enabled the union of southern Italy with the north.

On the night of 5-6 May 1860, Garibaldi embarked from Quarto (near Genoa) with just over 1,000 volunteer fighters (the Redshirts), mostly idealistic young northerners armed with rusty rifles. They landed at Marsala, Sicily on 11 May, defeated Neapolitan forces at Calatafimi (15 May), captured Palermo (6 June), and won control of Sicily at the Battle of Milazzo (20 July). He entered Naples on 7 September as Bourbon rule collapsed entirely.

Although sympathetic to democratic-republican ideas, Garibaldi agreed to support King Victor Emmanuel II of Piedmont-Sardinia for the sake of national unity. A plebiscite resulted in the annexation of the south, and the Kingdom of Italy was proclaimed on 17 March 1861.

Key Features

# Feature Details
1 Full Name Giuseppe Maria Garibaldi (1807-1882)
2 Title "Hero of Two Worlds" (campaigns in South America and Europe)
3 Expedition of the Thousand May-October 1860; 1,000+ volunteers conquered southern Italy
4 Redshirts Garibaldi's volunteer fighters, named after their distinctive red shirts
5 Landing at Marsala 11 May 1860; evaded Bourbon Navy to reach western Sicily
6 Battle of Calatafimi 15 May 1860; first major victory in Sicily
7 Fall of Palermo 6 June 1860; Sicilian capital captured
8 Entry into Naples 7 September 1860; Bourbon rule collapsed completely
9 Plebiscite October 1860; overwhelming vote for annexation to Piedmont-Sardinia
10 Kingdom of Italy Proclaimed 17 March 1861 under Victor Emmanuel II

UPSC Exam Corner

Prelims: Key Facts

  • Born: 1807, Nice (then part of Kingdom of Sardinia); died 1882
  • Famous expedition: Expedition of the Thousand (1860)
  • Volunteers called: Redshirts (Camicie Rosse)
  • Kingdom of Italy proclaimed: 17 March 1861
  • First King: Victor Emmanuel II
  • Trio of Italian unification: Mazzini (ideologue), Cavour (diplomat), Garibaldi (military leader)

Mains: Probable Themes

  1. "Garibaldi was the sword of Italian unification while Cavour was its brain." -- Discuss
  2. Compare the roles of Garibaldi and Bismarck in their respective national unification movements
  3. Analyse the tension between republican ideals and monarchical pragmatism in Garibaldi's career
  4. Examine the significance of the Expedition of the Thousand in the Risorgimento

Sources: Giuseppe Garibaldi (Wikipedia) | Expedition of the Thousand (Britannica) | Garibaldi and the Thousand (Britannica)