Giuseppe Garibaldi

The house in which Garibaldi born in Nice

Garibaldi and his men carrying boats from Los Patos lagoon to Tramandahy lake during the Rio Grande do Sul War.

The Battle of Sant'Antonio, Uruguay in which Garibaldi participated, in 1846

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Gaetano Gallino - Giuseppe Garibaldi

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Garibaldi divise

Giuseppe Garibaldi (4 July 1807 – 2 June 1882) was an Italian general, patriot, and nationalist who played a large role in the history of Italy. He is considered one of the greatest generals of modern times and one of Italy's "fathers of the fatherland", along with Camillo Benso, Count of Cavour, Victor Emmanuel II of Italy, and Giuseppe Mazzini. Garibaldi was a central figure in the Italian Risorgimento, the period in the 19th century where Italy fought for and achieved unification in 1861. His exploits and leadership in the campaigns to unify Italy have made him a legendary figure in Italian history and worldwide.

Early Life

Giuseppe Garibaldi was born in Nice, at the time part of the French Empire, to Giovanni Domenico Garibaldi and Maria Rosa Nicoletta Raimondo. From an early age, he was exposed to the maritime trade, which would influence his later life. Garibaldi became involved in nationalist movements while working as a sailor, which led to his long and storied career fighting for freedom and unity.

Military Campaigns

Garibaldi's military career began in South America, where he fought in the Brazilian Ragamuffin War and later in Uruguay, aligning with the Uruguayan Colorados in the Uruguayan Civil War. His experience in guerrilla warfare would prove invaluable in his later campaigns for Italian unification.

Returning to Italy, Garibaldi played a pivotal role in the First Italian War of Independence in 1848 and the Second Italian War of Independence in 1859. Perhaps his most famous military endeavor was the Expedition of the Thousand in 1860, where he and a group of volunteers, known as the Red Shirts, landed in Sicily. They conquered the island and then moved to the mainland, contributing significantly to the unification of Italy under the Savoy monarchy.

Later Life and Legacy

After the unification of Italy, Garibaldi was elected to the Italian parliament, where he continued to advocate for his political ideals, including universal suffrage and the abolition of the death penalty. He also participated in further military campaigns, such as the Third Italian War of Independence and the Franco-Prussian War, always fighting for the cause of freedom and unity.

Garibaldi's legacy is profound. He is celebrated for his military genius, his commitment to the cause of Italian unification, and his dedication to the principles of liberty and democracy. Monuments and statues of him can be found all over Italy and in other parts of the world. Each year, Italy commemorates his contributions to the nation's history.

See Also

• Risorgimento
• Kingdom of Italy (1861–1946)
• Italian unification