Garibaldi and Italian Unification 1859-71
Garibaldi’s background and ideas of unification
o Garibaldi was a charismatic figure, famous for his honesty and integrity. He strongly believed in personal freedom and his humble origins and way of life provided him with an understanding of ordinary people that was one of the reasons for his success.
o Born in 1807 in Nice.
o Spent 10 years in exile in South America following the failure of the Roman Republic of 1848.
o Became a soldier in Uruguay where he developed the techniques of Guerrilla warfare.
o He became interested in unification whilst meeting Mazzini in 1831. Became a committed republican. He remained fully committed to the notion of unification, if not republicanism,
o Following the defeat of the Roman Republic, he became convinced that Italy could only be united under the leadership of Piedmonts monarchy. Upon his return to Italy in 1854 he became a committed Royalist and build up a friendship with the Piedmontese King Victor Emmanuel. He abandoned Republican ideals because he believed that the Piedmontese monarchy had a better chance of achieving his goals.
o War with Austria (1859): Garibaldi was made a General in the Piedmontese army; however he was sidelined with 3,300 volunteers in a difficult but successful campaign in the Alps.
o Cavour did not trust Garibaldi, he was a dangerous, unpredictable character who had popular support and had been a republican.
o Garibaldi broke with Cavour in1860 when Nice, his birthplace was ceded to France.
Unrest in Southern Italy (Sicily April-July 1860)
o Garibaldi’s reaction to the cession of Nice was to contemplate a military campaign to stop the annexation taking place.
o He started to form a volunteer force called the “Thousand”.
o At the same time a revolt broke out in Sicily on the 4th April, this was soon put down, but other uprisings occurred throughout the island.
o These revolts were caused by peasant’s anger at their living and working conditions. They were important however because they broke down the local government control of the Bourbons.
o This presented Garibaldi with an opportunity.
A) Crispi, a subtle republican conspirator, incited the Sicilians to revolt on 4th April. It was clear that this revolt needed external aid for its success. he managed to divert the energies of Garibaldi to Sicily without officially encouraging him.
The Thousand and the Conquest of Sicily
o Garibaldi gathered a thousand picked volunteers at Genoa. The “Thousand” launched from Genoa on -6 May in 1860. They were fighting under the banner “Italy and Victor Emmanuel”. Cavour refused to give public support, wanting to avoid a clash with Austria, and Garibaldi was prevented from getting recruits from the Piedmontese army or rifle supplies. The expedition, aboard two leaky steamers, made a successful landing at Marsala in Sicily on 11 th May. The Neapolitan garrison realised too late that Garibaldi's Red-shirt army had no connection with the British navy, which had turned up at the same time to enforce respect for British property.
o The expedition should not have succeeded. It was under prepared, lacked equipment, it was also small in number and against a large opponent. Cavour also thought Sicily to poor and backward to be ready for annexation by Piedmont, another reason he decided not to back the campaign.
o On 11th May 1860 Garibaldi landed unopposed at Masarla.
o The “Thousand” progressed to Palermo; its numbers had grown to 3,000.
o They fought a battle against 20,000 Neapolitan troops. Garibaldi won due to the state of chaos the island was in, help from local peasants, the speed of his attack against the cautious approach of the Neapolitan generals.
o 14 May 1860 Garibaldi declared himself Dictator of Sicily (referring to the fact he had taken emergency, temporary control).
o The victory had a great psychological impact and it persuaded many Sicilians’s to join Garibaldi’s troops. These men (the Sicilian’s were inspired by independence and hatred of their local rulers, rather than a wish for unification.
o Once named Dictator the alliance with the peasants started to breakdown. Garibaldi was not going to allow a social revolution get in the way of his political goals. So he sided with the men of property, landowners in order to restore law and order.
The Annexation of Naples (August – September 1860)
o Whereas Cavour wanted to arrange a quick annexation of Sicily to Piedmont, Garibaldi wanted to use it as a base to attack and conquer Naples.
o Cavour opposed the campaign against Naples and tried to negotiate an alliance with the King of Naples, Francis II.
o Garibaldi arrived in Naples on 21 August 1860. Once again he found support amongst the peasants who greeted him as the “Second Jesus Christ”.
o The young King could not handle the situation. The constitution he granted in June had seen strong, loyal monarchist supporters being replaced by unreliable liberals. This weakened his government.
o Francis ordered 50,000 troops north to deal with a minor uprising. This left Garibaldi to take the city of Naples on 7September 1860 with only 30 colleagues.
o Cavour was now very worried as he feared Garibaldi would remain dictator of Naples and not hands over his conquests.
Cavour and Garibaldi their relationship and differences
Historians have argued for a century about the motives of Cavour and Garibaldi and the relationship between them. There were many differences:-
o Contrasting backgrounds:- Cavour was a nobleman, well educated, political and diplomatic. Garibaldi was a rough, ill educated soldier and leader of men.
o Political Ideals: Garibaldi had been a Mazzinian and a republican. He only embraced Piedmont and became a Royalist after 1848, when he became convinced this was the best hope of uniting Italy. Yet he always retained his nationalist beliefs and fought for an independent and unified Italy. Cavour did not believe unification was possible and was not fully committed to the idea (he knew little about the South). Cavour realised the requirement of foreign assistance and therefore of politics and diplomacy. He knew an independent Italy could not be achieved without French help in a war against Austria. He also realised that Napoleon would not allow the unlimited expansion of Piedmont. Once Piedmont had gained control over the North of Italy, Cavour believed it was time to stop. Garibaldi on the other hand wanted Rome, Venetia, Naples and Sicilly as part of a united Italy and wanted to unite them at once.
o Historians have different views on their relationship. Although it is known that they personally disliked each other, many theories have emerged discussing the nature of any co-operation or conflict between the two.
o Some historians believe that Cavour pretended to stop Garibaldi whilst secretly trying to help him.
o Others believe see Cavour as Garibaldi’s enemy, opposed to his plans for unification, and whilst pretending to help the expedition, secretly working to make sure it would fail.
The Piedmontese invasion of the Papal States
o Following the conquest of Naples, Garibaldi announced he intended to march onto Rome, Venice and then Nice.
o Cavour feared this would lead to a clash with France. Cavour played on French fears to persuade Napoleon to intervene in the South. Below are some other reasons for the Piedmontese invasion:-
Reasons for the Piedinontese invasion.
Numerous factors prompted Cavour in his decision to send the army into the Papal States. His purpose was as follows.
o To regain the initiative for Piedmont. Cavour's political position was precarious since the cession of Nice and Savoy had been unpopular. Victor Emmanuel was also secretly working with Garibaldi. At the same time Garibaldi was gaining all the prestige and glory, and Cavour thought it politically unwise that his fame should completely overshadow that of the King.
o To prevent the occupation of Rome. It seemed that Garibaldi had no intention of handing over his command until he had conquered Rome, which would have provoked French or Austrian intervention. Cavour knew that Piedmontese troops could capture the Papal States while avoiding the occupation of Rome.
o To prevent the creation of a republic. Mazzini was in Naples and there was a strong party in favour of giving Naples and Sicily a separate and independent standing in a free and united Italy. Cavour had failed previously through his own agents to influence events there, and Garibaldi had refused to declare Sicily annexed to Piedmont. Cavour had no confidence in Garibaldi's ability to cope with the situation. There was even a faint possibility of a recovery by the supporters of the Bourbon monarchy.
o To forestall Austrian intervention. Cavour was anxious to achieve the annexation in the south before Austria was able to gain allies. He knew that Austria might well intervene if the Warsaw talks in October with Russia and Prussia were successful. Therefore it could be argued that Cavour was forced into unifying Italy.
o August Napoleon and Piedmontese officials met to formulate a plan that involved annexing Umbria and the Marches but leaving the Pope in charge of Rome.
o September 11th 1860 33,000 strong Piedmontese army crossed the border, Piedmont army was defeated.
o Garibaldi was severely weakened by fighting against the Neapolitan army and was not in a position to march on to Rome anyway.
The proclamation of Victor Emmanuel as King
o October 1860 Victor Emmanuel joined his army in the Papal States, and one off plebiscites were held.
o 21st October 1860, voters were asked to vote simply for the banner under which Garibaldi had fought. Overwhelming votes in favour of annexation occurred in Naples and Sicily.
o 2Oth October 1860 Garibaldi and Victor Emmanuel met at Teano where Garibaldi agreed to hand over his conquests. Relationship between Garibaldi and Victor Emmanuel after Teano.
o 27TH January 1861 first elections took place for the new Italian parliament.
o Remember Venetia and Rome remained outside the Italian nation.
Garibaldi made two further attempts on Rome:
Aspromonte (1862)
Mentana (1866) both failed.
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