today is met July 4, 2007, the bicentenary of the birth of Giuseppe Garibaldi (see news in Italian) illustrate quasi-mythical figure in Italian history, which took a leading role in the unification of Italy.
was also a romantic idealist who enlisted in the struggles for freedom and against oppression on both continents to each side of the Atlantic.
believed in God but do not hesitate to confront the Roman Catholic institution represented in the power of the Papal State.
often contradictory, always determined and daring, known both defeat and persecution como las mieles de la victoria y el reconocimiento de los que luchaban bajo sus órdenes.
Fue un marino avezado que desde su juventud se interesó en la política , tomando parte en la surgente Giovane Italia de Giuseppe Mazzini.Esta formación tenía un ideario republicano unionista, donde convergían distintos elementos nacionalistas e independentistas románticos muy propios de esos tiempos.
Con la dirección de Mazzini se intentó un levantamiento en 1834 que fracasó rotundamente y que obligó a Garibaldi a huir a Brasil.
Allí pronto se uniría a un grupo de rebeldes compuesto por campesinos, agricultores y ganadores que luchaban contra la gestión corrupta y fraudulenta del gobierno central expoliaba.Con that oppressed them and they would proclaim the independence of the rich province of Rio Grande Do Sul, separating it from the Empire of Brazil. Finally defeated in 1839, moved to Uruguay.
Soon the struggles of the Argentine unit against federal rosistas wrapped both sides of the Rio de la Plata and Garibaldi was not alien to them.
In these lands is where it would settle the famous Italian Legion, the "red shirts", which would prevent the fall of Montevideo despite the tight site that had been imposed; unit fighting alongside the Argentine and Uruguayan nationality against Oribe troops supported by the dictator Juan Manuel de Rosas;
then his figure and is legendary for its value, and although the South American land had found his wife Anita and their first child was born Menotti, his desire to see a united Italy had not forgotten and 1848 returned to their homeland.
Italy was effervescent and King Charles Albet Piedmont Giuseppe Mazzini topped with a new uprising against Austrian rule (derived from the Congress of Vienna and its distribution in Europe) and its allies in Italy and the Papal States and Naples. After some setbacks
revolutionaries become strong in Rome and Venice, leading to the flight to Rome from Pope Pius IX and his plea for help Roman Catholic states of Spain and France.
Giuseppe Garibaldi is now in charge of military operations, it has forces in Lombardy, in addition to Roman patriots and faces the hosts of Austrian, Neapolitan, English and French commanded by General Oudinot. After a few initial successes, and despite the bravery and tenacity of the Italians managed to get into Rome Oudinot putting to flight bersaglieri Garibaldi and his army towards the Apennines.
In 1849 King Charles Albert abdicated and replaced his son Victor Emanuel II.
This in line with the Count of Cavour, who was then a sort of prime minister did intervene to stop French Napoleon III Piedmont join forces and fight the occupation Austrians. The coalition Franco-Piedmontese defeat the Austrians at the battles of Magenta and Solferino in 1859.
This would change the map of Italian unification. Milan join Piedmont and will continue Romagna, Parma, Tuscany, Modena .... the next target was now heading south.
Garibaldi and the Thousand (as it was his army of just over 1000 men) will face the conquest of Sicily and Naples include Francis II. The first will soon fall, mainly due to the massive influx of Sicilians to join Garibaldi's forces quickly increased their forces. The charisma and the legend of Garibaldi and the desire to throw off the yoke of the monarchy had been authoritarian and absolutist did the rest.
The conquest of Naples was more difficult, but the final battle against the Bourbon troops at Volturno gave victory and ultimate mastery of territory. At the same time
Piedmontese troops of Victor Emanuel II advanced from the north and defeated the papal armies defending Lazio. Soon after the forces of Garibaldi and King Victor Emanuel would be in the border of Naples. It was the historic October 26, 1860 when the gesture Garibaldi descended from his horse and greet the King of Italy would be immortalized as the recognition of the new order would prevail in Italy.
The next step was to wrest Trento to Venice and Austria. The Austro-Prussian war of 1866 facilitated this outcome and passed to Venice in Italy. Just left Rome.
In 1867 Garibaldi and his red shirts mixed lot facing the Papal and French armies, but not until the withdrawal of the French regiments in 1871 that the long-awaited entry into the Eternal City will be held in an irreversible manner.
On July 2, 1871 Victor Emanuel in Rome the glorious pronounced: "Qui e qui siamo resteremo" (Here we and here we'll stay).
Giuseppe Garibaldi died on June 2, 1882, in Caprera.
mythical figure, a revolutionary par excellence, fierce and brave as well let her tenacity in the cause of freedom where needed his sword chiaroscuro also apparent contradictions as to be a Republican, which establishes a king. However, we can see in it the pragmatic spirit of Italian patriot who knew his time to discern that the most important of his century was the unification of Italy and not rest until they materialized.
all Italians
Today we pay our tribute to this soldier for the freedom and unity of Italy.
Left for the final extract from the review written by The Times on the occasion of his death:
"The final emancipation of Italy is forever linked to the names of Victor Emanuel, Cavour and Garibaldi, but while the first two figures of this trio will certainly be the subject of deep study, in-depth investigations and a trial to establish the exact value of his historical work, the third appeal to the imagination as a reality of legend, something wonderful, elusive nature. .. "
London, June 5, 1882.
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