MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND SCIENCE OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION

Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher vocational education

Ryazan State University named after S.A. Yesenin

Faculty of History and International Relations

abstract

by discipline " Topical issues of world history»

life path and political activity Giuseppe Garibaldi

Performed :

1st year student

group B, divisions International relationships

Veretelnikova Victoria Alexandrovna

Teacher :

assistant professor Safonov Boris Vitalievich

Ryazan, 2012

Introduction 3

Chapter 1. Milestones life path 4

1.1. Childhood, youth and first steps in politics 4

1.2. Garibaldi in America 7

1.3. Revolution of 1848 and its defeat 8

1.4. The struggle for the unification of Italy 9

Chapter 2. Political ideals and realities 12

Chapter 3. The influence of Giuseppe Garibaldi on world fashion 15

Conclusion 17

References 19

Introduction

There are moments in history when the screaming problems facing this or that country are solved as a result of the appearance of a person who, as it were, embodies the conscience of the people and illuminates the mass movement with the light of his personality. Such a person for Italy in the middle of the 19th century. can rightfully be called Giuseppe Garibaldi.

Giuseppe Garibaldi is a national hero of Italy, a legendary man, one of the main figures of the Italian Risorgimento, the movement for the unification of Italy. His name has become a symbol of the struggle for freedom and democracy. His popularity and fame, which came during his lifetime, more than once tried to use other political figures for their own purposes. The same thing happened after the death of the famous hero. Fascists, communists and liberals declared him the harbinger of their ideas. However, it remains open question why Garibaldi was so popular not only in Italy, but all over the world among people so different, sometimes polar, political views who declared him "theirs". Accordingly, the purpose of the abstract is to determine the true socio-political views of Giuseppe Garibaldi himself. Achieving this goal involves solving the following tasks:

1. recreate political portrait historical figure;
2. Highlight the main milestones in the life of Giuseppe Garibaldi;
3. Indicate his role in the process of German unification;
4. Define his political ideals.

The work primarily uses the memoirs of an outstanding national figure of Italy, as well as the book based on them by A. I. Tsomakion “Giuseppe Garibaldi. His life and role in the unification of Italy.

Chapter 1

1.1. Childhood, youth and first steps in the political field

Giuseppe Maria Garibaldi was born on July 4, 1807 in Nice. He was the second son of Domenico Garibaldi and his wife Rosa Bogiado. A lot of people were involved in his genealogy, while Garibaldi himself was never interested in the question of his origin and does not give any information about him in his memoirs. It is only certain that he came from a family of sailors. His father, also the son of a sailor, had his own ship and was engaged in trade. Giuseppe was a favorite in the family. Surrounded by the caresses and cares of his parents, brought up in a loving atmosphere of his own family, the child, in turn, paid with his blood with the most tender affection. Subsequently, amid the turbulent events of his abundant adventures, he forever retained this feeling in inviolable strength and freshness. His kind mother was for Garibaldi the object of reverent reverence. “As for my mother,” he says in his memoirs, “I proudly say that she could serve as a model for mothers — I think that says it all.”

To his father, Garibaldi retained a deep sense of gratitude. Despite his father's concerns, Garibaldi's upbringing was, in his own words, far from aristocratic. He was not taught gymnastics, fencing, or horseback riding. He learned gymnastics by climbing the shrouds and descending the ropes, fencing - protecting his head and trying to crush the head of others, and riding - imitating the wild riders of South America - the gauchos. the only bodily exercise Garibaldi in his youth was swimming, which he also learned without a teacher. He swam like a fish, and, of course, had the right to consider himself one of the best swimmers in the world. Garibaldi explains the reason for the many gaps in his upbringing by the situation in which at that time the matter of education in Piedmont was in general. It was entirely left to the priests, who strove to make young people more monks than citizens capable of serving the country.

Garibaldi was not yet eight years old when he performed his first heroic deed. One day, going with his cousin hunting in Var, he came to a deep ditch in which the washerwomen used to rinse their linen. One of them, busy with her usual work, slipped and fell into the water. Without thinking twice, the child rushed after the woman and saved her.

But not only in such brave feats of philanthropy was the boy's kindness of heart expressed. In his memoirs, he himself admits that since childhood he had a kind heart, and says that he always felt a special tenderness for everything weak and suffering. This pity extended to him also to animals, or, as he himself says, began with them. So, for example, once he caught a cricket and accidentally tore off his leg; this upset the boy so much that he locked himself in his room and wept inconsolably for several hours.

Another episode from Garibaldi's childhood is of particular interest, serving as evidence that already at that time a love for exploits and extraordinary adventure. Bored of the monotony of classwork, he suggested that the three comrades take a ride to Genoa on their own. Having made some savings from school lunches, the boys stocked up some provisions and, having packed them in a fishing boat, set off. They had already reached Monaco when they were overtaken by a ship sent for them by Father Garibaldi. It turned out that the abbot, who saw how they set off from the pier, told about their trick.

Along with these character traits, already at an early time in his life, Garibaldi began to show an extraordinary love for the sea. This attraction grew stronger over the years and finally turned into a real passion. For a long time this attraction was resisted by the father, who dreamed of a quieter career for his son; he thought of making him a priest, a lawyer, or a doctor. But with the perseverance characteristic of a natural calling, the child defeated his father and finally went to sea. He made his first trip to Odessa on the brigantine "Constanza". This is the first cruise further strengthened in the boy the conviction that he was created by a sailor. The father could no longer resist his desire and submitted.

He plowed the Mediterranean in all directions. And the time in the south of Europe was stormy. At that time, the Mediterranean was precisely the zone of political storms, the center of the great national movement that covered all of Europe. In 1821, a liberation uprising of Greek patriots against the Turkish yoke began, which subsequently led to the achievement of independence by Greece. The young Garibaldi dreamed of joining the Greek rebels. In Nice itself, when Garibaldi was returning from his voyage to his hometown, he felt the heavy atmosphere of surveillance and was in a hurry to leave it and go to new distant shores. In Italy, it was as if there was no business for him.

Everything was changed by a chance meeting in the south of Russia, in Taganrog, where Garibaldi sailed, having already become the captain of a small merchant ship, for a shipment of grain. Garibaldi went into one of the modest taverns where sailors used to gather for a glass of wine. Here he found several Italians; between them was a member of "Young Italy", a society shortly before founded by Mazzini. Garibaldi heard the passionate speech of a young patriot who spoke of the suffering of his homeland. With the fervor of youth, the member of Young Italy defended the idea that indignation was the only way to save the country. For Garibaldi, this speech was a kind of revelation.

26-year-old Garibaldi realized that he had found his business.Upon arrival in Marseille in 1831, Garibaldi met Mazzini.Having become acquainted with each other, Mazzini and Garibaldi could not help but become friends, since Mazzini's views were surprisingly in harmony with Garibaldi's moods. After that, he takes part in the preparation of an armed performance in Genoa and uses the Eurydice ship for this purpose. But in February 1834, the plan of his comrades-in-arms was revealed, many were arrested, and Garibaldi himself, through Nice, moved to the territory of France, miraculously escaping arrest. He was sentenced in absentia to death penalty. “Guilty,” reads the verdict, “should be delivered into the hands of the executioner, who, putting nooses around their necks, will lead them through the city on a trading day to the place of execution, where they will be hanged.” Fearing extradition, Garibaldi was forced in 1835 to emigrate for 13 years to South America.

1.2. Garibaldi in America

The turbulent Latin American period of his life began. There, finding himself without funds, he took an active part in the struggle for the independence of the republics of Rio Grande (in southern Brazil) and Uruguay. Here Garibaldi was lucky enough to meet the young married Creole beauty Anita (her full name- D "Aninas Ribeiro da Silva), who became his faithful wife and comrade-in-arms in the struggle. Together with him she participated in battles, bandaged the wounded and took up arms herself. Thanks to the feats accomplished in Latin America, Garibaldi became a well-known personality, and many European newspapers printed messages about him, colorfully describing his appearance: long hair, beard and mustache, red shirt, neckerchief and gray poncho. Subsequently, artists portrayed him this way, and this is how he looked in many photographs.In Italy, the people have already begun to associate his name with hopes for better times. In turn, Garibaldi knew that dissatisfaction with foreign domination was growing in his homeland.

And on the Apennine Peninsula from the mid-30s of the XIX century. drastic changes have taken place. First of all, in the kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia, where King Charles Albert changed the political course, deciding to use the national upsurge for his own purposes before his throne collapsed. Reforms were developed and carried out that turned Piedmont into the most modern state Italy approved a moderate-liberal constitution. The kingdom was in full swing, full of new beginnings, ideas of creating a unified Italian State. In 1847, in Turin, Count Cavour, a supporter of liberal ideas, began to publish a newspaper, which he called "Risorgimento" ("Reunion"). A year earlier, a new pope, Pius IX, was elected, who immediately after the election, declaring a general amnesty for political prisoners, allowed the emigrants to return. Garibaldi enthusiastically accepted all these changes and decided to return to his homeland. At the end of 1847 he sailed for Europe with his wife, three sons and his entire legion.

The American period is decisive for the formation of Garibaldi's personality. Here he gained military experience and hardening, participating in the ongoing wars between the South American states. Here, his democratic ideals and republican views were strengthened, and internationalism also manifested itself.

1.3. Revolution of 1848 and its defeat

When the ship entered the Mediterranean, different countries A storm of revolutions broke out in Europe in 1848. The news of the beginning of popular uprisings in the Kingdom of Naples gave the Garibaldians great inspiration. In his native Nice, Garibaldi was greeted with rejoicing. But in the capital of the Sardinian kingdom (Piedmont), Turin, King Charles Albert received him very coldly. Garibaldi started guerrilla war. In the autumn of 1848, he appeared in Central Italy, trying to break through to the besieged Venice, but then an uprising began in Rome, and the commander turned his troops there. But the Roman authorities, despite their extreme popularity folk hero, were in no hurry to trust him and did not allow him to completely break french corps, sent by Louis Napoleon to help the Pope, because. hoped for reconciliation with France. As a result, the French, having brought up fresh forces, took Rome in July 1849. At the same time, only the Garibaldians fought a heroic unequal battle with them ... There was still Venice, to which Garibaldi again began to advance. But the forces of his fighters were exhausted. Only 200 rebels reached the mountains to San Marino. Having gone down to the sea, they settled on boats. At night, the attack of the Austrians followed. Garibaldi carried the mortally wounded Anita ashore. The death of his beloved wife was a severe blow to him.

Everything seemed to be over. Venice fell in August. At the cost of a sea of ​​blood in Italy, the former borders and orders were restored. Garibaldi himself was hastened to arrest the authorities of the Sardinian kingdom, where he took refuge, but under pressure from the public he was released and sent abroad. For a while, Garibaldi moved away from politics. He makes new sea voyages - to Peru, China, New Zealand; trip around the world. In London, he meets again with Mazzini and the Italian revolutionary emigration. For some time, Garibaldi hopes to unite the country with the help of the diplomatic activity of Piedmont, where Prime Minister Count Camillo Cavour came up with a program of reforms. In alliance with France, to which Savoy and Nice (Garibaldi's homeland) were immediately given, Piedmont began a war with Austria for its Italian possessions.

1.4. Struggle for the unification of Italy

In 1860 began popular unrest in southern Italy. First, the national upsurge swept Sicily, then the entire Kingdom of Naples. Garibaldi reacted to the events taking place there as follows: "I did not advise now to raise an uprising, but if the Sicilians took up arms, it is the sacred duty of everyone to help them in the cause of liberation." After some hesitation, he agreed to lead the expedition to southern Italy, which later became known as the campaign of the Garibaldian "Thousand" and played important role in the unification of Italy.In July, the rebels occupied the entire island. Almost without resistance, in 18 days Garibaldi made his way from Calabria to Naples and triumphantly entered the southern capital. The royal army capitulated, its soldiers saluted the victors. Popular rejoicing was unprecedented. Illiterate peasants and artisans believed that Garibaldi was Christ.

Garibaldi's campaign was successful and led to the liberation of the South of Italy from the power of the Bourbons. For a while, Garibaldi became the dictator of Sicily, in his hands it turned out own state, in which he tried to carry out a number of transformations: he freed political prisoners, set about organizing schools and shelters, and distributed part of the state lands to the peasants.

So, Garibaldi wanted to go with his volunteers to Rome in order to complete the unification of Italy. But in Naples he was stopped by Victor Emmanuel II and his troops. The king of Piedmont and his first minister believed that Garibaldi's campaign in the Papal States and his occupation of Rome could greatly complicate the international position of Italy, incur the wrath of the French, under whose special protection the pope was. In November 1860, Garibaldi resigned his dictatorial powers and announced the transfer of power in Southern Italy, which he had liberated, to King Victor Emmanuel II. This year became memorable for him and turned out to be a fictitious marriage with a young aristocratic Giuseppina Raimondi (mother's namesake), who gave her heart even before meeting Garibaldi to another person, but admitted this to the famous groom only under the vaults of the temple in which the wedding took place. As soon as he heard this painful confession for both, our hero, who was distinguished by amorousness and adored by many women, jumped on his horse and sped away.

Garibaldi was sent to the island of Caprera, where he had previously bought a plot of land. The commander refused titles and awards. In fact, it was an honorary reference. The proclamation of a unified Italian kingdom in March 1861, headed by King Victor Emmanuel II, passed without a person who was the soul of the unification of the country. Other people, prudent, cautious and unscrupulous, took advantage of the fruits of his labor ... “This is not at all the Italy for which I fought all my life!” Garibaldi said. However, the Papal States and Venice were still outside the kingdom. The completion of the unification of Italy could be achieved only as a result of the elimination of the secular power of the pope and the liberation of Venice from Austrian domination.

The final unification of the Italian lands took place in 1870. In connection with the outbreak of the Franco-Prussian war, the French left the territory of the Papal State. Italian troops immediately entered Rome, the secular power of the pope was overthrown, and his lands were annexed to the Italian kingdom. Garibaldi was excluded from participation in this final stage of the unification of Italy: the monarchy no longer needed him. Moreover, the authorities even blocked the island of Caprera with the Italian fleet, preventing Garibaldi from sailing from it. Despite such an attitude towards him in Italy, the glory of Garibaldi lived in public opinion Europe.

The last years of Garibaldi's life were not easy: an unsuccessful second marriage, the death of many associates, alienation from royal Italy. But many adherents of democratic, revolutionary views often visited his modest house. Giuseppe Garibaldi died on June 2, 1882.

Chapter 2. Political ideals and realities

Giuseppe Garibaldi devoted his whole life to the struggle for the liberation of his homeland from the power of tyrants.Despite the fact that Garibaldi did not write theoretical articles and rarely spoke in parliament, one can still speak of his own political program, to the consideration of the main provisions of which we will move on.

1. Giuseppe Garibaldi devoted his life to "the struggle for Italy, united and free from despotism." By political tyranny and despotism, he understood the violent rule of a minority. So, addressing the workers of Parma in 1862, he explained it as follows: “Imagine that we are 100 people. 80 of us want one government, and 20 want another. 20 who violate the will of 80. - these are the despots, tyrants." Until the final liberation of all regions of Italy from the rule of the Austrians, namely, for Garibaldi, they were tyrants who oppressed the Italian people and prevented the unification of the country. Garibaldi's hatred was also directed against the internal despots, the personification of which was the pope. In the papacy, Garibaldi saw one of the main obstacles to the unification and rise of Italy. He emphasized the anti-national role of the papacy and the Catholic clergy, arguing that "priests are subjects of foreign domination and an instrument in its hands."
2. An important part his life credo was the struggle against despotism for freedom - "this most precious gift that providence has given to the peoples", as well as for the republic. According to Garibaldi himself, he always remained a republican "at heart", although he had to make an alliance with the monarchy more than once in order to achieve his main goal - the unification and exaltation of Italy. By republic, he meant a system of government supported by the majority, thus contrasting it with tyranny, in which the people are oppressed by a minority in power.
3. The struggle of the Italians for freedom, according to Garibaldi, was to be waged by the forces of the whole people, i.e. the whole nation, and he more than once spoke of it as a struggle in which private hatred and strife are silenced, and "all classes of citizens shake hands with each other ... to defend common Home- his homeland. "Garibaldi, indeed, advocated an alliance with various political forces and was ready to act together with the government of Cavour and King Victor Emmanuel for the good of Italy, which he wrote about more than once when he was accused of pro-monarchist views. He was a supporter of unification not only people within the country, but also friendship between different nations, which he spoke about more than once in letters and memoirs, and which he proved by his own example, fighting for the republics of Uruguay and Rio Grande in South America, and also participating in the Franco-Prussian war on the side Republican France Garibaldi carried through his whole life faith in the brotherhood of peoples and the right to national self-determination.
4. The 1870s are occupied in the life and development of the socio-political views of Garibaldi special place. This was the time when he found himself in Italy, united at first not completely, but after the liberation of Venice and Rome completely, i.e., it seemed that his main goal was achieved. The new kingdom faced enormous difficulties. The country continued to be divided into a more developed industrial North and a backward agrarian South, which turned into a kind of inner colony of the bourgeoisie of the North. Changes were needed. Garibaldi tried to find a solution by drawing up a program of action, one of the versions of which was published in the newspaper "Gadzetino Rosa" on August 12, 1872.This document was the first published expression of Garibaldi's political concept after the final unification of Italy. First of all, he insisted on "spiritual liberation" from the influence of the Catholic Church, believing that it was necessary to prohibit religious corporations in Rome. In his opinion, the religious superstitions of the people can only be dispelled by raising the level of literacy. Therefore, he proposed to make education compulsory and free. Spiritual liberation must be supplemented by material relief for the workers. To do this, it was necessary to improve the taxation system, abolishing a special tax on salt and on consumer goods, and instead of a series of heavy taxes, introduce one, more just and evenly distributed. But the most important point of Garibaldi's political program, present in both its first and later versions, concerned the granting of suffrage to all literate Italians.
5. Garibaldi was an ardent defender of civil rights. In his program of 1880, he wrote about the need to protect freedom of speech, press and assembly, was an adherent of the abolition of the death penalty, which he mentioned in letters.

But Garibaldi faced resistance against his projects. In 1880, he resigned from the post of deputy, because "he cannot be among the legislators in a country where freedom is trampled on, and the law is applied only to guarantee freedom to the Jesuits and enemies of the unification of Italy."

Chapter 3. The influence of Giuseppe Garibaldi on world fashion

There are some items of clothing that we associate with some famous person. Or vice versa, a person with clothes. For example, Lenin - a cap and a three-piece suit, Napoleon - an unusual cocked hat - bicorner and white leggings, Garibaldi - a red shirt and a hat. But few people managed to influence fashion as much as the Italian revolutionary. We owe a lot to him in our modern wardrobe.

In XIX in. the Garibaldian movement has become so popular in Europe that even shirts, jackets and hats - “garibaldians” have entered women's fashion. As writes famous historian R. Kirsanov's fashion: "the red shirt - the garibaldi became identification mark forward-thinking women.

But first, let's determine why the Garibaldian units wore red shirts. Here historians disagree. There are several versions.

1. In the life of Garibaldi there was a period when he, sentenced to death in Italy, led a nomadic life, and in 1846 offered his services to the South American republics of Rio Grande and Montevideo. There, Garibaldi acquired his unique style of revolutionary clothing - a red shirt, a poncho and a small hat.In 1843, in Uruguay, he formed the Italian Legion. And at that time, his troops received from one of the factories in Montevideo a lot of red flannel shirts, which the owners wanted to export to Argentina, for the slaughterhouses of Buenos Aires. The red color was used to hide the blood.
2. According to the second version, the idea of ​​red shirts came to Garibaldi during his life in New York in 1850-1853. Volunteer fire brigades were popular there, with members dressed in red flannel shirts.

Until the middle of the 19th century, society ladies did not wear blouses, only dresses. The garibaldi blouse was the prototype of the modern women's blouse. Such a garibaldi was sewn from scarlet merino, trimmed with black or green braid.You can wear it in the morning, for breakfast, or as a semi-toilet. She, by the way, is already in great demand in fashionable circles, "wrote Godey's Lady's Book" in January 1862. Later, they began to sew it not only from red, but also from white matter.For women in Russia, the garibaldi shirt was more than a fashionable wardrobe item, it was a way of expressing progressive views. Again a quote from Kirsanova: "she (the Garibaldian) symbolizes a whole period in the history of the Russian democratic movement". Most often, female students dressed like this. S. Kovalevskaya in the story "Nihilist" writes: "All three girls were dressed in black skirts and colored garibaldi, belted at the waist with leather sashes."

The most popular item of clothing today - jeans - is also directly related to Garibaldi. The word "jeans" comes from the French phrase bleu de Genes, literally "blue of Genoa".They were worn by Genoese sailors - such trousers served for a long time, the fabric was durable, and the color from blue over time, under the influence of sea water and the sun, became whitish. Giuseppe Garibaldi, also a sailor in his time, also wore the "Genovese", which are now kept in Rome in the Risorgimento Central Museum in Vittoriano. These jeans are the oldest in the world, they are 149 years old. It was in them that he landed with his detachment in Marsala in Sicily in May 1860.

Conclusion

A review of the literature dedicated to the great figure of Italy XIX century, as well as acquaintance with the memoirs of Giuseppe Garibaldi allow us to draw the following conclusions:

1. Whole life path Garibaldi can be divided into two unequal periods. The line between them can be the most important event for the entire Italian people and for European history- the final unification of Italy, which was the goal of Garibaldi's life. It should be noted that it was precisely this "holy goal" - the unification of Italy - that all the actions of Garibaldi were subordinated to one degree or another.
2. All the activities of Garibaldi, his whole life were very closely connected with the fate of the motherland.Each separate period of his life is determined by the course of events in his fatherland in the corresponding years. Only in connection with these events does each step of the national hero acquire real meaning and significance. You can know and understand Garibaldi only by knowing and understanding Italy and those dreams and hopes that animated the best part of Italian society in early XIX centuries.
3. In general, the greatness of Garibaldi's contribution to the unification of Italy is undeniable. Many of his proposals and projects of recent years were gradually implemented after his death. And on June 2, 1946, exactly the same day, 64 years after the death of Giuseppe Garibaldi, a republic was proclaimed in Italy.

It should be noted that many eminent figures different eras highly appreciated the fighter for the unification of Italy. In particular, Maxim Gorky, who lived at a different time, wrote about him short story. He recalled how Garibaldi entered his life: “The first time I heard this great name was when I was 13 years old. I then served as a kitchen boy on a passenger steamer ... Who, sitting, who standing, listened to the story of one passenger: “His name was Giuseppe, in our opinion Osip, and his last name was Garibaldi. He had a great soul. And he called out a cry throughout the country: “Brothers, freedom is higher and better life! Rise all up to fight the enemy and we will fight until we prevail!” And everyone obeyed him, because they saw that he would rather die three times than give in. Everyone followed him and won...” The writer confessed that the short story of an unknown peasant was deeply rooted in his heart than all books...

Bibliography

1. The World History. Encyclopedia for children. T. 1 .. - 4th ed. / Chapter. ed. M.D. Aksenova. - M .: "Avanta +", 2003.
2. Garibaldi D. Memoirs / Per. V. S. Bondarchuk and Yu. A. Fridman; Art. and comment. V. E. Nevler. - M .: "Nauka", 1966. - 468 p.: ill., portr.
3. Tsomakion I.A. Giuseppe Garibaldi. His life and role in the unification of Italy
4. Muromtseva O.V. The life and work of Giuseppe Garibaldi. Modern look.// New and recent history. - 2002, No. 1
5. The influence of Giuseppe Garibaldi on world fashion.
6. Gorky M. How I first heard about Garibaldi.

In Nice, in one of the most beautiful places Côte d'Azur, there is a monument to the greatest of the heroes of Italy - Giuseppe Garibaldi. The appearance of this monument in Nice is connected not only with the proximity of Italy, which is only a few tens of kilometers away. Just a violent revolutionary, adventurer and dreamer was a native of this city.

Giuseppe Garibaldi was born on July 4, 1807 in the family of a native of Genoa, a sailor Domenico Garibaldi.

The son of a sailor, who lived on the seashore, simply could not help but follow in the footsteps of his father. From his youth, Giuseppe went to merchant ships across the Mediterranean and Black Seas. A talented young man, at the age of 25, he himself became the captain of a brigantine.

Giuseppe's life has changed dramatically... Russia. In 1833, Captain Garibaldi entered the port of Taganrog, where he met an Italian political emigrant Giovanni Cuneo, who captivated the sailor with ideas about the unification of Italy, the liberation of the Austrians from power and the establishment of a republican system.

Giuseppe Garibaldi becomes a member of the Young Italy secret society and a year later participates in his first conspiracy, which, however, ended in failure. The young revolutionary was sentenced to death in absentia and forced to flee to France, from where his long wanderings around the world began.

Giuseppe Garibaldi, 1848-49 Photo: www.globallookpress.com

"Italian Legion" in the service of "Colorados"

He again came in handy sea craft, however, in a different form. Giuseppe Garibaldi entered the service of the ruler of Tunisia as a pirate. Corsair Garibaldi turned out to be no less talented than Garibaldi the sailor. However, it was not gold and jewelry that seduced him, but the opportunity to fight for freedom and justice.

That is why Garibaldi moved from Tunisia to South America, which was seething with revolutionary ideas. He joined the farrapus (ragged) rebels who fought against the Brazilian government. At this time, he met a beauty Anita who became his wife.

In 1841, Giuseppe and Anita moved to Uruguay, settling in Montevideo. For some time, Garibaldi was engaged in trade and was the director of the school. However, this could not last long. When civil war broke out in Uruguay in 1842, Garibaldi supported the Uruguayan "Colorados" (Reds), leading their fleet and forming the "Italian Legion" from among immigrants from Italy. At the same time, the trademark of Garibaldi and his fighters appeared - red shirts, by which they were subsequently distinguished in Europe.

As commander of a fleet that was more pirate than regular, Garibaldi instilled such fear in the captains merchant ships that his fame in South America was no less than that of captain Flint.

In the name of Italy

For six years, Garibaldi successfully fought in South America, gaining fame and popularity. But the Italian Garibaldi never forgot about his homeland, and when a revolution broke out in Italy in 1848, he rushed there with several dozen associates.

But by the time Garibaldi landed at Nice, the revolution was already in decline. Nevertheless, having gathered a corps of 1,500 men under his banner, he entered into battle with the Austrians. The forces were unequal, and after some time Garibaldi with a detachment retreated to Switzerland.

However, against the backdrop of the general depression of the Italians, the courage and stamina of the Garibaldians made them widely popular.

From Switzerland, Garibaldi and his supporters reached Rome, where the revolutionaries managed to seize power. Garibaldi led the defense of the proclaimed Roman Republic.

From February to July 1849, the troops of Giuseppe Garibaldi successfully fought the Neapolitans and the French army, who sought to crush the uprising, but Rome fell on July 3. Garibaldi with a detachment moved north, hoping to continue the fight.

But the opponents have already realized how tough a nut Garibaldi is. Large forces were sent to defeat his detachment. Garibaldi's wanderings ended tragically - on August 4, 1849, on a farm near Ravenna, his wife and fighting girlfriend Anita died of malaria in the arms of Giuseppe. In nine years of marriage, they had four children. sons Mentotti and Richotti, having matured, will become companions of the father and will fight together with him shoulder to shoulder.

After the final suppression of the revolution, Garibaldi emigrated to North America, where he worked in a factory, and then returned to the profession of captain.

Death of Garibaldi's wife Anita, 1849. Photo: www.globallookpress.com

Revolutionary and king

In 1854, Garibaldi returned to Europe, bought some land on the island of Caprera and took up farming.

In 1859 King of Piedmont and Sardinia Victor Emmanuel II, relying on the support of the French emperor Napoleon III, intended to start a war against Austria in order to liberate Italian lands. Such an enterprise needed a bold, determined and talented commander, which was Garibaldi. However, the republican Garibaldi did not have much sympathy for the king of Piedmont and Sardinia.

Negotiations with Garibaldi were led by a talented politician, the prime minister of Sardinia and the future first prime minister of a united Italy Camillo Cavour. He managed to convince the revolutionary to join the campaign.

In May 1859, Garibaldi, at the head of a corps of volunteers and with the rank of general granted by the king, entered the war and inflicted several defeats on the Austrians. The result of the war was the annexation of central Italy to Piedmont, but Garibaldi himself regarded its outcome as a defeat - in exchange for these territorial acquisitions, Victor Emmanuel transferred the revolutionary's homeland, Nice, to France.

In Turin, the first northern Italian parliament was assembled, in which Garibaldi, as if in mockery, was elected a deputy from Nice.

Never having a penchant for diplomacy, Garibaldi made a sharp speech against Cavour, whom he considered one of the culprits for the loss of Nice, resigned from his ranks of deputy and general, after which he left for the rebels who fought in Sicily.

The feat of the "thousand" Garibaldians

In May 1860, Garibaldi's most successful campaign, the Expedition of a Thousand, began. With a detachment of 1200 fighters, Garibaldi landed in Sicily, where he joined, or rather, led the local revolutionaries. Having defeated the Neapolitan troops, Garibaldi laid siege to the capital of Sicily, Palermo, and soon entered it in triumph.

With all his republican views, Garibaldi understood that the process of Italian unification was going around the Sardinian kingdom, so he proclaimed himself dictator of the island on behalf of King Victor Emmanuel II.

His detachment gradually increased to 18,000 people, and after a series of battles, almost all of Sicily passed under the control of the Garibaldians.

In August 1860, Garibaldi landed with a detachment on the Apennine Peninsula, starting the conquest of the continental part of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. The war ended in February 1861 with the complete victory of Garibaldi, the annexation of the territories of the kingdom to Sardinia and the proclamation in March 1861 of the creation of the Kingdom of Italy.

Giuseppe Garibaldi with his squad. Photo: www.globallookpress.com

How a Russian surgeon saved an Italian hero

Victor Emmanuel II was delighted, showering Garibaldi with honours. But the revolutionary did not need honors, he needed Rome, without which he did not consider the unification of Italy complete. However, the king, based on political situation in Europe, was categorically against the campaign in the Papal States.

Then Garibaldi acted as before - refusing all honors, he went to collect a new detachment, intending to act alone.

This time, however, Victor Emmanuel II not only refused to support his actions, but also sent an army against the Garibaldians. In the skirmish that ensued, Garibaldi himself, who was taken prisoner, was wounded.

However, neither judge nor execute national hero the king, who personally owed much to Garibaldi, did not intend to. The prisoner was kept as a person of royal blood, and to heal the wound of the leg, which turned out to be extremely dangerous, were invited the best doctors, including a Russian surgeon Nikolai Pirogov who saved the revolutionary's leg and life.

Soon after the cure, Garibaldi was amnestied and released, and with him his associates.

Last battles

In 1866, when Italy entered new war with Austria, Garibaldi again voluntarily entered the service of King Victor Emmanuel II, conducted several successful military operations, but then his corps suffered a major defeat, after which the hero said goodbye to the troops and returned to his estate on the island of Caprera.

Garibaldi did not leave the idea of ​​conquering Rome, but the international agreements signed by Italy obliged her to respect the sovereignty of the Papal States. However, Garibaldi made two more attempts to achieve his goal at the head of detachments of volunteers, but failed.

In 1870, what Garibaldi did not succeed, the king succeeded. The French army, which was the main guarantor of the independence of the Papal States, was distracted by the Franco-Prussian war, and the Italian army entered Rome, which became the capital of Italy, with little or no interference.

Giuseppe Garibaldi, 1878 Photo: www.globallookpress.com

It is curious that Garibaldi himself at that time, together with his sons, volunteered for Franco-Prussian War, speaking on the side of the French, against whom he fought more than once in Italy, but this time he considered whose cause fair. Alas, the aging revolutionary did not achieve great success in this war.

Soul of nations

AT last years Garibaldi's life was tormented by pain caused by numerous old wounds. He lived on the island of Caprera, still refusing honors and awards. In 1876, however, the family insisted that he accept the annuity assigned to him by the Italian Parliament.

The hero of Italy, the idol of all the revolutionaries of Europe, Giuseppe Garibaldi died on June 2, 1882 in his estate on the island of Caprera and was buried there, next to his wife.

In his will, Garibaldi wrote: "I bequeath my love of freedom and truth and my hatred of lies and tyranny." These words might seem pompous and high-flown if they came from someone else, but Giuseppe Garibaldi, who devoted his whole life to wrestling, had every right to them.

Speaking of Garibaldi, French writer Victor Hugo remarked: “What is Garibaldi? Man. Nothing more. But a man in the highest sense of the word. A man of freedom, a man of humanity. Does he have an army? Only a handful of volunteers. Do you have ammunition? There are none. Gunpowder - several barrels. Guns - taken from the enemy. What is his strength? What gives him victory? What's behind it? Soul of the peoples.

The national hero of Italy, a legendary figure, a member of the Risorgimento liberation movement - all this is about the revolutionary Giuseppe Garibaldi. His name has become the personification of freedom and unification. The Fascist Party, like the communists and liberals, considered him the ancestor of their ideology. Many streets in the world are named after Giuseppe Garibaldi, monuments are erected to him, he is revered.

Short biography of Giuseppe Garibaldi

The revolutionary was born in 1807 in Nice, which at that time was part of Italy. Giuseppe's father owned a sailboat and transported goods on it over short distances around the country. From a young age, the boy tried to expand his horizons, he got acquainted early with the work of Dante and Petrarch, he was interested in the details of the battles and military campaigns of Napoleon and Hannibal. Knew a lot foreign languages such as French, English and Spanish.

Italian revolutionary Giuseppe Garibaldi

From the age of 15, Garibaldi sailed on merchant ships. As a sailor, he visited Russia, traveled around mediterranean sea. In 1821, the Greek struggle for independence from Turkish oppression began. In 1828, riots swept through Italy, the authorities responded mass repression and executions. Upon returning from another flight, Giuseppe felt the heavy atmosphere of his native land, considered that he could be followed and tried to leave Nice as soon as possible.

The turning point was for Garibaldi's acquaintance in 1833 with Emile Barro, a supporter of the utopian movement, and with a representative of the Young Italy organization. These meetings greatly influenced the formation of Giuseppe's views. After unsuccessful uprising Mazzinists in 1834, Garibaldi, fearing arrest and death, went to South America. There he actively fights for the independence of the Latin American republics, fights on the side of the Republicans, becomes a Freemason and an ardent opponent of the Catholic Church. However, he has kept in touch for 13 years with his associates from Italy.

Soon Garibaldi returns to Italy to take part in the war with Austria. However, this conflict ends with the defeat of the Italian army. Throughout the first half of 1849, Giuseppe Garibaldi fought for the proclaimed Roman Republic against the French and Neapolitans, who were trying to stop the conflict. July 3, 1849 fell under the yoke French army, the revolutionary detachment retreated to the north, seeking to soon continue the struggle for freedom.

However, Garibaldi decided not to give up on any account. The strongest troops were thrown in order to break his detachment. He had to go to Venice to find support among the supporters of his ideas. As soon as he reaches Piedmont, Garibaldi is arrested and expelled from the country.

In 1859, Victor Emmanuel II becomes king, who is going to start a war against Austria in order to liberate Italian lands. Garibaldi returns to his homeland and accepts an invitation to take part in the campaign. The Austrian army was defeated. As a result of the war, part of central Italy joins Piedmont, and the territory of Nice goes to France.

In 1860, Garibaldi led a detachment of more than a thousand people to unite the lands of Italy. He receives permission from Victor Emmanuel II and sets off with his detachment to the coast of Sicily. Soon the enemy troops were defeated, and the commander's detachment triumphantly enters Palermo, the capital of Sicily. After numerous battles, the entire territory of the island falls under the control of Garibaldi.

After the end of the war in 1861, the lands of the kingdom were annexed to Sardinia. However main goal Garibaldi was the return of Rome. This decision of the commander was vehemently opposed by Victor Emmanuel II. He was categorically against the invasion of those lands that belonged to the Pope.

In 1866, after another war with Austria, thanks to Garibaldi, Venice returned to Italy. Soon the commander again makes an attempt to annex Rome and begins to look for like-minded people who could support him. However, Garibaldi is arrested, but he manages to escape from under the escort and again try to gather volunteers for the next trip to Rome. Giuseppe is defeated by the French army for the city. It took several years for the French to leave the territory of Rome, as the war with Prussia began. Italian army took advantage of this moment, occupied the city and annexed it to its territory.

Giuseppe Garibaldi, the idol of the revolutionaries, died in June 1882 on the island of Caprera. The name of the man who gave his all to the struggle for the freedom of the motherland remained forever in the memory of independent Italy.

You probably know "Garibaldi" as a type of beard and at the same time as an Italian revolutionary who seems to have unified Italy. This is normal, at school they told us criminally little about him, and the name is not particularly well known. But Giuseppe Garibaldi is incredible interesting character, his biography would be enough for a whole series adventure books. He was a pirate and dictator, an admiral who sank three fleets (all his own) and went down in history as the most unruly general. Anarchist, monarchist and Freemason in one bottle.

United Italy and still remains her favorite hero

Giuseppe Garibaldi was the protagonist of the Rissorgimento - the unification of Italy and the liberation of the Italians from the oppression of Austria-Hungary and France. In fact, Garibaldi did not single-handedly unify Italy, just as Che Guevara did not take over Cuba alone. But it was he who became a symbol of the movement and its chaotic locomotive.

To mid-nineteenth century Italy consisted of many semi-feudal kingdoms and principalities. The northern part was under the "protectorate" of Austria-Hungary. In the southern part, the Bourbons (that is, the Spaniards) ruled, the central part belonged to the Pope, who, as a rule, did not care about the Italians and more often represented the interests of France. The Italians simply did not have their own country in which they would have the final say. As a result, this led to the very Rissorgimento - in fact, a revolt against foreign power. The movement needed a hero who would personify best qualities the Italian people. The indefatigable, frenetic energy commander Garibaldi, who was distinguished by optimism and love of life, just became such a hero.

Constantly crashed like the latest loser. But over and over again started the fight

According to contemporaries, Italy Garibaldi attracted good luck and was a real talisman of the country. However, if you look at the series of his adventures, it turns out that he was a real loser, and his undertakings each time turned into a complete failure. But Giuseppe did not give up the fight and was reborn from the ashes over and over again. Absolutely invincible person! He organized uprising after uprising, now in Genoa, now in Rome, now in South America. But he was defeated.

However, half of his undertakings nevertheless ended in success - he managed to capture Southern Italy with only a thousand volunteers; smash the troops of the Austrians and Prussians, defeating experienced generals, standing at the head of a crowd of ragamuffins. But even here, in the end, he was left with nothing: all his great achievements were appropriated by other people, mainly the rulers of Piedmont (which became the core of the Rissorgimento). For all his frantic energy and strength, Garibaldi was poorly versed in politics and did not know how to weave intrigues. And power, as it turned out, goes not to the great winners, but to armchair politicians.

During his life he managed to be a teacher, a pirate, a sailor, a writer, a general, an admiral, a dictator and a gardener

Giuseppe Garibaldi had a strange life. He changed from a dozen professions, and far from increasing "from the layman to the dictator." Starting as a simple sailor, he turned into a professional revolutionary, then emigrated to South America, where he became first a pirate and then an admiral. When things went wrong with the fleet, Garibaldi found a job as a school teacher, but as soon as unrest began again in Italy, he returned to his homeland, where he acted as the commander of the rebels.

For most of his life after returning to Italy, he will be famous as a commander, but in between, when another failure leaves him out of work, Garibaldi either turns out to be a sailor again, or suddenly works on candle factory in New York, he will sit down for memoirs, but will begin to write poems.

Married to a Pirate

Garibaldi with Anna dying in her arms

In the 1830s, Garibaldi, already then a professional revolutionary, was forced to flee to South America. There he joined a new rebellion - the struggle for the independence of the Republic of Rio Grande (rebellious province of Brazil). Here they appreciated his skills as a sailor and made him first a privateer, and then even an admiral of the pirate fleet (Rio Grande had no other).

During one of the battles, Giuseppe meets Anna Ribeiro, a pirate and revolutionary. They marry, have children, but despite this, they continue their eternal rebellion. Returning to Italy in 1848 to support the uprising and the doomed Roman Republic there, Garibaldi also takes his pregnant wife. The idea turned out to be not the best - during the campaign (more precisely, the flight from the Austrians), Anna, who caught malaria, dies.

Now her remains are buried under the pedestal of the monument dedicated to her. Anna Garibaldi is depicted as a Valkyrie with a pistol, racing on a horse across the battlefield. If it's not a perfect story tragic love, then what?

Was possibly the most unruly general in history

On the battlefield, Garibaldi was as much a successful commander as he was out of control. He considered himself a born Republican and Democrat, almost an anarchist, but he was well aware that the only way to unite Italy - to stand under the banner of the Kingdom of Sardinia (it is also Piedmont). Formally fighting for the glory of King Victor Emmanuel II, he, according to the leadership, remained a masterful beast.

He acted on the battlefield on his own, and while the rest of the generals drank champagne at headquarters, fantasizing over the battle map, Garibaldi won with insane pressure, furious bayonet attacks and unexpected blows to the flank. Later, the glory of an invincible bastard who fights like a madman joined the tools of his victory. Enemy soldiers began to flee from the battlefield or even leave the fortress, barely hearing "Garibaldi is coming!".

Disobeying orders, Giuseppe went with a thousand volunteers to southern Italy and captured it in just twenty days, becoming the dictator of the South. Fortunately, he was smart enough to hand over the reign to Victor Emmanuel - otherwise a civil war would have broken out. Disregarding the king's personal ban, he twice attacked the Papal States, where he was defeated by the troops of his own leadership, who were afraid that Giuseppe was going to personally shoot the Pope and wreak havoc in Italy. If not for glory greatest hero Rissorgimento, Garibaldi would have been court martialed and shot a long time ago.

Was a Freemason

During his stay in the capital of Uruguay, Montevideo (just when he was the admiral of the country), Giuseppe Garibaldi was admitted to the local Masonic lodge "Refuge of Virtue". She did not have much weight in the world, but later allowed him to join other, more prestigious departments.

At the end of his life, Garibaldi became the head of three Masonic lodges at once: Grand Master of the Italian Lodge, Grand Hierophant (that is, life master) of the Egyptian Rite of Memphis and Grand Hierophant of the Egyptian Rite of Mizraim, uniting the last two into a single lodge. All this sounds confusing and too exotic, but at least it says that Freemasonry was as common in Garibaldi's time as sports clubs are today.

His main enemy was his own colleague in the unification of Italy

Camillo Benso di Cavour

It is obvious that a man of such an amazing fate and indefatigable character had enemies. But, as it should be in a good story, Garibaldi's main enemy was his main ally and ally - another unifier of Italy, Count Camillo Benso di Cavour. He was the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Sardinia (which eventually completed the Rissorgimento), and, from the perspective of Giuseppe, a real scoundrel.

Count Cavour looked at the unification from a completely different perspective. Garibaldi dreamed of completing everything in one fell swoop, without letting the enemy come to his senses (it almost happened). Cavour believed that the process would be difficult, gradual and drag on for almost a hundred years. Garibaldi relied on the fury of battle and was an enthusiastic preacher of the revolution, Cavour believed in economic reforms, diplomacy and cold calculation. Garibaldi relied on the peasants and poor townspeople, Cavour - on the young bourgeoisie and the liberal aristocracy.

Garibaldi, with all his successes, spoiled all the cards for Cavour. What kind of diplomacy and slow incremental reforms are possible when the protagonist revolution jumps from country to country in Italy and almost randomly seizes new lands? In addition, Cavour made an agreement with the Devil, entering into an alliance with Napoleon III. The calculation turned out to be not so bad: it was thanks to France that they managed to defeat Austria-Hungary and get at least some opportunity to begin unification. As if as a mockery, Cavour gave the French Nice, Garibaldi's hometown, for such services.

But that's not all: during one of the campaigns, Giuseppe almost died, going on a suicidal attack on the orders of the government. He seemed to have no chance - it was a set trap, but Garibaldi managed to escape. There is an opinion that Cavour was behind this.

It looks like Garibaldi was a good guy who stood up to an evil scheming count. In fact, both did about the same to unite the country and it is not clear who interfered with whom more in this matter.

Traveled the whole world, was a friend of Herzen and Lincoln

Traveling the world, Garibaldi ended up in Peru, Uruguay, Brazil, the USA, Russia (Taganrog, to be precise), China, Australia, New Zealand and the UK. And all this is so, in passing, in the time free from military victories.

In Britain, he met Herzen, with whom he later corresponded. President Abraham Lincoln offered Garibaldi the post of Commander-in-Chief of the Army of the North when the Civil War broke out. And the great surgeon Nikolai Pirogov saved him from amputation of his leg, after Giuseppe was under fire from his own allies during a campaign against Rome.

Garibaldi was a kind of rock star of his time: popular and world famous, he easily made friends with popular and world famous people of his era.

Helped yesterday's enemies for the sake of "fighting tyrants"

Giuseppe Garibaldi was such an implacable fighter against tyranny that when his yesterday's enemies, the French, were severely attacked by Prussia, he could not stand aside and went to their aid.
This happened after the second campaign against Rome, during which The eternal City finally ceased to be the patrimony of the Pope and joined Italy. It was possible to capture Rome only because the French army guarding it hastily retreated, having learned about the outbreak of war with Prussia. The war went from bad to worse, and when Garibaldi unexpectedly offered his services as a commander, France agreed, which she did not regret.

The French lost the war shamefully to Prussia, but, in the words of Victor Hugo, "Of all the generals who fought on the side of France, he is the only one who was not defeated." And it's true: Garibaldi's detachment was the last to fight when everyone else surrendered. He alone did not suffer crushing defeats, did not face serious losses and maintained morale.

Refused awards and pensions

Garibaldi on Caprera

At the end of his life, Garibaldi, suffering from past wounds, settled on the island of Caprera. Wrote memoirs, corresponded with politicians and revolutionaries from all over the world. In addition, he became interested in gardening and even became a theorist Agriculture, carried away by its scientific side.

The government of united Italy, in gratitude for his services, appointed Garibaldi a pension. For a long time he denied "handouts", but then he nevertheless agreed to a payment of a million lire and a permanent pension of 50,000 lire. He motivated this by the fact that corrupt officials would still plunder them, but he spent most money for charity.

Brief history of Garibaldi as a general:

As you can see, it all consists entirely of great victories that turn into failure, and all his merits are eventually taken over by other politicians.

In 1833, Garibaldi, an unknown young sailor, tries to raise an uprising in Genoa as part of the Young Italy cell, but fails.

Then he tries to join the self-proclaimed Republic of Rio Grande (a rebellious province of Brazil) and becomes an admiral there, but this again turns into a failure - Garibaldi drowns the entire fleet of the country so that it does not get to the enemy.

In 1842, Garibaldi adjoins civil war in Uruguay and becomes an admiral already here. But history repeats itself: Giuseppe sinks the fleet again so that the Argentines do not get it.

In 1848, the first liberation revolution broke out in Italy and the rebels organized the Roman Republic. Garibaldi joined it, but in the end the revolutionaries failed, and Rome was taken by the French.

Garibaldi tried to join Venice, in which an uprising also took place, but while he fought his way to it, the uprising was already suppressed. During this campaign, his wife, Anna, just died.

10 years later, in 1858, a new wave of national liberation war begins: the Kingdom of Sardinia declares war on Austria. Garibaldi proves to be an excellent commander, but again fails. Moreover, he is betrayed by his own generals, who tried to set a trap for a too uncontrollable commander.

In 1860, a rebellion begins in Sicily, and Garibaldi, commanding only a thousand poorly armed volunteers, first captures the island, and then the whole south of Italy. He becomes a dictator, but is forced to give power to Piedmont, realizing that this is the only way to unite Italy.

In 1862, Garibaldi, following the same scheme, tries to stage a riot and seize the lands of the Pope. He is met with rifle shots and seriously wounded in the leg by his own allies, who were afraid that the capture of the Vatican would lead to Italy being attacked by all Catholic countries.

In 1864, Giuseppe again organizes his own campaign against Rome. Everything turns badly again: his detachment is defeated by the French, and he is arrested. At this time, France is just losing the war to Prussia and the Italians, who have just arrested Garibaldi for invading Rome, themselves bring troops there. In fact, they simply took over the city on the success of Giuseppe, appropriated his merits.

In 1870, Garibaldi himself acts on the side of the French, fighting against Prussia. He explains his actions by the fact that he fights against tyrants wherever help is required. The French lose the war with terrible losses, but Giuseppe's detachment turns out to be the only one in the entire French army that has not been broken and has not surrendered in disgrace.

It is simply amazing how this whole series of seemingly failures led to the final victory and the unification of Italy. Garibaldi was in every sense a great loser who proved that perseverance is much more important than success.