Untitled Document

HIST1006: Dr. Share's Module

The Unification of Italy (2)

Giuseppe Garibaldi's Proclamation for the Liberation of Sicily (1860)

Giuseppe Garibaldi (1807-1882) was a soldier and a man of action, unlike the more scholarly Mazzini. In 1860 he organised a volunteer army to invade Sicily on behalf of King Victor Emmanuel of Piedmont. Later he successfully invaded the Kingdom of Naples and thereby provided a firm base for the political unification of the whole of the Italian peninsular

Read Garibaldi's 'Proclamation for the Liberation of Sicily' (1860) and answer these questions:-

1. Who are identified as the chief enemies of a unified Italy? Why?

2. What does Garibaldi ask of the people of the various regions of Italy? Why?

3. How is unification to be achieved?

4. Why is this such an important historical document?

5. What does it tell us about the nature of Italian nationalism in 1860?

Italians!—The Sicilians are fighting against the enemies of Italy, and for Italy. It is the duty of every Italian to succour them with words, money, and arms, and, above all, in person.

The misfortunes of Italy arise from the indifference of one province to the fate of the others.

The redemption of Italy began from the moment that men of the same land ran to help their distressed brothers.

Left to themselves, the brave Sicilians will have to fight, not only the mercenaries of the Bourbon, but also those of Austria and the Priest of Rome.

Let the inhabitants of the free provinces lift their voices in behalf of their struggling brethren, and impel their brave youth to the conflict.

Let the Marches, Umbria, Sabina, Rome, the Neapolitan, rise to divide the forces of our enemies.

Where the cities suffice not for the insurrection, let them send bands of their bravest into the country.

The brave man finds an arm everywhere. Listen not to the voice of cowards, but arm, and let us fight for our brethren, who will fight for us tomorrow.

A band of those who fought with me the country's battles marches with me to the fight. Good and generous, they will fight for their country to the last drop of their blood, nor ask for other reward than a clear conscience.

"Italy and Victor Emmanuel!" they cried, on passing the Ticino. "Italy and Victor Emmanuel!" shall re-echo in the blazing caves of Mongibello.

At this cry, thundering from the great rock of Italy to the Tarpeian, the rotton Throne of tyranny shall crumble, and, as one man, the brave descendants of Vespro shall rise.

To Arms! Let me put an end, once and for all, to the miseries of so many centuries. Prove to the world that it is no lie that Roman generations inhabited this land.