Giuseppe Garibaldi: The Man Who United Italy

“Garibaldi must win by force: he is not a man; he is a symbol, a form; he is the Italian soul. Between the beats of his heart, everyone hears the beats of his own.”

Those are the words of Francesco De Sanctis — an Italian politician describing one of the most fascinating characters of modern European history. Giuseppe Garibaldi: the man who unified Italy, fought on two continents, turned down a crown, and might just be the most interesting man in history.

Giuseppe Garibaldi was born in Nice in 1807 — and that’s important. Nice was part of the French Empire at the time, but culturally it was largely Italian. And at this point, Italy as a country didn’t exist. The peninsula was a patchwork of kingdoms, duchies and papal states — most of them ruled or backed by foreign powers like Austria.

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Further reading:

📖 Books
Denis Mack Smith, Garibaldi: A Great Life in Brief
A concise and insightful biography by one of the leading historians of modern Italy.
Penguin Classics

Lucy Riall, Garibaldi: Invention of a Hero
Explores not just Garibaldi’s life, but how he became a global celebrity — and a myth.
Oxford University Press

Christopher Hibbert, Garibaldi and His Enemies: The Clash of Arms and Personalities in the Making of Italy
A readable and well-paced military history of the Risorgimento.
Goodreads

John Foot, The Man Who Invented Italy: The Life of Giuseppe Garibaldi (2024)
A fresh and modern take on Garibaldi’s life and legacy.
Amazon UK

🧾 Articles & Resources
Giuseppe Garibaldi – Encyclopaedia Britannica
A solid, accessible overview of Garibaldi’s life and historical impact.
britannica.com

Risorgimento Timeline – Italian Unification (1815–1871)
Great for putting Garibaldi’s campaigns in broader context.
BBC Bitesize (A-Level History)

Garibaldi and Anita: Romantic Rebels
A short illustrated article on Garibaldi and Anita's partnership.
Museo del Risorgimento, Turin (Italian only — use auto-translate)

🎧 Optional Extras
Podcast: History Extra – Giuseppe Garibaldi: Italy’s Greatest Revolutionary?
A smart 30-min discussion on Garibaldi's global impact and modern image.
History Extra

Chapters:

0:00 - 1:08 - Who is Giuseppe Garibaldi?
1:08 - 1:30 - Garibaldi Meets Mazzini
1:30 - 2:48 - The Exile
2:48 - 3:43 - Time To Return Back To Italy
3:43 - 3:52 - The Un-War Period
3:53 - 5:00 - Back To War
5:00 - 6:33 - The Expedition Of The Thousand
6:33 - 7:30 - Garibaldi Being Garibaldi
7:30 - 8:25 - Garibaldi's Legacy

#history #italy #garibaldi