The third stage of Italian Unification was achieved by the great patriot, Garibaldi. He was born in 1807 at Nice. He became a member of ‘Young Italy’ at the age of 24 and took part in the revolutionary activities.
He participated in a revolt organized by Mazzini at Savoy in 1834. But the revolt **. Because of his nationalistic activities he was given ***** sentence. He managed to escape to – South America and lived in exile for 14 years. He had a large number of loyal followers prepared for any sacrifice for the sake of their country. They were transformed into an army called ‘Red Shirts’. During the 1848 revolution, he returned to Italy and took part in Italian Nationalist Movement. During the war between Sardinia and Austria, he commanded the Sardinian forces.
In 1860, the people of Sicily sought his help against the Bourbons. Immediately he went with his army of Red Shirts and within two months Francis II was defeated and Sicily was annexed. Then he went to Naples and defeated Francis II there also. He wanted to proceed to Rome, but Cavour did not like his move and prevailed upon Victor Emmanuel II to prevent him from doing so. So an army of Victor Emmanuel II was sent to Rome. Garibaldi, whose main aim was the Unification of Italy, handed over Naples and Sicily to Victor Emmanuel II. Garibaldi is called the ‘Sword of Italian Unification’. A true patriot, he refused to accept titles and honours which were offered to him, went back to his village and lived the life of a peasant. Victor Emmanuel II, the King of Sardinia was a patriot himself and an honest King of Italy.
He achieved the unification through peaceful negotiations. He appointed Count Cavour as his prime minister. By 1861, Cavour had united-most of Italy. On 18th February 1861, a new Parliament was convened at Turin and Victor Emmanuel II was proclaimed as the King of Italy. But Venetia and Rome were yet to be added. Venetia was under Austria and Rome was under the Pope. In 1866, a war broke out between Austria and Prussia, in which Victor Emmanuel II sided with Prussia. The victory of Prussia over Austria compelled Austria to give Venetia to Italy.
In 1870, when there was a war between Prussia and France. Napoleon III withdraw his forces from Rome which had been kept for the protection of the Pope. Immediately, Victor Emmanuel’* troops occupied Rome. The unification of Italy was completed in 1870. Rome became the capital of United Italy. Thus, the Patriotism of Mazzini, the Wars of Garibaldi, the Diplomacy of Cavour and the Statesmanship of Victor Emmanuel helped the Unification of Italy.
