Introduction

       My name is Giuseppe Garibaldi, and I was born in Nice on July 4, 1807. I am remembered today as a great political and military figure. During my lifetime, I took up a number of causes in various areas including several South American countries and my homeland - Italy.
       The first revolution I joined was the Carbonari association, which supported my friend Giuseppe Mazzini's idea of "Young Italy." However, our efforts failed and I was exiled from the land I had tried so hard to defend. I fled to Brazil, and joined another political group called the "tatters." It was during my association with the farrapos that I met the beautiful Ana Ribeiro da Silva.

A statue of Anita and I in Brazil

        From that day on, Anita fought alongside me and my comrades during every battle, and we were married in Montevideo in 1841. Anita was also the one who introduced me to my trademark clothing - the red shirt and gaucho. I loved my family dearly, but even my marriage to Anita and the birth of four children were not enough to keep me away from the various revolutionaries who called for my leadership.
In 1842, I raised an Italian legion in alliance with liberal Uruguayans and Argentinians in the Uruguayan Civil war. I was pleased with our numerous triumphs, but the events in Italy continued to bother me. Therefore, I moved to Rome to support the recently declared Republic against the French. The French forces were much too powerful, and I withdrew with a number of troops to Venice. My comrades and I continued to retreat, and during the travel, my wife Anita died with our fifth child in her stomach.
       I was distraught over the loss of my wife, but the Piedmontese government forced me to emigrate, so to America I went. America yielded great financial profit for me through trade and factory work, but once again, my homeland called to me.
       Accompanied by my "Redshirts," I joined revolts in the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies and triumphed over all who stood in my path. I entered Naples and was in the midst of  battle with the French when the Piedmontese arrived. I had hoped to completely unite Italy myself, but I had no problem with an Italian unification under the Piedmontese crown, so I turned over the lands I had captured to them.

       My battle with the French army in Naples was undoubtedly the largest I had ever fought, but even when I started to enter my 60s, I managed feats such as helping lead the Italians in their alliance with Prussia in the Austro-Prussian War.

A statue of myself erected in New York City

              On June 2, 1882, at the age of 74, I died on my deathbed while gazing at the sea. It seems odd to me that I, who had fought in so many wars, would die such a remarkably peaceful death. Yet I do not doubt that without my efforts, Europe would be a very different place today. I am even bold enough to say that without me, none of the revolutions I participated in would have succeeded.




Spielvogel, Wikipedia