Giuseppe Garibaldi was a disciple of Mazzini and a very able military leader.
After participating with Mazzini in an abortive republican uprising against the King of Sardinia in 1834, Garibaldi gained fame for military exploits in South America.
He returned to Italy in 1848 and fought first against the Austrians and then against the French.
He put up a gallant but hopeless struggle to maintain the Roman Republic of 1849.
Learning of the proposed giveaway of Nice (his birthplace) and Savoy to France, Garibaldi organized an army to protect these territories from the French.
Cavour, fearing the consequences of antagonizing the French, diverted Garibaldi by finding him another mission.
A revolt had broken out against Francis II (1859-1861), the King of the Two Sicilies. Cavour secretly persuaded Garibaldi to use his volunteers to support this revolt.
Publicly, Cavour distanced himself from the scheme. Garibaldi’s army of a thousand Red Shirts landed at Marsala in Sicily on May 11, 1860.
Enjoying rapid success, Garibaldi captured Palermo, the capital of Sicily by the end of May.
In late August, he crossed over to the mainland. Naples, the mainland capital, fell on September 7, 1860.
Thousands had deserted from the royal Sicilian army to join Garibaldi. His attractive personality brought many other volunteers.
Cavour became concerned about Garibaldi’s successes. He feared that Garibaldi might become a rival to the Sardinian King, Victor Emmanuel II, or provoke intervention by either the French or Austrians.
He hastily had a Sardinian army attack the Papal States, defeating the Pope’s forces.
This Sardinian army joined Garibaldi for the final sweep against the Bourbon King of the two Sicilies.
Garibaldi nobly honored his previous pledge to support the Sardinian monarch.
On March 17, 1861, the Kingdom of Italy was proclaimed, with Victor Emmanuel II as King.