Dictatorship of Garibaldi
Dictatorship of Garibaldi (or Garibaldi's dictatorship) was the executive that Giuseppe Garibaldi, after the landing of the "Thousand", appointed to govern the territory of Sicily released by the Bourbons of Naples, during the Expedition of the Thousand.
History
On May 14, 1860 in Salemi, Garibaldi announced that he was assuming dictatorship over Sicily, in the name of Victor Emmanuel II of Italy. On May 17, Francesco Crispi was appointed First Secretary of State.[1]
The Redshirts advanced to Palermo, the capital of the island, and launched a siege on 27 May. On June 2, 1860 in Palermo were appointed four secretaries of State and created six departments.
The pace of Garibaldi's victories had worried Cavour, who in early July sent him a proposal of immediate annexation of Sicily to Piedmont. Garibaldi, however, refused vehemently to allow such a move until the end of the war. Cavour's envoy, Giuseppe La Farina, was arrested and expelled from the island. He was replaced by the more malleable Agostino Depretis, who gained Garibaldi's trust and was appointed as pro-dictator.[2]
The dictatorial government ended October 21, 1860, when the annexation of the Kingdom of Italy was ratified by a popular plebiscite.
First Secretary of State
- Francesco Crispi (May 17 -July 18, 1860)
- Giuseppe Sirtori (July 18-22, 1860) pro-dictator
- Agostino Depretis (July 22 - September 14, 1860) pro-dictator
- Antonio Mordini (September 17 - November 4, 1860) pro-dictator
Notes
See also
- Expedition of the Thousand
- Giuseppe Garibaldi
- Victor Emmanuel II of Italy
- Kingdom of the Two Sicilies
Sources
- Abba, Giuseppe Cesare (1880). Da Quarto al Volturno. Noterelle di uno dei Mille.
- Mack Smith, Denis (1990). Italy and Its Monarchy.
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