Aspromonte, Battle of

ASPROMONTE, Battle of. - The tortuous attitude of the Rattazzi cabinet, which seemed to promise, if not support, at least benevolent neutrality; the illusion that France would limit itself to formal protests; the hope of being able to resolve, as in 1860, even the Roman question in an atmosphere of overwhelming passion, induced Garibaldi, though dissuaded by many of his most authoritative friends, to gather around himself, under the cry of "Rome or death," some thousands of volunteers (July 1862). With the local authorities uncertain and inert (even the king's proclamation of 3 August was understood only as a political expedient), inflamed by Garibaldi's invocations and his apostrophes against Napoleon III, the volunteers moved from Catania toward the strait, while belatedly, in the face of French protests and threats, the Italian government proclaimed a state of siege and entrusted the military action to Cialdini. Having landed in Calabria, Garibaldi was surrounded on the Aspromonte massif, where on 29 August a brief, bloody clash took place. Garibaldi, gravely wounded in one foot, was arrested and taken to Varignano, from which he was released through the October amnesty. Rattazzi, considered the chief person responsible for the situation, had to resign on 1 December.

Alberto Maria Ghisalberti