Anita Garibaldi’s role in the creation of Italy, though often overshadowed by her husband Giuseppe’s fame, was both courageous and consequential. She wasn’t merely a companion to a revolutionary; she was a revolutionary in her own right.
Born in Brazil in 1821, Anita fought alongside Garibaldi in both South America and Italy. During the 1849 defense of the Roman Republic, she rode into battle while pregnant, enduring a brutal retreat through central Italy. She died at just 28. Her bravery and sacrifice became a lasting symbol of the Risorgimento, Italy’s movement for national unity.
