Garibaldi and just over 1000 of his followers sailed from Genoa to the south, landing in Sicily.
Giuseppe Garibaldi set forth on a mission to unite his home country on this day in 1860. Together with his followers, who were called The Thousand (Italian: I Mille) since there were just over 1000 of them, Garibaldi sailed forth from Genoa to the south – this is called the Expedition of the Thousand in Italy.
After a voyage lasting several days, Garibaldi and his companions landed in Marsala, the westernmost harbor in Sicily, on 11 June. Marsala is located on a strategically important position at the tip of a peninsula.
The expedition was successful. Garibaldi’s men took control of the island and he declared himself the dictator of Sicily (albeit in the name of King Victor Emmanuel). He then took over southern Italy, an act which eventually resulted in the country’s unification.
