Mazzini, Giuseppe, << maht TSEE nee, joo ZEHP peh >> (1805-1872), was an Italian patriot who played an important part in uniting Italy in 1861. He favored revolts that would free Italy from Austrian rule and unite it as a republic.
Mazzini began his political career in 1827 by joining the Carbonari, a secret organization that wanted to unify Italy. A bold leader, he was exiled from Italy in 1831. Except for brief return visits, Mazzini spent the rest of his life in exile in England, France, and Switzerland. However, he kept in contact with liberal republicans (opponents of monarchy) in Italy. In 1832, Mazzini founded Young Italy, a group that organized uprisings against Austria’s rule of Italy. Although the uprisings failed, Young Italy convinced many Italians to support unification.
In 1848, revolutions broke out in all the major Italian cities. The following year, Mazzini returned to Italy and became one of the leaders of a new republic in Rome. But French troops attacked the new government and captured Rome, forcing Mazzini into exile again.
Italy finally was united in 1861, under King Victor Emmanuel II of Sardinia. But Mazzini wanted Italy to be a republic, not a monarchy. He organized republican revolts, but they all failed. Italy did not become a republic until 1946. Mazzini was born in Genoa on June 22, 1805. He died on March 10, 1872.
