.li'HE SUNDAYTIMES.OFMI\LTA LIFE&WELLBEING HISTORY

A contemporary lithograph showiqg Garibaldi's virtually unopposed landing at Marsala, Sicily, in 1860. Garibaldi is here seen bearing the flag of Vittorio Emmanuele II -the tricolour red, white and green of revolutionary Italy, on which is superimposed the A painting depicting the virtually unopposed landing of Garibaldi and white cross of the House of Savoy. his mille at Marsala, Sicily, in 1860. The Battle of Milazzo, won by Garibaldi, which practically ensured his capture of Sicily from the reigning Bourbon family. It happened thi·s month Giuseppe Gar-ibaldi in Malta March 1864 , .... . place was taken by their adversaries, mainly ~· -~,~VISIT OF GARIBALDI TO MALTA: . , Sicilian adherents of the ousted Bourbon reigning family. on·. ·wednesday morning, .. ·on. the ardval of It is estimated that, in 1864, there were JOSEPH thd Valetta from ;.]-1arseillcs, the . population was about zoo such refugees living in Malta and it F. GRIMA was this element that provided the main oppo­ Garibaldi relinquished his conq.-sts to King Vittorio taken by surpdRe at the news that General G.ari· sition. They were bac~e:l by the ultra-Catholic Emmanuele II, of the ruling House of Savoy, who he had A young Giuseppe Garibaldi meeting ltal~n patriot Giuseppe Garibaldi, a hero of the Italian baldi was on board. ~ accompanied by uis two sons opinion that regarded Garibaldi as the arch­ met at Teano in 1860. Giuseppe Mazzini in 1831. Rlsorgimento, from a photograph. enemy of the Pope, sm::e the latter had been :hlcnolti nnd Ricciotti, his Sem:otary Signor Guer­ shorn of almost all h:!s temporal power. Undoubtedly, the mere mentio:J. of the unifi­ zoni, D1·. Basile, Signvd Basso and Sonche~. and since 1837, together with Baran Emilio Sceberras the use of their carriage to take him to the cation of Italy in the 19th century conjures Colonel Cham bets. Liverpaol Rifle Vol,unteers. - an acquaintance of Garibaldi's - introduced the quay of Sa Maison in Marsamxett Harbour. ~fAL'l'A visions of Giuseppe Garibaldi, the soldier­ visitors, who included, among others, General Garibaldi accepted the offer and the car­ l111o. A. p rile 1 ~ 6 4. patriot who selflessly did so much to further It appeal'S that tba Valetta had received orders '~fter Italian unification Atherley, the Secretary to Government Sir Victor riage proceeded to the embarkation point - the unity of his homeland. Initiilly, his efforts at ~ia1·seilles to call at Caprera, and on uearing the in 1861, almost all the Houlton, Judge Bruno, the Marquis Testaferrata by a different route to avoid the crowds GIUSEPPE G.AlUB.A.LOI IN MALTA were unsuccessful- the 1848 Roman Repub­ leland fired two guns, which brought a1ongsido the Olivie~ Baron Testaferrata Abela, Baron Sceberras who thronged the main streets to get a lic is an example -but his great success in liberal refugees in Malta d~mico , Nicolo Papaffy, Baren Ramiro Barbaro glimpse of and salute Garibaldi. La nost~n Isola dovcva csse!J in quWit'anno t'n Sicily and southern Italy with his legendary Guard from the neighbouring Island of 1\1a.ddalena, di San Giorgio, Dr Zaccaria Roncali and the elected Garibaldi embarked on the paddle­ nostata nei giomi sucri ddla Scttimana Santa . mille (The Thousand) paved the way for their who enquired the objeot of her visit. In the meantime left to return to their members of the Council of Government. steamer Ripon, another steam packet of the dall~ prcsegza del gmwle ncmico d.ellu. Cbicsa t incorporation in the Kingdom of Italy in 1861. Garibaldi also went out on the hotel balcony to P&O Lines which had arrived from Alexan­ del Pup:tto, 'del primr, strumcnto ~{dla riv~Jhaiou two other boats approached tile steamer from tha. salute the assembled crowd. Actually, his oppo­ dria that same day. Garibaldi was given a Three years latet~ when he was 57 years old, homeland. Their place i~iann, . c riel capo-l.motlll Ji tntti gli :\VV!!U.tJ+rie Garibaldi arrived in Malta for a two-day visit otllet~ side, anJ in a few moments O~oeral Ga1·ibaldi nents had started to hiss and boo, but respectable rousing sending-off which is described thus che i~1 quosti ultillli nnui si so110 coperti Ji og when he was at the peak of ~is fame. He people, even though they held different political in The Malta Times a.nd United Services and\ his so us and the few friends who accompttnied him was taken by their guisa di sccllcro.tei:ze,-Gittseppe Garibaldi. Co arrived on March 23, 1864, and his visit is the opinions to Garibaldi's, did not allow such Gazette: "Outside the har~our, a number of \vere on board. On arriving at f\·Ialta be enquired if bo dl passnggio per I~hilterra; giuilse ~ubject of this month's anniversary story. adversaries, mainly unseemly demonstrations to take place. In fact, gentlemen on board the tug Bulldog awaited stqi era · In the early hours of Wednesday, March 23, could land wit.hout creatiu~ a £)enHation, and having his appearance was greeted with a general clap­ the steamer having Garibaldi on board, for ping anc cheering. the purpose of bidding him a last adieu, and The beginning of the derogatory report carried in L'Ordine during Holy Week, the paddle-boat Valletta of Part of the laudatory report of Garibaldi's Malta visit in The Malta Times and United Services Sicilian adherents of On the evening of the first day, Garibaldi's son, thus, amidst their cheers, which were duly of April 1, 1864, on Garibaldi's visit to Malta. COURTESY the P&O Lines steaned into Marsamxett Har­ Gazette of March 24, 1864. COURTESY OF THE NATIONAL LIBRARY OF MALTA bour from Marseilles en route to Alexandria. the ousted Bourbon Menotti, accompanied by several Maltese and reciprocated from the Ripon, he took leave OF THE NATIONAL LIBRARY OF MALTA On board, there were Giuseppe Garibaldi and English friends, accepted invitations to visit the of Malta for England, where no doubt a very his two sons, Menotti and Rici:ltti, who had stay confined to his hotel. However, news of liberty'in Europe", "the noble general", "an reigning family" Casino della Borsa and the Casino Maltese. He also warm and hearty reception awaits him." embarked from their island of Caprera two his arrival soon leaked out, even though the honest and good man", "the fountain-head of visited public places where he was very well On the other hand, the report of L'Ordine century. The necessary arrangements for his days previously to go to England. Garibaldi populace at large was taken by surprise. all that is noble and generous- an Italian lion" However, by and large, Garibaldi's unex­ received and cheered'by all present. makes very different reading. It was reported short stay had been made by an English gentle­ took up lodgings at the Imperial Hotel, Val­ From the reports in the Maltese press - and !'eroe italiano" on the one hand, to com­ pected visit was acceptable to the majority Garibaldi was scheduled to leave Malta on that no carriage could be found to be hired to man who preferred to remain anonymous. letta, later known as StJames Eotel, situated including The Malta Times and United Services pletely opposite epithets, which included of the local population -those who cared Maundy Thursday, March 2~ 1864, early in the take Garibaldi to the quay and so he had to make On March 29, Garibaldi reached Gibraltar at 134, St Lucia Street. It was demolished Gazette of March 14, 1864, L'Ordine of April1, "un'avventuriero", "nemico del papa to, de!!a about politics, naturally- and he was well­ ' afternoon. Prior to his depc.rture, an address do with a private one, and that only a small party where the steamer stayed for only a few hours. He through enemy acton in World War II and a 1864, It Mediterraneo of March 26', 1864, and Chiesa e de! di lei Vicario, e quindi imicissimo ai received by Maltese jiberals and the English signed by about 300 signat;>ries was read by of about 30 to 40 people bade him farewell from arrived safely in Southampton on April3. cinema was subsequently built in its stead. II Portafoglio Maltese of March 26, 1864- one Maltesi, essendo questi un popo!o eminente· garrison and reside11ts. Baroness Testaferrata Abela to express senti­ a tugboat. Moreover, these supporters - or Garibaldi intended to have a quiet 36-hour gets the impression that Garibaldi and his mente cattolico", and "il masnadiere". A steady flow of ::ourtesy calls was the ments of respect and affection for the Italian hero. GaribaLdini as they are termed - were also, Dr Joseph F. Grima, a casual lecturer in history and stay in Malta before proceeding on his way to sons got a mixed reception. What actually happened was that, after order of the day during Garibaldi's short stay Large crowds gathered to bid farewell to according to this newspaper, booed and hissed former assistant director of education, includes Southampton. At this time, he was still suffer­ The press comments varied from "illustri­ Italian unification was accomplished in 1861, on the island. Garibal:li when he left his hotel. At that at when they returned to land. among his publications The Fleet of the Order of ing from a wound he had received at the Battle ous traveller", "the Italian hero and patriot almost all the liberal refugees in Malta left Nicola Fabrizi, an active anti-Bourbon Ital­ moment, Garibaldi was-visited by the wife and Thus came to an end the very brief sojourn in Malta - Its Organisation during the Eighteenth of Aspromonte, and, in fact, he spent his whole and the most distinguished defender of to return to their homeland. However, their ian revolutionary who had resided at Valletta daughter of Admiral Austin, who offered him Malta of one of the best known heroes of the 19th Cenblry and :imien il-Kavallieri f'Malta 1530-1798.