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Why did Giuseppe Garibaldi proclaim himself dictator of Sicily in the name of Victor Emmanuel II?

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Portrait of Giuseppe Garibaldi wearing a beret and cloak, with a full beard and mustache, looking toward the camera. — Giuseppe Garibaldi Giuseppe Garibaldi, c. 1860–82.

Giuseppe Garibaldi proclaimed himself dictator of Sicily in the name of Victor Emmanuel II to facilitate the unification of Italy while maintaining a necessary, albeit unwritten, alliance with the Piedmontese monarchy.12

Although Garibaldi was sympathetic to democratic ideals, he was deeply committed to the national cause and recognized that the support of the king of Piedmont-Sardinia was essential for the success of the Expedition of the Thousand. By acting in the king's name, Garibaldi sought to force the hand of Piedmont’s prime minister, Count Cavour, who was often cautious and diplomatic, and to ensure that the revolutionary movement remained aligned with the goal of a unified Italian kingdom rather than fracturing into independent republican factions.12

Ultimately, this strategy allowed Garibaldi to leverage his immense popularity to overthrow the Bourbon Kingdom of the Two Sicilies and eventually hand over the southern territories to Victor Emmanuel II, effectively merging the south with the north.312