Why was Giuseppe Garibaldi not allowed to govern Naples as Victor Emmanuel II’s viceroy?

Giuseppe Garibaldi was denied the opportunity to govern Naples as King Victor Emmanuel II’s viceroy because the political establishment viewed him as a dangerous radical. His progressive views on social reform and his anticlerical stance made him a liability to conservatives.1

Several specific factors contributed to this decision:

• Geopolitical Risks: Garibaldi intended to conquer Rome from the pope to establish it as the capital of Italy. This was considered too dangerous because Rome was defended by a French garrison.1
• Political Rivalry: Garibaldi had become more popular than the king himself, creating a significant threat to the monarchy’s authority.1
• Military Jealousy: The regular Piedmontese army was deeply resentful of Garibaldi’s military successes and sought to prevent him from achieving further victories.1
• Fear of Republicanism: There was persistent concern among the ruling elite that Garibaldi might be swayed by the republican revolutionary Giuseppe Mazzini and his followers, potentially leading him to abandon the monarchical cause.1