How did Giuseppe Garibaldi’s entry into Naples in 1860 lead to Italian unification?

Giuseppe Garibaldi’s entry into Naples on September 7, 1860, was a pivotal moment in the Risorgimento, the movement for Italian unification. By capturing the city, Garibaldi effectively collapsed the Bourbon rule of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, removing a major obstacle to a unified nation.12

Following his arrival, Garibaldi’s actions facilitated unification through the following steps:

• Consolidation of Power: Garibaldi proclaimed himself dictator of the region, but he remained committed to the cause of Victor Emmanuel II, the king of Piedmont-Sardinia.12
• Political Integration: To ensure the movement remained under the leadership of the Piedmontese monarchy and to prevent radical republican influence, Count Cavour sent royal troops to join Garibaldi.13
• Plebiscite and Annexation: Garibaldi agreed to hold a plebiscite in the south, which resulted in an overwhelming vote for annexation under Piedmont.14
• Handover of Authority: On October 26, 1860, Garibaldi met with Victor Emmanuel II and relinquished his dictatorship, symbolically uniting the south with the north under the Italian crown.12