An Iconic Revolutionary: Anita Garibaldi
- Ariel Ong
- Oct 4, 2020
- 2 min read
Edited by: Nishat Raihana
What do you first think of when you hear, “Garibaldi”? While it is a rare surname, the first name that often comes to mind when hearing of the name “Garibaldi” is the legendary, Italian general Giuseppe Garibaldi. Yet for all his fame, textbooks have failed to acknowledge or even mention his wife and partner-in-freedom-fighting Anita Garibaldi. Today, her story will be told once again.
Early Life
Motherhood
Freedom Fighting
Significance
*To avoid confusion, Anita Garibaldi will be referred to as “da Silva”
Early Life
Ana Maria de Jesus Ribeiro da Silva, or more famously known as “Anita Garibaldi,” was born on August 30, 1821, a year before Brazil had won its independence from Portugal. The daughter of a poor herdsman in Southern Brazil, da Silva grew up illiterate and lived a life of normal routine until the year of 1839. During this time, Giuseppe Garibaldi was in exile and was fighting on behalf of a republic in Southern Brazil. Entranced by each other, da Silva soon joined Garibaldi’s ship and aligned with the cause of the founding of a new Brazilian republic.
Motherhood
Despite being a woman with no military training, da Silva fought alongside Garibaldi. It is particularly important to note that during this time, it was extremely unconventional for women to reject the social roles set in place for them. But for da Silva, nothing could stop her from fighting for liberation—not even pregnancy. At one point, da Silva was caught by an enemy group before escaping using her quick wits; however, in her escape, her horse was shot and da Silva suffered from a fall which would eventually cause a deformity in the skull of her first child. A few months later, da Silva gave birth to Menott, the first of four children da Silva would have with Garibaldi. The family would move to Montevideo, Uruguay, in 1841 and live a life of relative normalcy.
Freedom Fighting
Although she was a mother, in 1847 da Silva chose to fight alongside Giuseppe in the war of liberation against Juan Manuel de Rosas, the dictator of Argentina. However, da Silva’s fighting for freedom was not just limited to South America. In 1849 da Silva journeyed to Italy with Giuseppe and his legion and fought against the forces of the Austrian Empire. Da Silva had also defended Rome with her husband from the French siege in 1849. Unfortunately, the same year, she died from malaria in Italy.
Significance
While not famous in the United States, da Silva is widely regarded as a national heroine in Brazil, with numerous city squares and museums dedicated to her. Although there are not many English sources on da Silva, it’s easy to figure out why she’s so beloved in Brazil. Illiterate and poor, da Silva faced hardships and oppressive social and political rules all her life, and yet, despite all of this, da Silva still stood for what she believed in and fought for freedom. Hence, da Silva serves as a huge inspiration and should always be remembered for her work in liberation.
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