The Battle of Calatafimi

The Battle of Calatafimi, fought on May 15, 1860, was a key early engagement in Italy’s struggle for unification. Giuseppe Garibaldi’s volunteer army, known as the Redshirts, faced the forces of the Kingdom of Two Sicilies in Sicily. Despite being outnumbered and less equipped, Garibaldi’s troops used quick, aggressive tactics to defeat the royal army. This victory boosted the morale of Italian nationalists and marked an important step toward uniting Italy under a single government. It demonstrated Garibaldi’s leadership and the growing strength of the movement for Italian independence.