Giuseppe Mazzini

It is often said that Italian unification was spearheaded by three men – Mazzini, Garibaldi and Cavour. And the greatest of these? A good case can be made out for Garibaldi and also for Cavour. But few writers point out the credentials of Mazzini. Indeed his inclusion in the trinity has become merely traditional, since historians are as likely to point out his failures as his successes.