The Newspaper “Mshak” on Giuseppe Garibaldi’s Liberation Struggle

Abstract

Italian Risorgimento, which pursued a goal to get rid of the Austrian yoke and unify Italy, found a wide response in the Armenian public thought, as well as in the press of that time. The «Mshak», a pioneer newspaper of Eastern-Armenian liberal current, evaluated Giuseppe Garibaldi’s role as one of the prominent figures in Risorgimento, in the unification of Italy. The newspaper presented his biography, his touching life, which was nothing but a vivid example of selfless service and complete dedication to his motherland. «The Mshak» considered G. Garibaldi «a great Italian patriot, fearless, brave commander», who devoted all his life to the noble affair of the independence of his motherland. G. Garibaldi, a devotee of the struggle for freedom of his motherland continually turned to his countrymen to struggle for the sake of freedom. He was a personal example of self-sacrificing and inherent who proved his belief towards the independence of Italy. According to the newspaper, the patriotism and honesty of G. Garibaldi, as the greatest citizen, prominent and immortal commander of Italy, generated great respect for the immortal national hero. Unique patriots and heroes like Garibaldi are eager to decide the fate of their nation, present the origin and nature of that people. According to the newspaper, people should erect monuments in commemoration of such prominent and self-sacrificing individuals like G. Garibaldi, as well as create songs dedicated to them. According to «The Mshak» G. Garibaldi’s death was the most terrible misfortune of Italy, which caused infinite pain not only to the Italians, but also people outside their homeland. G. Garibaldi’s death made the «highlighted world» feel the close solidarity among different countries and states, as well as the demand for peace.