Garibaldi's forces march into the Papal States

Background. By 1860, most Papal States territory had been conquered by the Kingdom of Italy, except Lazio, which remained under the pope's control. Garibaldi had previously attempted to take Rome in 1862 under the slogan 'Rome or Death'. In September 1867, he declared the papacy a 'plague of Italy' at a congress in Geneva, setting the stage for the October invasion.

Invasion of Lazio. Garibaldi's volunteers invaded Lazio in October 1867. The campaign involved badly armed volunteers facing a Papal army supported by French auxiliary forces. On the night of 22 October, a group was surrounded by Papal Zouaves, resulting in severe wounds for Giovanni. The invasion was an attempt to challenge the remaining Papal control over the region containing Rome.

Outcome. The campaign culminated in the Battle of Mentana on November 3, 1867, near the village north-east of Rome. The battle ended in victory for the French-Papal troops, maintaining the independence of the Papal States until 1870. This outcome preserved the status quo in Lazio, where the pope retained control despite earlier conquests elsewhere.