Thu 3 May 2007
While I was walking from the Church of Trinita dei Monti (at the top of the Spanish Steps) to the Piazza del Popolo, I came across a rather dramatic modern statue, representing two men in battle:
The men are two brothers, Enrico and Giovanni Cairoli, who were part of a desperate battle to take control of Rome during the unification. One night during the October of 1867, the two brothers entered Rome with a band of 70 men. They expected to launch a surprise attack in cooperation with a second group who were already inside Rome but, by the time the Cairoli brothers arrived with their troops, that second group had already been defeated on the Capitoline Hill.
Enrico and Giovanni Cairoli made a stand at the Villa Glori, where they were surrounded by the papal army. They were defeated; Enrico was killed and Giovanni severely wounded. Giovanni Cairoli died in 1869 - just under a year before Rome was finally captured.
The writing on the base of the statue translates roughly as:
“I hope I will never fail in my duty as a leader but, if this happens, any one among you will be authorised to shoot me as punishment. For my part, I will do the same with those that, by some chance, may fail in their duty.
“See you in Rome.”
-Orders of the day from Enrico Cairoli to his troops, 21st October 1867.
