This site was created to publicize the research I have carried about Garibaldi and his relationships with some niçois.

My interest for Garibaldi started while I was researching information about my ancestor Menica Rondelly. He joined the army to defend the French Republic in Dijon at the age of 16. Thankfully he came back. Indeed, it was not a war worth fighting, especially as he had become French 10 years before and one individual has to be strongly republican to risk his life for an ideal. Many niçois(not listed) died in that war against the Prussians.

I have had the opportunity to meet specialists" of Garibaldi such as Maurice Mauviel and Gian-Luigi Alzona who have shared their passion for this iconic and mysterious character.

They directed me on the trail of some niçois close to Garibaldi and I have researched through the departmental archives of the Alpes-Maritimes region that allow free access to many documents and also through the Association de généalogie des Alpes-maritimes of which I am a proud member.

So my research focused primarily on two close acquaintances of Garibaldi, Nice inhabitants Casimir Basso and Battistina Ravello.

Battistina Ravello left Nice with Giuseppe Garibaldi to Caprera during his second exile in order to look after his children, as he was widower. It turned out that the charm of this hero of two worlds worked out and Battistina gave birth to their illegitimate daughter.

Casimir Basso was Gian Battista Basso’s brother, as well as Giuseppe Garibaldi ‘s faithful friend and secretary.

Beyond these two portraits, it turns out that Giuseppe Garibaldi was related to Giuseppe Bavastro, Napoleon’s famous corsair. This seems interesting from a historical perspective because no official studies have been carried about this relationship. I publish the results of my research with the hope that others will support this lead. This work was made possible through the services Archivio di stato di Genova, Archivio Storico del Comune di Genova and the bishop of Genoa.

Evelyne Castelli, avril 2012
(contact : e v e c a s @ f r e e . f r )