Quatrain 5.44 The struggle for Rome

Par mer le rouge sera prins des pyrates,

La paix sera par son moyen troublee:

L'ire & l'auare commettra par sainct acte,

Au grand Pontife sera l'armee doublee.

On sea the red one will be taken by pirates,

Because of him peace will be troubled:

Anger and greed will commit a false act,

The army doubled by the great Pontiff.

Presumably, the first line about the landing in Sicily thousands of volunteers under the command of Giuseppe Garibaldi. They sailed on two ships in 1860. They were dressed in red shirts. Their purposes were to drive out the Bourbons and the Sicily to join to Piedmont. The Garibaldi fought successfully, liberating one city after another. Their number rapidly increased due to the population.

The 2 line. After the liberation of Sicily and Sardinia, Garibaldi decided to march on Rome in 1862. The prime minister of Piedmont Cavour who recognized the merits of Garibaldi became a barrier to his path. He was afraid of strengthening the revolutionary movement. The prime minister entered into a secret collusion with Napoleon III in order to prevent the invasion of the volunteer army in the central regions.

The 4 line. Pope Pius IX did not want Rome to become the capital of Italy. In 1860 the military formation of the papal zouaves was formed to protect the papal region. It consisted of volunteers of Catholics of different nationalities. The Pope also asked France not to withdraw its troops from Rome. Nevertheless, as you know, Rome became the capital.

Linkage with other quatrains: 4.77.

Quatrain 4.77 Unification of Italy