Goffredo Mameli

Goffredo Mameli.

Memorial stone on Mameli's temporary home in Genoa

Goffredo Mameli (born September 5, 1827 in Genoa , † July 7, 1849 in Rome ) was an Italian patriot , poet and important representative of the Italian Risorgimento . Mameli is known mainly as the author of the Italian national anthem Il Canto degli Italiani ("Fratelli d'Italia").

Already at the age of 13, the young Mamelis' inclination towards poetry emerged. His passionate love verses to a young woman he loved, written between 1844 and 1846, are famous. After studying philosophy and passing his exams, he was admitted to the “Società Entelema” academy in March 1847 . It was there that the student Mameli first came into contact with the literary and liberal-political currents of the Risorgimentos . The activities of the members of this society were shaped by liberal ideas, which aim at the unity of Italy. During this time u. a. many of Mameli's patriotic odes, sonnets and chants such as “Dante and Italy”, The “Bandiera Brothers”, “To Carlo Alberto” and “The Battle of Marengo”. He also took part in patriotic demonstrations in Genoa.

In this liberal, revolutionary atmosphere, he wrote the text of today's national anthem of Italy with the initial words Fratelli d'Italia , which is also known as Inno di Mameli ("Mamelis Hymn").

Not only as a poet, but also as a soldier, he became the most ardent initiator of political events. He led demonstrations, called for arms in his odes ( "Viva Italia" ), fought on the Via del Ticino himself in March 1848 and triumphantly entered Milan in June with 300 volunteers to rise up against Austria .

With the military rank of Capitano, Mameli belonged to the Legion of Torres and then served under Giuseppe Mazzini , who later headed the Triumvirate of the Roman Republic from 1849 . For Mazzini, Mameli composed the military anthem "L'Inno militare" in July 1848 , which Giuseppe Verdi set to music.

In September of the same year he became one of the most ardent supporters of the freedom fighter Giuseppe Garibaldi and campaigned for his volunteer army in fiery appeals. So he fought together at Garibaldi's side to defend the Republic of Rome from the French intervention. However, after his foot was injured by the bayonet of a fellow soldier, he died a little later at the age of 21 from the consequences of a wound infection on July 7, 1849 in the pilgrim hospice Santissima Trinità dei Pellegrini . His grave is in the Campo di Verano cemetery in Rome.

Units of today's Italian Armed Forces (32 Brigade 1975–1991), the Italian Social Republic and the Italian partisans were named after Mameli .

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Commons : Goffredo Mameli  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files