Victorian Crusaders

The struggle for Italian Unification brings to mind images of patriotic heroes such as Garibaldi and Mazzini. However, there is another side to the story: thousands of Catholics from across Europe (and beyond) volunteered to defend the pope from those who threatened his authority and his kingdom. These nineteenth century ‘crusaders’ included around 1,600 from England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland.

This book focuses on the turbulent period between 1860 and 1870, which saw a Piedmontese invasion of the Papal States (1860), an attempted capture of Rome by Garibaldi (1867) and finally the newly formed Italian Army’s attack of 1870, which left Rome as the kingdom’s capital. It was also a time of reform and modernisation in the pontifical army, with at times inspired leadership and the introduction of new weapons and technologies.

In addition to examining the campaigns, the showpiece actions at Castelfidardo, Mentana and Porta Pia, and the political and religious context, Victorian Crusaders studies the backgrounds, motivations and experience of those who flocked to Rome from the British Isles. The Irish joined the Battalion of St Patrick in 1860 and others subsequently signed up for the Pontifical Zouaves, a glamorous transnational unit whose uniform was inspired by the warriors of the Algerian mountains. They came from varied backgrounds, including members of the aristocracy and future members of parliament, though most came from the middle classes.

Most foreign recruits knew that the odds were heavily stacked against them, but they also understood the importance of standing up for their beliefs and the value, as they saw it, of sacrifice and martyrdom. Their experience provides a fascinating insight into Victorian society, large sections of which were proudly in favour of the Italian Risorgimento and often anti-Catholic in their sympathy. Indeed, for the Irish especially, joining the pontifical army was a way of scoring a point against the Protestant English and asserting their national aspirations.

Based on contemporary accounts and archives, Victorian Crusaders for the first time studies the Catholic volunteer movement between 1860 and 1870 from a British and Irish perspective.

 

"…..Schofield's splendid book is as original as it is meticulously researched and convincingly presented. With it he has proved his mettle not only as an ecclesiatical historian, but as a military historian as well." The Catholic Herald, Sept 22

"….a really good book on a subject that has had little coverage in the English language. Well illustrated with many rare photos and maps, the book covers the history of the period, the men who volunteered and why. Included are detailed histories of the St Patricks Battalion and the Papal Zouaves along with write ups of the two main battles of the period involving the Papal States in the period, Castelfidardo and of course Mentana." Yarkshire Gamer Blog

"Overall this book is well written and illustrated, and covers a fascinating subject in great depth. This is the author’s first book on military history and he has done an excellent job so I look forward to more from him in the future." Carryings On Up The Dale Blog

"Coverage of the Risorgimento has tended to be from the nationalist perspective, either Garibaldi or Piedmont. This book offers the view from the other side of the hill. If you have an interest in the wars of the Risorgimento, then this is the book for you. It is accessible, well rounded and clearly researched." Foreign Correspondent

"Victorian Crusaders is an informative, stimulating and useful addition to the popular historiography of nineteenth-century warfare." Soldiers of the Queen, Issue 185, 2023

"The power of this volume is found in the stories of a number of figures which Schofield unpacks, providing a compelling narrative...His conclusion sums up some 200 pages of meticulous research and storytelling...This is not only a successful military volume, but is also, perhaps more importantly, a triumph of rectification to a lost strand of historical studies." Catholic Archives, 2023