As a nation state, Italy has emerged only in 1871. Until then the country was politically divided into a large number of independant cities, provinces and islands. The currently available evidences point out to a dominant Etruscan, Greek and Roman cultural influence on today's Italians.
I have a news article from The (London) Times, 4 Oct 1849, which says "On the 23d, one Biancani, lately in the service of Garibaldi, was shot at Bologna."
I'm a descendant of Luigi Biancani, born in Ravenna, 8 Dec 1869. Luigi's father was Vincenzo Biancani and Vincenzo Biancani's father was Ercole Biancani. There was an Ercole Biancani who assisted Garibaldi during the summer of 1849. See http://www.capannogaribaldi.ra.it/trafila/8_12ag.htm
Biancani is a fairly unusual name, so I have some concerns that my G-G-G-Grandfather may have been shot. Does anyone have any ideas where I might find additional information on this incident?