For Italy and For Europe. Foreign Volunteers in Defence of Rome in 1849

In celebration of this day dedicated to the idea of the cultural heritage of Europe, Porta San Pancrazio al Gianicolo, symbolic setting and the heart of the struggle between defenders of the Republic of Rome and its opponents in the late spring and early summer of 1849, will host a conference to commemorate the International dimension of one of the most brilliant episodes of the Risorgimento.  Discussion will focus on tracing the reasons for the presence of foreign volunteers in the defence of Rome (mostly Polish but also French, Hungarians, Belgians, Swiss, Bulgarians, etc).  Drawing a profile of some of these combatants, special attention will be given to two of the most typical figures: the Frenchman Gabriel Laviron, Republican and anti-Bonapartist and the Dutch Jan Philip Koelmann, painter, involved in the fighting because of his strong friendship with some of the exponents of Roman independence.   What joined this foreigners together in the defence of Rome was the idea that the freedom of a people could benefit others also fighting for freedom and serve as a model for reaching independence and building a Europe of peoples and nations.