A Heroine of the Roman Republic: Colomba Antonietti Porzi

A Heroine of the Roman Republic: Colomba Antonietti Porzi

In the turbulent year of 1849, while Rome was aflame with revolutionary hopes, one woman defied conventions and left a mark on the history of Italian unification. Colomba Antonietti Porzi, a young woman from Umbria, chose love and liberty over comfort and conformity. When the Roman Republic was declared, she stood not in the shadows but on the frontlines—fighting alongside her husband, Luigi Porzi, a soldier in the army of the Republic.

To join the Garibaldian troops, Colomba disguised herself as a man, cutting her hair and donning a soldier’s uniform. She was determined to defend the ideals of freedom and unity, embodied by the newborn Roman Republic. Her courage took her to the battlefields of Velletri and Palestrina, where she fought valiantly under Garibaldi’s command. She was not merely tolerated among the troops—she was respected.

The Roman Republic was built on ideals of democracy, civil rights, and secular governance. Its progressive Constitution, drafted in 1849, guaranteed freedom of religion, universal male suffrage, freedom of the press, and equality before the law. Though short-lived, it inspired future generations and became a foundational model for many European constitutions in the 20th century, echoing through modern democratic charters with its bold vision of a united, just society.

But Colomba’s legend was forged in the defense of Rome itself. During the brutal siege of Rome by the French troops of Napoleon III, she fought at the Gianicolo, a strategic hill overlooking the city. On June 13, 1849, at Porta San Pancrazio, a French cannonball struck her down. According to legend, with her last breath, she cried out, “Viva l’Italia!”—a cry of defiance and hope that still echoes through the history of Italy.

Today, her name is etched in the memory of Rome and in the ideals that inspired the Roman Republic. Colomba Antonietti Porzi symbolizes the sacrifice, passion, and heroism that helped shape modern Italy. Her story reminds us that Rome was not only defended by men, but by women who believed in a greater future.

You might discover more about the story of Colomba Antonietti Porzi by booking our walking tour: “Gianicolo to Trastevere“