Abstract

The article aims to analyse the seditious objects and the forms of political delegitimization in Naples, during the fall of Bourbon’s monarchy in 1860. The period considered goes from January to September 1860, at the time of the entrance of Giuseppe Garibaldi in the capital of the Two Sicilies. The power of patriotic objects scattered throughout the city represents an acceleration of the new revolutionary process that will bring to completion the unification of Italy. Moreover, the attempts of the police apparatus to control the circulation of objects are often ineffective against the rapidity of the dissemination of political objects, which convey ideas and carry the protest on the «visual level». Delegitimization through objects is assisted by the appearance of seditious posters that contribute to create uncontrollable political tensions on the part of the central government. Finally, we note how and in what way the revolutionary memory of 1848-49 influences the practices of police control and the repertoires of action of the patriotic front, which prepares the rescue through clandestine political activities.