A Garibaldi volunteer from Reggio Emilia, in 1848 Rainero Taddei was one of the six Reggio people who landed in Marsala with the expedition of the Thousand. He participated in all the campaigns of Italian independence and died in 1866 fighting in the battle of Custoza, in which the Italian troops were defeated by the Austrian army. This is one of the most important episodes of the Austro-Prussian war, in which Italy and Prussia try to free themselves from Austrian influence.