The Sicilian revolution of independence of 1848 occurs in a year replete with revolutions and popular revolts.

It commences on January 12, 1848, and therefore is the very first of the numerous revolutions to occur this year.

Three revolutions against Bourbon rule had previously occurred on the island of Sicily starting from 1800: this final one results in an independent state surviving for sixteen months.

The constitution that survives the sixteen months is quite advanced for its time in liberal democratic terms, as is the proposal of an Italian confederation of states.

It is in effect a curtain raiser to the end of the Bourbon kingdom of the Two Sicilies, which is started by Giuseppe Garibaldi's Expedition of the Thousand in 1860 and culminates with the Siege of Gaeta of 1860–1861.