As the
vendettas increased on both sides (French and Calabrian)
the populace was incited to "payback"
the invading army through increased acts of cruelty.
The King, from Palermo, hearing of the situation,
dreamed of reconquering Calabria again, recalling
the favorable outcome of the Sanfedisti under Cardinal
Ruffo in 1799 and keeping in mind his decrees of
1805 and 1806 for the institution of the Corpi Volanti
and Corpi a Massa. <4>
He contacted the heads of the "old" fighting
bands under Cardinal Ruffo. He nominated some to
new commands offering amnesty for any crimes committed.
To others he offered increased honors and higher
rank where it was it was deserved. He offered these
things under the condition that they fight the French
invaders. He again was dependent on the outlaw factions
in Calabria. The populace was both benefactor and
victim to this strategy. Thus, throughout the regions
of Crotone and the Principality of Cerenzia the
outlaw bands appeared everywhere. Francatrippa,
Parafante, Re Corenne, Lorenzo Benincasa, Pane di
Grano, etc. are remembered for their sack of Crotone
and other Bourbon or Sanfedisti acts against the
Calabrian people.
Certainly among these groups was no lack of those
who fought for principle, loyalty or patriotism.
But, the greater part of those who fought against
the French on the side of the King of Naples were
ex-convicts, bandits, brigands as Nitti wrote: "For
the first time in civilized time, violating every
moral rule, the Bourbons dare to utilize bandits
of the worst ilk" <5>
The spark of the revolt led by Carmine Caligiuri
in Soveria-Manelli, inflamed most of Calabria. Encounters
resulted in total massacres, French soldiers were
burned as human torches, Calabrian brigands were
decapitated and their heads placed on poles in the
cities and towns as a warning to others.
The French counterattack was fierce. Scigliano,
hometown of Parafante, was put to the torch on the
28th of March 1806. Carmine Caligiuri
of Soveria died in this encounter. Pedace was sacked
and burned on the 26th of March 1806
the hometown of Francatrippa. In June, the following
towns denounced the French and swore allegiance
to the King of Naples: Cotronei, Savelli, Cerenzia
<6>. Thus,
the remaining bands around Scigliano and Pedace
with Parafante and Francatrippa leading them, passed
down into our territory. They found many collaborators
among the people, San Giovanni in Fiore and Savelli
especially. We read: "The outlaws, known as
Pedacesi, found many followers. A wave of enemies
infiltrated the areas around Rossano and Crotone.
In Longobucco, a general insurrection is at hand.
The communes of Spinello, Caccuri, Casino and Cerenzia
are seeing rebellion in their areas due to some
of their citizens-the disturbance is widespread."
<7> thus
wrote Vincenzo Palumbo, Administrator of Calabria
Citra under General Miot on June 6th.1806.
We have already noted the damage done by the marauders
adding well over 2600 head of cattle from Cerenzia
alone. The Bourbons depended not only on the common
people for support but on the nobility and clergy
as well. Among the latter, we note, Fra Bernardino
of Casino, fervent partisan and defender of King
Ferdinand IV.
The South of Italy, then had a population of 4,000,000.
The clergy population was 121,038. Of which: 22
were archbishops, 116 bishops, 65,500 priests, 31,800
monks, and 23,000 nuns. Not all were clerics for
religious reasons. Some were out and out outlaws
like the Bishop of Capaccio (Salerno) who was the
head of an outlaw band <10>
The Bourbon royalty heaped honors on the outlaws.
They called the misanthrope, Mammone, "our
good friend and General, faithful sustainer of the
throne."
The well known (to our grandparents) Francatrippa,
displayed a white ostrich plume and wore a jewel
encrusted solid gold medallion of the Madonna--a
gift of his friend: the Queen Carolina.
Meanwhile the Calabrese economy was disastrous.
Suffering under the exploitation of the throne and
then the French. For example, the three Salt mines
of the principality of Cerenzia (a major source
of local economy) was in ruins. The governor of
Cerenzia, Mirtillio Grimaldi, denounced to the King
the poor administration of Carmine Caracciolo who
had let the mines in a disastrous inundated condition.
For almost a decade, it was under the control of
Michele Gallo of Bisignano who also had those of
Altomonte, Nieto and Paludi and who in 1799 had
sent to Cardinal Ruffo, proceeds from these mines
totaling almost 30,000 ducats! <12>
When the French arrived, they found no benefit in
the salt, already expropriated by Cardinal Ruffo.
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