1860 - 1870: brigandage Lucan
The "Vae Victis" - Woe to the vanquished "Brenna is not just a historical anecdote, is a constant in human history. The losers will go down in history forever, and only through the pages written by the winners and will always have to justify why they fought "for the wrong side."
This is a story capitatomi casually in his hands. A story that no one knows. An untold story, a story about a tragic incident that occurred immediately after the unit Italy, 
a dramatic event which happened in Venosa (PZ) and appeared in an episode never mentioned in any history book, but now I want to tell.
a dramatic event which happened in Venosa (PZ) and appeared in an episode never mentioned in any history book, but now I want to tell. In 1861 three brothers Venosa refused to enlist or serve in the military, which has become mandatory in the ranks of the new Italian army, not to be arrested as deserters gave themselves to the bush, took refuge in the woods, making it "bandits", joining the gang of "notorious" robber Crocco, born Carmine Donatelli, a native of Rionero, which the head of several hundred men, dominated the region of Basilicata and Melfi.
bands of brigands, braced weapons of all kinds, farm implements and old rifles, became increasingly numerous and aggressive and therefore more dangerous. 
dawn on January 21, the feast of St. Agnes, a short walk from Venosa, ambushed the soldiers held a gang of Crocco and the three brothers were killed. Brought to town their bodies were exhibited as trophies and displayed at the center of the square as a warning to those who still had ideas of rebellion. In memory of this history the (*) Stormy Six in their albun of 1972 brought a song: "The three brothers of Venosa," indeed.
On 7 April 1861, the "bandits" come from the forests of Vulture and Lagopesole, join the farmers of the estates of Prince Doria, and adorned with ribbons of red and of the peasant revolt of white sheets (flags Bourbon) they invade the land. Hundreds of women and children precede them. Strap on crude weapons like sticks and pitchforks, then there's men, armed with shovels, agricultural equipment and old guns, hurl themselves against the army of Piedmont.
I have often asked why so much hostility against the Government Piedmont. Why do people prefer to escape into the woods and live illegally rather than live in their homes. I offer a brief analysis of the socio-economic and political life of those years, before and after the unification of Italy.
The old Bourbon regime had fallen to the initiative of Garibaldi's revolutionary type who had fed the masses southern concrete hope of a radical renewal of the local society, but the new government in 1861 took the reins of power was the expression the bourgeoisie, the right hand which dealt with the historical issue of the South with an alliance between wealthy landowners and landlords in North South, eluding the promise the much needed land reform which was to allocate land to the peasants.
Brigante, it says good-naturedly moral elasticity of an individual who does not hesitate to track their own advantage to use cunning of every kind, to carry water to his mill. The term is currently used primarily to condemn the reprehensible conduct of a person in sentimental, in the last century indicate membership in one of the many bands that, in a limited time span, from 1860 to 1865, raged in the south of giving life to the phenomenon by social and political implications classified by historians under the label of "southern Brigantaggio.
The three brothers of Venosa
was very hot in Lucania
But who were the robbers?
Groups of criminals gathered in an area defined and regulated under the authority of a leader who attack with weapons in hand to people and property. Raiders, thieves, criminals, or as we say today, all those acting outside the law belong to the so-called organized crime. But even if the methods and "business" did not differ from those of common crime, the connection ended there. The robbery, in fact, beginning with his life which manifested itself and then die out over a period of time defined, has always differed, at least to the causes from which it originates, banditry end in itself and has always been an expression of profound social and economic hardship. 
The robbers obviously enjoyed the unconditional affection of the rural masses that they identified the same way as real heroes, a sort of nineteenth-century Robin Hood advocates of a Goddess Justice wielding the sword against the abuses of the rich and the threat posed by the authoritarian imposition of the new owner, the Kingdom of Italy.
Forti of tangible support provided by the current Bourbon reactionary and sometimes even by those landowners who preyed on them, but had met with suspicion the arrival of the domination of Savoy, the outlaws could also count on the help of Church
Under the unofficial connivance the robbers could find shelter in convents and evade capture if their fate against the regular troops had been answered in a hasty retreat.
Under the unofficial connivance the robbers could find shelter in convents and evade capture if their fate against the regular troops had been answered in a hasty retreat.
The political and economic situation of the Two Sicilies 
The events of 1860-61 (after a succession of violent occupation: Barbarians by the Normans, the Swabians, the Anjou and Aragonese ) were welcomed by the population as yet another episode of oppression and subjugation: the Piedmontese government seemed, in short, another usurper. When they were asked to vote for the plebiscite for annexation to Piedmont, many believed actually to move toward libertà .Ma then selfishness and arrogance of the owners (now passed away, to "keep everything") not only legitimized new state administration, but were enriched even more when there were sales of goods of the Church and State Property.
The political and administrative structures of the Kingdom had become decrepit, the economy of the interior stops, the roads few and inadequate, the personal and political freedom was non-existent and the powerful and oppressive police, the social situation was precarious for the poverty and backwardness of the peasants of the agricultural system. The land reforms promoted by the Bourbons had been boycotted and, in fact, scaled by a powerful landed aristocracy, rapacious and inefficient, very attached to their privileges, so as to pass immediately from the new owners, the Savoy, but to retain them. All this was compounded by inadequate political qualities of the men who surrounded the King
The political and economic situation of the Savoy government
The political and administrative structures of the Kingdom had become decrepit, the economy of the interior stops, the roads few and inadequate, the personal and political freedom was non-existent and the powerful and oppressive police, the social situation was precarious for the poverty and backwardness of the peasants of the agricultural system. The land reforms promoted by the Bourbons had been boycotted and, in fact, scaled by a powerful landed aristocracy, rapacious and inefficient, very attached to their privileges, so as to pass immediately from the new owners, the Savoy, but to retain them. All this was compounded by inadequate political qualities of the men who surrounded the King
The political and economic situation of the Savoy government
In 1860, the fall of the Bourbon regime defeated by the Garibaldi's volunteers, the South was actually attached to the other states already under the control of the House of Savoy and stood united in the appointment conditions of great imbalance and great social backwardness. In the vast area of \u200b\u200bthe State unit pre-populated with more than 7,000,000 inhabitants, almost one third of the global population Italian side, the distribution of wealth that drew its only source of agricultural production was unfairly divided between a small number of landowners while the mass of agricultural laborers was starving. The basis for a popular revolt were already in the air stirred up by the Bourbon propaganda that incited the masses of the dispossessed to consider how the new conquerors Piedmont enemy to fight and in the autumn of 1860 a violent insurgency erupted across the continental part of the former Kingdom of Two Sicilies, with a massive expansion in the area between the Irpinia, Basilicata, Puglia and Casertano. Led by former laborers, deserters, former soldiers and partisans Bourbon, tens of thousands of rebels hiding in the bush gave more rugged and inaccessible mountainous areas to begin to conduct a guerrilla war on two fronts, one of the raids to loot and plunder the wealthy landowners, and that on a purely military action against the Piedmontese army.
reality soon appeared in all its facets negative for the common people: the structures economic and social remained unchanged while peeping a new enemy in the eyes of the masses of the dispossessed. The strong state of the unified administration imposed a rigid system that were introduced to impose heavy duties on the head of the weakest, the intolerable interference by the prefect of police and the rule of compulsory military service for particularly disliked by the poor in the South this was added the failure of the conservative right to address the issue as a primary need in the South focusing on the social question which was the real spring instead of triggering the blast that very serious phenomenon of the popular uprising known as the Southern banditry.
The phenomenon of banditry
It is estimated that the bands of robbers have been more than 350 field and rallied tens of thousands of rebels "taken" by persuasion or by force from the immense reservoir of the peasant masses. The "training" were commanded by leaders from the name legendary as Crocco, La Gala, Pasquale Romano, Caruso, Louis Alonzo, Gaetano Beef, Tranchell.
Crocco, born Carmine Donatelli, who was originally from Rionero dominated the region of Basilicata and Melfi. He went into hiding in the woods of Vulture followed by a handful of companions in misfortune and became a feared outlaw. Its ranks soon swelled and began Crocco available for reactionaries Bourbon from whom he received assistance and grants. His gang nourished and compact engaged in savage fighting regular troops in Piedmont.
Since early 1860, the size of banditry became rampant and forced the Piedmont to bring the number of soldiers in the South The robbers armed struggle between southern troops and regular army in five years became victims of a massacre taking the proportions of a civil war.
It took strict measures to curb public security finally the robbery and was instrumental in this respect the "Law Pica" 15 August 1863, which subjected to military jurisdiction areas of increased activity of the bandits. It was declared a state of siege, with raids of draft dodgers, the suspects, fugitives and offenders. The reprisals were appalling and bloody on both sides and the masses were often involved in clashes against their pay with the destruction of entire villages, executions without trial of hundreds of peasants wrongly considered supporters of the robbers.
The robbers actually who are they?
The same historians were forced to admit that the much insulted "bloody ferocity" of the so-called bandits is due to the small bands of criminals, who live as parasites on the edge of the big bands legitimist. Formed mostly common criminals, take advantage of the chaos of those stormy times in order to better commit their crimes, covered with a false coloring politica.Le raids, looting, killings and kidnappings carried out by gangs also legitimate to answer almost always the tragic necessity of guerrilla and self-financing. The secret of success for the rebels to take so long to defeat the enemy forces is significant in the full knowledge of the land, in their extraordinary mobility, coverage, which often verges on the complicity of the populations. Not only the mountains and woods of the Lucania, of course, places of choice for all forms of warfare, are the scene of their exploits. Even in the open field, as the vast expanses of Puglia Legitimists demonstrate a good command of military tactics, so as to engage in frontal combat units of the whole cavalry Savoy.
The robbers, therefore, were not "common criminals" as he thought the majority of Italians, but an army of rebels who, outside of private violence, knew no other form of struggle. Kept for centuries in ignorance and poverty, the southern farmers had not yet developed a political knowledge of their rights and could not imagine any prospect of change through legal means. This distrust of all forms of organized protest and struggle was the core of the true "Southern Question." The extensive phenomenon of banditry he was only a dramatic accordingly.
The Italian state responded with a full-scale war in this social revolution, in its large events, lasted for over four years: the troops already stationed in the South under the command of General Cialdini, the government added other, so that in 1863 well 120,000 soldiers were involved in the fight against banditry: almost half of the Italian army (which means that there were four fools, but a people!)
In the same year was declared martial law: summary trials shootings, arson and looting were the tools Cialdini employed by the work of repression, not only against the robbers, but against all of their supporters. Thousands of people killed in armed clashes and the same penalties funds or life imprisonment were the tragic final budget. In 1865 the robbery had been virtually defeated. The state had won his war, but just making the mistakes that Cavour had tried to avoid. After the repression and martial law, the gap between the South and the rest of Italy that did not approfondirsi.Le poorer classes, especially peasants, bandits often imagined as folk heroes and also in press at the time were proposed figures brigands "good".
Recruitment in Bourbon kingdom
Army Bourbon is usually fed with the lever. Also enlisted volunteers from both civilian life among soldiers ferma.Era expected at the end of the conscripts earliest five years of active duty and then five years in the reserve, to their homes, with the obligation of return to arms if need be. The conscript could choose to pay eight years of active duty, then without going into the reserve. It was the King to establish the number of conscripts to be called to arms every year. This number was proportionally distributed among all the municipalities of the Kingdom, except those Sicilians who were exempt from conscription. They were in turn subject to the lever in that year were young people between 18 and 25 years. Each municipality mined by lot the number of names scheduled for that year, posting, then, in the provincial capital of the young people selected that overcome the medical advice of military service, were to reach the company filing the body to which they were assigned, where they were trained for about six months. The recruits had to be in good health and be at least five feet high (about 1.62 m). The young extract could be replaced by a brother or a relative with the same physical qualities, and could also make the exchange with another young man of the same lever, but the following year would be submitted again if the draw within the limits of age. Finally, using the exemption was provided for a change, to be taken to pay the soldiers on leave or between young people exempted from military service. The figure was, however, the reach of most: 240 ducats, or about six million pounds in 1995, to be delivered to the substitute. In any case, the populations of the Two Sicilies had gradually accustomed to the draft, so that in 1860 the draft dodgers were also a number irrilevante.Esisteva voluntary recruitment firm with eight years for the subjects of the Two Sicilies and four for foreigners. Volunteers are provided with an award of engagement and, together with conscripts, had the option will re-engage for another eight years or, alternatively, for four or two.
reality soon appeared in all its facets negative for the common people: the structures economic and social remained unchanged while peeping a new enemy in the eyes of the masses of the dispossessed. The strong state of the unified administration imposed a rigid system that were introduced to impose heavy duties on the head of the weakest, the intolerable interference by the prefect of police and the rule of compulsory military service for particularly disliked by the poor in the South this was added the failure of the conservative right to address the issue as a primary need in the South focusing on the social question which was the real spring instead of triggering the blast that very serious phenomenon of the popular uprising known as the Southern banditry.
The phenomenon of banditry
It is estimated that the bands of robbers have been more than 350 field and rallied tens of thousands of rebels "taken" by persuasion or by force from the immense reservoir of the peasant masses. The "training" were commanded by leaders from the name legendary as Crocco, La Gala, Pasquale Romano, Caruso, Louis Alonzo, Gaetano Beef, Tranchell.
Crocco, born Carmine Donatelli, who was originally from Rionero dominated the region of Basilicata and Melfi. He went into hiding in the woods of Vulture followed by a handful of companions in misfortune and became a feared outlaw. Its ranks soon swelled and began Crocco available for reactionaries Bourbon from whom he received assistance and grants. His gang nourished and compact engaged in savage fighting regular troops in Piedmont.
Since early 1860, the size of banditry became rampant and forced the Piedmont to bring the number of soldiers in the South The robbers armed struggle between southern troops and regular army in five years became victims of a massacre taking the proportions of a civil war.
It took strict measures to curb public security finally the robbery and was instrumental in this respect the "Law Pica" 15 August 1863, which subjected to military jurisdiction areas of increased activity of the bandits. It was declared a state of siege, with raids of draft dodgers, the suspects, fugitives and offenders. The reprisals were appalling and bloody on both sides and the masses were often involved in clashes against their pay with the destruction of entire villages, executions without trial of hundreds of peasants wrongly considered supporters of the robbers.
The robbers actually who are they?
The same historians were forced to admit that the much insulted "bloody ferocity" of the so-called bandits is due to the small bands of criminals, who live as parasites on the edge of the big bands legitimist. Formed mostly common criminals, take advantage of the chaos of those stormy times in order to better commit their crimes, covered with a false coloring politica.Le raids, looting, killings and kidnappings carried out by gangs also legitimate to answer almost always the tragic necessity of guerrilla and self-financing. The secret of success for the rebels to take so long to defeat the enemy forces is significant in the full knowledge of the land, in their extraordinary mobility, coverage, which often verges on the complicity of the populations. Not only the mountains and woods of the Lucania, of course, places of choice for all forms of warfare, are the scene of their exploits. Even in the open field, as the vast expanses of Puglia Legitimists demonstrate a good command of military tactics, so as to engage in frontal combat units of the whole cavalry Savoy.
The robbers, therefore, were not "common criminals" as he thought the majority of Italians, but an army of rebels who, outside of private violence, knew no other form of struggle. Kept for centuries in ignorance and poverty, the southern farmers had not yet developed a political knowledge of their rights and could not imagine any prospect of change through legal means. This distrust of all forms of organized protest and struggle was the core of the true "Southern Question." The extensive phenomenon of banditry he was only a dramatic accordingly.
The Italian state responded with a full-scale war in this social revolution, in its large events, lasted for over four years: the troops already stationed in the South under the command of General Cialdini, the government added other, so that in 1863 well 120,000 soldiers were involved in the fight against banditry: almost half of the Italian army (which means that there were four fools, but a people!)
In the same year was declared martial law: summary trials shootings, arson and looting were the tools Cialdini employed by the work of repression, not only against the robbers, but against all of their supporters. Thousands of people killed in armed clashes and the same penalties funds or life imprisonment were the tragic final budget. In 1865 the robbery had been virtually defeated. The state had won his war, but just making the mistakes that Cavour had tried to avoid. After the repression and martial law, the gap between the South and the rest of Italy that did not approfondirsi.Le poorer classes, especially peasants, bandits often imagined as folk heroes and also in press at the time were proposed figures brigands "good".
Recruitment in Bourbon kingdom
Army Bourbon is usually fed with the lever. Also enlisted volunteers from both civilian life among soldiers ferma.Era expected at the end of the conscripts earliest five years of active duty and then five years in the reserve, to their homes, with the obligation of return to arms if need be. The conscript could choose to pay eight years of active duty, then without going into the reserve. It was the King to establish the number of conscripts to be called to arms every year. This number was proportionally distributed among all the municipalities of the Kingdom, except those Sicilians who were exempt from conscription. They were in turn subject to the lever in that year were young people between 18 and 25 years. Each municipality mined by lot the number of names scheduled for that year, posting, then, in the provincial capital of the young people selected that overcome the medical advice of military service, were to reach the company filing the body to which they were assigned, where they were trained for about six months. The recruits had to be in good health and be at least five feet high (about 1.62 m). The young extract could be replaced by a brother or a relative with the same physical qualities, and could also make the exchange with another young man of the same lever, but the following year would be submitted again if the draw within the limits of age. Finally, using the exemption was provided for a change, to be taken to pay the soldiers on leave or between young people exempted from military service. The figure was, however, the reach of most: 240 ducats, or about six million pounds in 1995, to be delivered to the substitute. In any case, the populations of the Two Sicilies had gradually accustomed to the draft, so that in 1860 the draft dodgers were also a number irrilevante.Esisteva voluntary recruitment firm with eight years for the subjects of the Two Sicilies and four for foreigners. Volunteers are provided with an award of engagement and, together with conscripts, had the option will re-engage for another eight years or, alternatively, for four or two.
The three brothers of Venosa
was very hot in Lucania
in July ottocentosessantuno
and people already felt betrayed by an Italy
unintended and not understood
that gun up to heaven and never used
is not ready for Vittorio Emanuele
three brothers farmers Venosa
refuse to put my uniform.
With the autumn leaves on the road
hard to follow in their footsteps
already has spread here and there, their fame
with robbers have signed a proclamation:
"Farmers left on earth
not have anything to fear,
up in the woods we are many and well-armed
and abuses will be vindicated"
With the cold winter bone
and the desire of a fireplace
brothers farmers are tired
and walk in the light of the morning
the twenty-first of January, St. Agnes
soldiers ambushed
killed them one kilometer from home
brought them to the square of Venosa
(*) The Stormy Six were an Italian band, formed in Milan in 1966 and disbanded in 1983 . In 1972, with a sudden turn in a sea of \u200b\u200bmusical trends of the time, The unit is prepared, concept album that reinterprets historical-critical in the unification of Italy and "The three brothers of Venom" is one of its album.
0 comments:
Post a Comment