Carmine Crocco

Carmine Crocco
Born	June 5, 1830(1830-06-05) Rionero in Vulture, Italy
Died	June 18, 1905(1905-06-18) (aged 75) Portoferraio, Italy
Other names	Donatello
Organization	Brigandage in the Two Sicilies

Il brigante è come la serpe, se non la stuzzichi non ti morde. The brigand is as a snake: if you don't annoy him, he doesn't bite you

—Carmine Crocco ^[1]

In such a crowd, so numerous and composed of such heterogeneous elements, it might have appeared almost absurd to look for discipline; but perfect discipline there was, for, whatever his other qualities might be, Crocco most undoubtedly was a "ruler of men".

—Charles Dickens ^[2]

Carmine Crocco, known as Donatello^[3] (June 5, 1830 - June 18, 1905) was an Italian brigand. Soon after the Italian unification, he formed an army of two thousand men, leading the most cohesive and feared band in southern Italy and becoming the most formidable leader on the Bourbon side.^[4] He was renowned for his guerrilla tactics, such as cutting water supplies, destroying flour-mills, cutting telegraph wires and ambushing stragglers.^[5] Despite his controversial deeds and behaviour, many people of southern Italy and in particular in his native region Basilicata, consider him a folk hero.^[6]

Life

Youth

Crocco was born into a family of five children in Rionero in Vulture, which was at the time part of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. His father, Francesco Crocco, was a servant of the noble Santangelo family from Venosa and his mother, Maria Gerarda Santomauro, was a housewife. His uncle Martino was a veteran who fought in Spain during the Peninsular War, losing a leg probably in the siege of Saragossa. Crocco grew up with the tales of his uncle, from whom he learned to read and write. While a child, Crocco began to develop an aversion towards the upper class, after his brother was beaten by don Vincenzo, a young lord, for killing a dog who had attacked a Crocco family chicken. His mother, pregnant at that time, tried to defend his son but the lord kicked her in the belly, forcing her to abort.^[7] His father was later accused of the attempted murder of don Vincenzo and was imprisoned without sufficient proof.^[8]

During his adolescence, Crocco moved to Apulia, to work as a shepherd, along with his brother, Donato. In 1845, Crocco saved the life of don Giovanni Aquilecchia, a nobleman of Atella, who had tried to cross the raging waters of the Ofanto River. Aquilecchia rewarded him with 50 ducats, permitting Crocco to eventually return to his home town from Apulia and find a new job. Crocco had the opportunity to meet don Pietro Ginistrelli, Aquilecchia's brother-in-law, who was able to secure the release of his father from prison.^[9]

However, by the time he was released Francesco Crocco was old and sick and this left Crocco to act as head of his family, working as a farmer in Rionero. Here he met don Ferdinando, don Vincenzo's son, who felt regret for his father's behavior against the family. Don Ferdinando offered him a job as a farmer on his property, but Crocco preferred to take money instead, which he used to avoid the military service, as during the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, service was avoidable upon payment. The nobleman accepted but was killed on 15 May 1848 in Naples by some Swiss troops. Thus Crocco had to join Ferdinand II's army, but he deserted as a result of killing a comrade in a brawl.^[10] In his absence, his sister Rosina had to take care of the family.

Becoming an outlaw

Crocco killing Don Peppino who insulted his sister

During Crocco's absence. his sister, Rosina, then not yet eighteen years old, was courted by a nobleman, Don Peppino. Rosina was not interested in him and rejected him. Annoyed by his refusal, Peppino proceeded to defame her.^[11]

When Crocco heard about these events he was angry and decided to avenge his sister. Knowing the habits of Peppino, who generally attended a particular club to gamble in the evening hours, Crocco awaited his return at Peppino's home. When Don Peppino arrived, Crocco questioned him but the discussion ended in a fight, after Peppino hit Crocco with a whip.^[12]

Blinded by rage, Crocco pulled out a knife, killed Peppino and then fled to the Forenza woods. Here he met other outlaws, such as Giuseppe Nicola Summa (nicknamed "Ninco Nanco") and Vincenzo Mastronardi known as "Staccone", his future lieutenants and together they formed a band that lived on the proceeds of blackmail and robbery. Crocco returned to Rionero but was arrested on October 13, 1855. He escaped during the night of December 13-14, 1859, hiding in the woods between Monticchio and Lagopesole.^[13]

Expedition of the Thousand

The Battle of Volturnus

At the same time Giuseppe Garibaldi was launching his Expedition of the Thousand, and the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies was soon on the verge of collapse, requiring all forces remaining at its command to confront Garibaldi. Garibaldi managed to defeat them, gain control of Sicily and then cross to the mainland, where he moved swiftly north towards Naples.^[14]

Garibaldi promised to forgive the deserters in exchange for military service and Crocco joined Garibaldi's army hoping for a pardon as well as other rewards.^[15] Crocco accompanied Garibaldi north to Naples and took part in the famous Battle of Volturnus. Although he displayed courage in battle, Crocco did not receive any medals or other honors and was also arrested.^[16]

He was taken to the prison in Cerignola but, with the help of noble Fortunato family (relatives of the politician Giustino), he was able to get away. Disappointed by the new Italian government's lies, Crocco was persuaded by noblemen linked to Bourbons and the local clergy to join the legitimist cause. With their war and pecuniary support, he recruited an army of 2000 men,^[17] beginning the resistance under the flag of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies.

In the service of Francis II

José Borjes

In 10 days, Crocco and his army occupied the entire Vulture area. In the conquered territory he ordered the badges and ornaments of the king Francis II to be once again displayed. In most cases, people regarded him as a "liberator" and supported his bands.^[18]

On April 7, 1861 Crocco occuped Lagopesole and, the day after, Ripacandida, where he defeated the local garrison of the "Italian National Guard". On April 10, 1861, his army entered Venosa and sacked it. During the siege of Venosa, Crocco's men killed Francesco Nitti, a physician and an ex-member of the Carbonari, as well as grandfather of the politician Francesco Saverio Nitti.^[19] Subsequently Lavello and Melfi fell into Crocco's control. Crocco's army also conquered parts of Campania (Sant'Angelo dei Lombardi, Monteverde, Conza, Teora),^[20] Apulia (Bovino and Terra di Bari).^[21]

Impressed by his victories, the Bourbon government in exile sent the Spanish General José Borjes to Basilicata, to reinforce and discipline the bands. The goal of Borjes was the capitulation of Potenza, the most well-defended stronghold of the Italian army in Basilicata. Crocco did not trust Borjes from the start and worried about losing his leadership, but he accepted the alliance.

Crocco, with the support of Borjes, conquered other towns searching for new recruits, including Trivigno, Calciano, Garaguso, Craco and Aliano. Crocco's army made its way to Potenza, occupying neighboring cities such as Guardia Perticara, San Chirico Raparo and Vaglio, but the expedition to the main city failed. Crocco's band was soon forced to flee due to an ex-Bourbon, who warned the Royal Italian Army of the arrival of the brigands and sold them weapons.

Retreating to Monticchio, one of his headquarters, Crocco broke the alliance with Borjes because he did not want to serve under a foreigner. Disappointed, Borjes planned to go to Rome, to inform King Francis II but, during the journey, he was captured in Tagliacozzo and shot by Piedmontese soldiers headed by Major Enrico Franchini.

Last days

Without external support, Crocco turned to ​​plundering and extortion to raise funds, cooperating with like-minded confederates and making raids from Molise to Apulia. Vespasiano De Luca, director of Public Safety in Rionero, invited him to sign a treaty of surrender but Crocco declined. Even without the help of the Bourbons, Crocco, skilled in guerrilla warfare, was able to harass the Piedmontese soldiers but his force was betrayed by Giuseppe Caruso, one of his lieutenants.

Caruso went to the Piedmontese authorities and revealed Crocco's location and hideouts. Under the command of General Emilio Pallavicini, the royal army engaged and defeated Crocco. His band suffered many causualties and some of his lieutenants, such as Ninco Nanco and Giuseppe "Sparviero" Schiavone, were captured and executed by firing squad, leaving Crocco to retire toward the Ofanto zone. After losing the last battle, he was forced to flee to the Papal States, hoping for help from Pius IX, whom he knew had previously supported the southern opposition.^[22]

Upon arrival Crocco was captured by papal troops in Veroli and imprisoned in Rome. He was then turned over to the Italian authorities and sentenced to death on September 11, 1872 in Potenza, but the sentence was commuted to hard labour for life. He was imprisoned on Santo Stefano Island, where he began writing his memoirs, later published under the title Come divenni brigante (English: How I Became A Brigand). Crocco was later transferred to the prison at Portoferraio, where died on June 18, 1905.

Legacy

Crocco is the main character of the production La Storia Bandita (The Bandit's Story) that is held every year in Brindisi Montagna. Artists such as Michele Placido, Jean-François Touillard, Antonello Venditti and Lucio Dalla have participated in the production.^[23]

He is the main protagonist of the 1999 movie Li chiamarono... briganti! (They called them... brigands!) directed by Pasquale Squitieri, starring Enrico Lo Verso (in the role of Crocco), Claudia Cardinale, Remo Girone, Franco Nero among the others. The movie was unsuccessful and was quickly suspended from its run in cinemas, although reviewers claimed that the truth was uncomfortable to some viewers.^[24]

The Italian actor Michele Placido, son of an immigrant from Rionero, claims to be a descendant of Crocco on his father's side.^[23]

The Italian musician Eugenio Bennato dedicated the song Il Brigante Carmine Crocco, from the 1980 album Brigante se more to him.

In November 2008, a museum dedicated to Crocco, named La Tavern r Crocc (English: The Tavern of Crocco) was opened in his home town.^[25]

Some of Crocco's band members

• 

  Giuseppe Nicola Summa, nicknamed "Ninco Nanco"

• 

  Giuseppe "Zi Beppe" Caruso

• 

  "Caporal" Teodoro Gioseffi

• 

  Agostino Sacchitiello (center)

• 

  Vito "Totaro" Di Gianni (right) with his men

• 

  Giuseppe "Sparviero" Schiavone

• 

  Michele "Il Guercio" Volonnino

• 

  From l. to r.: Filomena Pennacchio, Giuseppina Vitale, Maria Giovanna Tito (Crocco's fiancée)

References

1. ^ Mario Monti, p.274
2. ^ Charles Dickens, All the year round, Vol.15, 1876, p.281
3. ^ Tommaso Pedio, p. 264
4. ^ Eric J. Hobsbawm, p.25
5. ^ John Ellis, p.83
6. ^ Mario Monti, p.17
7. ^ Indro Montanelli, p.85
8. ^ Tommaso Pedio, p.264
9. ^ Tommaso Pedio, p.265
10. ^ Eric J. Hobsbawm, p.25
11. ^ Tommaso Pedio, p.265
12. ^ Tommaso Pedio, p.265
13. ^ Antonio De Leo, p.36
14. ^ Tommaso Pedio, p.266
15. ^ Denis Mack Smith, p.72
16. ^ Indro Montanelli, p.86
17. ^ Sergio Romano, p.49
18. ^ Indro Montanelli, p.88
19. ^ Francesco Barbagallo, p. 5
20. ^ A. Maffei count,Marc Monnier, p.39
21. ^ Aldo De Jaco, p.218
22. ^ Nicholas Atkin, Frank Tallet, p.134
23. ^ ^{a b} (Italian)Rossani Ottavio, Grassi Giovanna (June 25 2000). "«La storia bandita»: un film dal vivo sui briganti". Corriere della sera. http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2000/giugno/25/storia_bandita_film_dal_vivo_co_0_00062511201.shtml. Retrieved 15 March 2011. 
24. ^ Lorenzo Del Boca, p. 231.
25. ^ (Italian)"La Tavern R Crocc". http://www.museodicrocco.ilcannocchiale.it/. Retrieved 15 March 2011. 

Sources

• David Hilton Wheeler, Brigandage in south Italy, Volume 2, S. Low, son, and Marston, 1864.
• A. Maffei count, Marc Monnier, Brigand life in Italy: a history of Bourbonist reaction, Volume 2, Hurst and Blackett, 1865, p.342.
• John Ellis, A short history of guerrilla warfare, Allan, 1975.
• Eric J. Hobsbawm, Bandits, Penguin, 1985.
• Tommaso Pedio, Storia della Basilicata raccontata ai ragazzi, Congedo, 1994.
• Antonio De Leo, Carmine Cròcco Donatelli: un brigante guerrigliero, Pellegrini, 1983.
• Denis Mack Smith, Italy:a modern history, University of Michigan Press, 1969.
• Indro Montanelli, L'Italia dei notabili. (1861-1900), Rizzoli, 1973.
• Francesco Barbagallo, Francesco Saverio Nitti, UTET, 1984.
• Nicholas Atkin, Frank Tallet, Priests, prelates and people: a history of European Catholicism since 1750, I.B.Tauris, 2003.
• Aldo De Jaco, Il brigantaggio meridionale, Editori riuniti, 2005.
• Mario Monti, I briganti italiani, vol.2, Longanesi, 1967.
• Sergio Romano, Storia d'Italia dal Risorgimento ai nostri giorni, Longanesi, 1998.
• Pedio, Tommaso; Mario Proto (1995). Come divenni brigante: autobiografia di Carmine Crocco. Piero Lacaita Editore. pp. 106 pag. 
• Lorenzo Del Boca, Indietro Savoia!, Piemme, 2003.
• Perrone, Adolfo (1963). Il brigantaggio e l'unità d'Italia. Istituto Editoriale Cisalpino. pp. 279 pag. 

Persondata
Name	Crocco, Carmine
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	June 5, 1830
Place of birth	Rionero in Vulture, Italy
Date of death	June 18, 1905
Place of death	Portoferraio, Italy