Giulio Genoino

Giulio Genoino (born c. 1565), the 'mind of Masaniello', was a key figure in the 7 July, 1647 popular insurrection against Spanish authority in Naples. A priest, lawyer, and academic, Genoino had for three decades attempted to influence constitutional change to involve the Third Estate in the government of the city. Despite being a representative of Spain to Naples, he was accused of spreading sedition and instigating riots during unrest in 1585 and 1620. After periods of imprisonment and exile, and then in his 80's, he returned to Naples and began advising the fisherman and smuggler Tommaso Aniello—later know as Masaniello—a popular figure among the city's populace. Genoino was the real power behind the popular movement, and supplied the directionless and illiterate Masaniello with advice and a coherent policy. Following the uprising of 7 July, and the assassination of Masaniello on 16 July, the Viceroy attempted to restore order by handing governance of the city to Genoino. He was unable to resist the extremest demands of the populace, and following a second revolution in August Genoino was exiled and the Neapolitan Republic proclaimed.

References

*(July 1997) "July 7th, 1647: Masaniello's Naples Revolt against Spain." "History Today." "'47"
*Calabria, Antonio (1990) "Good Government in Spanish Naples". p. 254. OCLC|19815217
*Kamen, Henry (1971) "The Iron Century: Social Change in Europe, 1550-1660". p. 362-3. OCLC|278868