Two Sicilies independence movement

The Two Sicilies independence movement sometimes called the Neo-Bourbon movement, are names used to refer to a secession movement which supports reinstating the historic Kingdom of Two Sicilies which was conquered and forced to become part of the Kingdom of Italy (this has since become a republic). It is from the historic kingdom, which incorporated the southern part of the Italian Peninsula as well as the island of Sicily, that the movement takes its name, as well as the House of Bourbon-Two Sicilies when the supporters are named "Neo-Bourbons".

As well as supporting independence and the reinstating of the Bourbon monarchy, the movement supports cultural awareness in general for those in the area of the Two Sicilies, also for those whose families, as a consequence of the Italian unification have been forced to emigrate from the south, which created a "duosiciliano" diaspora reaching across the world. Part of the movement raising awareness for Sicilian and Neapolitan culture, includes holding a course in the Neapolitan language.

Views

According to some of the cultural websites relating to the movement, the Two Sicilies (Sicily, Naples, and the mainland south from Abruzzo and Gaeta) is historically, linguistically, and culturally separate from Northern Italy. The group advocates independence for the Two Sicilies, which it holds was wrongfully incorporated into Italy during the Italian unification. The "risorgimento", they claim, was the beginning of a 146-year long Northern Italian occupation and "internal colonisation" that continues to this day.

A website of the movement also holds that, after Giuseppe Garibaldi's conquest of the Two Sicilies, which they state was illegal due to the lack of a declaration of war, the Piedmontese fought a ten year civil war with the Neapolitans, in the process murdering over 1 million Neapolitans and Sicilians and entirely destroying some 54 towns. After this, the treasury and industry of Naples was appropriated by the Kingdom of Sardinia and used to industrialise the Northern Industrial Triangle of Piedmont, Liguria, and Lombardy. They claim further that the Mezzogiorno has continued to be suppressed economically by the sapping of resources and that southerners have been encouraged to emigrate for work: during the time of the Two Sicilies, the kingdom had many factories, thanks in part to technology Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies had gained from the British.

2003 protest in Naples

When the modern day representative of the House of Savoy, Vittorio Emanuele returned to the country during 2003 (though not in a position of power) deciding to choose Naples as the official point of coming out of exile, there were protests in the city. Members of the Neo-Bourbon movement printed thousands of stickers showing the Savoy coat of arms with a "no entry" sign over it and the words "Indietro Savoia" meaning "Savoys, go home". Famous Neapolitan film director Pasquale Squitieri was quoted as saying, "I am sorry Naples is receiving with all the honours the people who have been our assassins", while president of the Neo-Bourbon movement Professor Gennaro De Crescenzo commented; [cite news|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2003/03/16/witaly16.xml|publisher=Telegraph.co.uk|title= Italy's exiled royal family shunned as they return|date=8 January 2008]

References

External links

* [http://www.neoborbonici.it/portal/ NeoBorbonici.it]
* [http://www.duesicilie.eu DueSicilie.eu]
* [http://www.duesicilie.org/OLDSITE/index-F.html DueSicilie.org]