Giovanni Andrea Serrao

Giovanni Andrea Serrao (Castel Monardo, now known as Filadelfia, Calabria, 4 February 1731 - Potenza, Basilicata, 24 February 1799) was an eminent intellectual and churchman of the Kingdom of Naples who supported the Parthenopaean Republic of 1799.

Life

Giovanni Andrea Serrao was born in Castel Monardo da Bruno, to Baron Serrao del Vescovo and his wife Giuditta Feroce, one of 7 brothers. Studying first in Castel Monardo, then in Naples, he became friends with il Genovesi, il Cirillo, il Pagano and il Forges Davanzati. From 1758 to 1788 he wrote various works in Latin supporting the democratic concession to the Papal States and opposing the Roman Curia. After a year of harsh polemics, he was nominated to be bishop of Potenza on 18 July 1783.

Finding himself in Rome waiting to take possession of his diocese, news reached him of the earthquake of 28 March 1783 which had (among others) destroyed all the centres of Calabria, his native land. Despite having been debilitated by a fall, he urged his brothers to abandon the old and destroyed site of Castel Monardo and found a new one at a place to be named piano della Gorna. Elaborating the plan for the new town, outlined by his brother Francescantonio, he arranged for a new Pubblico Sedile to be set up in the central piazza at his family's expense and suggested the name of Filadelfia for the new town (drawing the idea from king Ferdinand IV of Naples).

Taking an active part in the Parthenopaean Republic of 1799, the most illustrious figures in the new state wished him to become Commissario Civile in Potenza. On 24 February 1799 he was murdered in Potenza by some mercenaries of Cardinal Ruffo and his head carried through the streets of the town.

Giovanni Andrea Serrao is mentioned in Dumas' novel "La Sanfelice".

Bibliography

* Forges-Davanzati, "Giovanni Andrea Serrao", Bari, Laterza, 1937
* Alexandre Dumas, La Sanfelice, Milano, Adelphi, 1999, due voll., ISBN 88-459-1433-X