Risorgimento nel Molise
(Per leggerlo in inglese cliccare sull'icona a fianco)
The Risorgimento in Molise
Among the patriots from Molise who contributed to the cause of the Kingdom of Italy, the following are remembered: Nicola Campofreda and his sons Antonio, Luigi, Achille, Girolamo Pallotta of Bojano, and Francesco de Feo.
The massacre of Isernia on October 17, 1860, is commemorated, in which Giuseppe Suriani lost his life. His story was also recounted in the book Signora Ava (1942) by Francesco Jovine. The pages recalling Suriani’s death are passionate, detailing how his severed head was placed by Bourbon soldiers at the Fraterna Fountain in the Concezione Square in Isernia. It was recognized by Garibaldian soldier Domizio Tagliaferri, who had participated in the Battle of Pettoranello and was taken to the prison of Fort Gaeta.
The figure of Francesco de Feo is remembered, full of liberal ideals. He boarded the steamship "Maria Cristina" to assist the Lombard liberals on May 29, 1848, and then returned to his village of Mirabello Sannitico, registered as reliable. While studying, De Feo allied with Nicola de Luca and joined a Masonic circle founded by Giuseppe Demarco of Paupisi. On August 20, 1860, when Giuseppe Garibaldi entered Naples, De Feo raised the Tricolor flag above the Monforte Castle in Campobasso.
When King Victor Emmanuel II passed through Molise to visit the newly conquered Kingdom and meet Garibaldi in Teano, on October 24, 1860, he stopped in Venafro and received Francesco de Feo, appointing him deputy intendant of Isernia. Meanwhile, De Luca was confirmed as sub-governor of Molise, serving in Campobasso. De Feo also engaged in the struggles against brigandage in Molise after the Unification.
The Example of Nicola Campofreda and Girolamo Pallotta
In Molise, the Valdarelli Band is remembered; it was suppressed in 1818 after killing the father of the Albanian commander Nicola Campofreda of Portocannone (CB). During the turmoil of 1820 and 1848, Campofreda supported the Abruzzese liberals Dragonetti, Leopardi, Spaventa, De Santis, and De Caesaris. In 1848, Campofreda took part in the revolt of Casacalenda. Nicola and his son Achille Campofreda were accused of conspiracy. On September 4, 1860, the elderly Nicola left his homeland of Portocannone with his sons Achille and Luigi, sending 200 volunteers to Isernia for the Italian cause. Another massacre was averted by a letter from Garibaldi himself from Naples, instructing the Bourbon municipality to raise the Tricolor flag.
However, this was not the case for the battles of Carpinone and Pettoranello on October 17, which ended in a massacre. Captain Achille Campofreda managed to save his men with a strategic retreat under enemy fire. Girolamo Pallotta, a native of Bojano, is associated with the Battle of Pettoranello. In 1860, he declared himself provisional dictator of the government, as Clemente de Caesaris did in Penne for the government of Abruzzo. He resigned to leave the position to Nicola de Luca. After the events in Isernia, Pallotta planned a battle against the Bourbons in Pettoranello to clear the path to Capua. However, he did not have enough volunteers. Garibaldi himself ordered Pallotta not to attack, waiting for the arrival of General Enrico Cialdini’s troops. However, Colonel Francesco Nullo, following Pallotta, disobeyed, leading to a defeat.
(Per leggerlo in inglese cliccare sull'icona a fianco)The Risorgimento in Molise
Among the patriots from Molise who contributed to the cause of the Kingdom of Italy, the following are remembered: Nicola Campofreda and his sons Antonio, Luigi, Achille, Girolamo Pallotta of Bojano, and Francesco de Feo.
The massacre of Isernia on October 17, 1860, is commemorated, in which Giuseppe Suriani lost his life. His story was also recounted in the book Signora Ava (1942) by Francesco Jovine. The pages recalling Suriani’s death are passionate, detailing how his severed head was placed by Bourbon soldiers at the Fraterna Fountain in the Concezione Square in Isernia. It was recognized by Garibaldian soldier Domizio Tagliaferri, who had participated in the Battle of Pettoranello and was taken to the prison of Fort Gaeta.
The figure of Francesco de Feo is remembered, full of liberal ideals. He boarded the steamship "Maria Cristina" to assist the Lombard liberals on May 29, 1848, and then returned to his village of Mirabello Sannitico, registered as reliable. While studying, De Feo allied with Nicola de Luca and joined a Masonic circle founded by Giuseppe Demarco of Paupisi. On August 20, 1860, when Giuseppe Garibaldi entered Naples, De Feo raised the Tricolor flag above the Monforte Castle in Campobasso.
When King Victor Emmanuel II passed through Molise to visit the newly conquered Kingdom and meet Garibaldi in Teano, on October 24, 1860, he stopped in Venafro and received Francesco de Feo, appointing him deputy intendant of Isernia. Meanwhile, De Luca was confirmed as sub-governor of Molise, serving in Campobasso. De Feo also engaged in the struggles against brigandage in Molise after the Unification.
The Example of Nicola Campofreda and Girolamo Pallotta
In Molise, the Valdarelli Band is remembered; it was suppressed in 1818 after killing the father of the Albanian commander Nicola Campofreda of Portocannone (CB). During the turmoil of 1820 and 1848, Campofreda supported the Abruzzese liberals Dragonetti, Leopardi, Spaventa, De Santis, and De Caesaris. In 1848, Campofreda took part in the revolt of Casacalenda. Nicola and his son Achille Campofreda were accused of conspiracy. On September 4, 1860, the elderly Nicola left his homeland of Portocannone with his sons Achille and Luigi, sending 200 volunteers to Isernia for the Italian cause. Another massacre was averted by a letter from Garibaldi himself from Naples, instructing the Bourbon municipality to raise the Tricolor flag.
However, this was not the case for the battles of Carpinone and Pettoranello on October 17, which ended in a massacre. Captain Achille Campofreda managed to save his men with a strategic retreat under enemy fire. Girolamo Pallotta, a native of Bojano, is associated with the Battle of Pettoranello. In 1860, he declared himself provisional dictator of the government, as Clemente de Caesaris did in Penne for the government of Abruzzo. He resigned to leave the position to Nicola de Luca. After the events in Isernia, Pallotta planned a battle against the Bourbons in Pettoranello to clear the path to Capua. However, he did not have enough volunteers. Garibaldi himself ordered Pallotta not to attack, waiting for the arrival of General Enrico Cialdini’s troops. However, Colonel Francesco Nullo, following Pallotta, disobeyed, leading to a defeat.