Giuseppe Musolino, better known as the "Brigante Musolino" or the "King of Aspromonte" (24 September 1876 - 22 January 1956), was an Italian outlaw and folk hero. Italy (Italia officially the Italian Republic, (Repubblica Italiana is located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe, and on the two largest An outlaw or bandit is a person living the lifestyle of outlawry; the word literally means "outside the Law " by folk-etymology from the original A folk hero is type of Hero, real or mythological. The single salient characteristic which makes a character a folk hero is the imprinting of the name personality
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Biography
Masolino was born in Santo Stefano in Aspromonte, in a rugged area of Calabria, in southern Italy. Santo Stefano in Aspromonte is a Comune (municipality in the Province of Reggio Calabria in the Italian region Calabria, located Calabria ( Latin: Brutium) is a region in southern Italy, south of Naples, located at the "toe" of Italy (Italia officially the Italian Republic, (Repubblica Italiana is located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe, and on the two largest
He worked as a woodcutter in the Aspromonte area of Calabria, an isolated and mountainous region near the "toe" of the Italian "boot". Aspromonte is a mountain massif in the Province of Reggio Calabria ( Calabria, southern Italy) Musolino, much like Robin Hood in English folklore, was reputed to have turned outlaw when he was falsely accused of attempted murder in 1897. Robin Hood is an archetypal figure in English folklore, whose story originates from medieval times but who remains significant in popular culture where England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland Year 1897 ( MDCCCXCVII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common False testimony was brought forward against him and he was sent to prison in Gerace. Gerace (Ierax Gerakion is a town in the Province of Reggio Calabria, Calabria, Italy. In 1899, he escaped from jail, and for the next three years conducted his own brigand version of justice. Year 1899 ( MDCCCXCIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common
While hiding among the hills of Aspromonte, Musolino killed off the two alleged traitors who had borne witness against him; but "in expiation of their sins and his own", he kept busy as well at a multitude of good works. Among his good deeds, it was said he assisted peasants and gave large sums of money stolen from the rich to monasteries and churches. He also kept King Victor Emmanuel posted by letter on the need for local reforms. Victor Emmanuel III (Vittorio Emanuele III 11 November, 1869 – 28 December, 1947) was a member of the House of Savoy and
Musolino was captured, while heading to seek pardon from King Victor Emmanuel in 1901, near Urbino, apparently caught in some wire while fleeing two Carabinieri that recognized him. Year 1901 ( MCMI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting Urbino is a walled city in the Marche region in Italy, south-west of Pesaro, a World Heritage Site notable for a remarkable historical The Carabinieri (Italian for Carabiniers are the national-level Gendarmerie of Italy who also perform Military police duties He was tried and sent to prison for life, where he was declared insane twelve years later. He died in Reggio Calabria's mental hospital at the age of 79. Reggio di Calabria (Italian pronunciation /ˈrɛʤo ˌdikaˈlabrja/ Calabrian dialect: Rìggiu, Greek-Calabrian: Righi, Greek:
Musolino as legend
It can be said that Musolino was seen by his countrymen as a symbol of the injustice Calabria was facing at the time. As an elusive fugitive, always managing to escape traps, Musolino stirred the imagination of many people in Italy and in short order he became a legend throughout Italy and abroad. A legend ( Latin, legenda, "things to be read" is a Narrative of human actions that are perceived both by teller and listeners to He became the subject of many Calabrian folk tales and popular songs. The 1950 film Il brigante Musolino, by Mario Monicelli, was based on his life. Year 1950 ( MCML) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Mario Monicelli (born May 15, 1915) is an Italian director and screenwriter one of the masters of the Commedia all'Italiana
See also
- Eric Hobsbawm's concept of the social bandit (see also Hobsbawm, Primitive Rebels, 1959)
- Cesare Lombroso's "The Last Brigand" (1902)
External links
- "Musolino and the Law", from Old Calabria (1915) by Norman Douglas [[1]]