In Sicily, a gabellotto or arbitriante was a person who rented farmland for short-term use. They were rural entrepreneurs who leased the lands from aristocrats more attracted to the comforts of the city.[1] Many gabellotti were associated with, if not members of, the Mafia. Such alliances would allow them to protect themselves and their assets from bandits and cattle rustlers, as well as cut through much of the messy legalities left over from Sicily's transition from feudalism to capitalism in the early 19th century.[2]
The word is derived from the Sicilian word gabella, meaning a "tax or duty in the form of a required payment". The gabellotto paid the landowner for the use of land, and rented out the use of the land to peasants or through a sub-lease to sotto-gabellotto. In practice, the gabellotto acted as an overseer and was the real power on the estate. He hired guards (campieri) to protect livestock, equipment and the property, and to control the peasants. The peasant would often be in debt to the gabellotto for the rent, tax and supplies and seeds for the planting season. The gabellotto eventually would overpower the landowner and by the mid-19th century would be the real power on the Sicilian countryside.[3]
The gabellotto's role extended well beyond the boundaries of the estate covering the security needs in areas out of control of the state in central and western Sicily with his guards. Over the course of the breakup of the feudal economy in the first half of the 19th century he established a power to intimidate society both upwards (the absentee landlords) and downwards (the peasants).[4]
Albini, Joseph L.; McIllwain, Jeffrey Scott (2012). Deconstructing Organized Crime: An Historical and Theoretical Study, Jefferson NC: McFarland, ISBN978-0-7864-9299-2
Dickie, John (2004). Cosa Nostra. A history of the Sicilian Mafia, London: Coronet, ISBN0-340-82435-2
Gambetta, Diego (1993). The Sicilian Mafia: The Business of Private Protection, London: Harvard University Press, ISBN0-674-80742-1
Lupo, Salvatore (2009). History of the Mafia, New York: Columbia University Press, ISBN978-0-231-13134-6
January 01, 1970
gabellotto, sicily, gabellotto, arbitriante, person, rented, farmland, short, term, they, were, rural, entrepreneurs, leased, lands, from, aristocrats, more, attracted, comforts, city, many, gabellotti, were, associated, with, members, mafia, such, alliances, . In Sicily a gabellotto or arbitriante was a person who rented farmland for short term use They were rural entrepreneurs who leased the lands from aristocrats more attracted to the comforts of the city 1 Many gabellotti were associated with if not members of the Mafia Such alliances would allow them to protect themselves and their assets from bandits and cattle rustlers as well as cut through much of the messy legalities left over from Sicily s transition from feudalism to capitalism in the early 19th century 2 The word is derived from the Sicilian word gabella meaning a tax or duty in the form of a required payment The gabellotto paid the landowner for the use of land and rented out the use of the land to peasants or through a sub lease to sotto gabellotto In practice the gabellotto acted as an overseer and was the real power on the estate He hired guards campieri to protect livestock equipment and the property and to control the peasants The peasant would often be in debt to the gabellotto for the rent tax and supplies and seeds for the planting season The gabellotto eventually would overpower the landowner and by the mid 19th century would be the real power on the Sicilian countryside 3 The gabellotto s role extended well beyond the boundaries of the estate covering the security needs in areas out of control of the state in central and western Sicily with his guards Over the course of the breakup of the feudal economy in the first half of the 19th century he established a power to intimidate society both upwards the absentee landlords and downwards the peasants 4 References editCitations Gambetta The Sicilian Mafia pp 83 84 Dickie Cosa Nostra pp 132 33 Albini amp McIllwain Deconstructing Organized Crime pp 31 35 Lupo History of the Mafia pp 36 37 Sources edit Albini Joseph L McIllwain Jeffrey Scott 2012 Deconstructing Organized Crime An Historical and Theoretical Study Jefferson NC McFarland ISBN 978 0 7864 9299 2 Dickie John 2004 Cosa Nostra A history of the Sicilian Mafia London Coronet ISBN 0 340 82435 2 Gambetta Diego 1993 The Sicilian Mafia The Business of Private Protection London Harvard University Press ISBN 0 674 80742 1 Lupo Salvatore 2009 History of the Mafia New York Columbia University Press ISBN 978 0 231 13134 6 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Gabellotto amp oldid 1159689668, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
