In the Age of Revolution, the Lazzaroni (or Lazzari) of Naples were the poorest of the lower class (Italianlazzaroni or lazzari, singular: lazzarone) in the city and Kingdom of Naples (in present-day Italy). Described as "street people under a chief", they were often depicted as "beggars"—which some actually were, while others subsisted partly by service as messengers, porters, etc.[1] No precise census of them was ever conducted, but contemporaries estimated their total number at around 50,000, and they had a significant role in the social and political life of the city (and of the kingdom of which Naples was the capital). They were prone to act collectively as crowds and mobs and follow the lead of demagogues, often proving formidable in periods of civil unrest and revolution.
Lazzari playing cards, 1824
Look up lazzarone in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
At the time of the French Revolution, the Lazzaroni were staunchly monarchist in their political inclination—the diametrical opposite of the contemporary Parisian sans-culottes—with their (sometimes lethal) mob violence being directed against supposed republican and Jacobin sympathisers. For that reason, republicans at the time and later dismissed them as "tools of the absolutist government".
The Lazzaroni were fiercely loyal to the House of Bourbon and specifically to the person of King Ferdinand I who—unlike most monarchs of his and other times—did not keep an aristocratic distance but liked to mingle among the Lazzaroni and sport with them.
During the French military campaigns of the late 1790s, designed to export the Revolution to Italy (as to other parts of Europe), the regular Neapolitan troops did not particularly distinguish themselves against the French Army. The Lazzaroni, to the contrary, clamored to be armed and made a valiant effort to defend the city against the French—even though the royal family had already fled to Sicily. Some sources put as high as 2,000 the number of Lazzaroni who were killed on a single bloody day.
Though unable to stand in face-to-face fighting with trained troops (a contemporary drawing shows Lazzaroni being mowed down by a volley from French guns), their resistance ensured that the Parthenopaean Republic (which was established in Naples) had no popular base of support and could only rely on the repressive power of the French Army. Thus, it collapsed when the French needed to shift much of their troops elsewhere in Italy—whereupon the Lazzaroni exacted acts of retribution upon that republic's adherents.
Friedrich Engels wrote about the Neapolitan lumpenproletariat during the repression of the 1848 Revolution in Naples: "This action of the Neapolitan lumpenproletariat decided the defeat of the revolution. Swiss guardsmen, Neapolitan soldiers and lazzaroni combined pounced upon the defenders of the barricades."[2]
The Lazzaroni and Garibaldiedit
During the first decades of the Nineteenth Century, the Bourbons gradually lost the support of the Naples Lazzaroni. This was fully evident by 1860 when Garibaldi arrived in the city at the climax of his campaign for the unification of Italy.
As mentioned in many eyewitness reports, when entering Naples after the Bourbon King fled, Garibaldi received a tumultuous welcome from the Lazzaroni, as from other sections of Naples' population. Journalist Charles Arrivabene wrote at the time: "Garibaldi was accompanied by a great procession along the seafront to Piedigrotta (...) He was cheered by fishermen and lazzaroni, and women shouted 'May the blessed Virgin be with you, Eccellenza!'".[3] Another observer, Marc Monnier, noted that "Garibaldi is a saint for les lazzarones. It is God who had sent him to save the country. Several call him Jesus Christ, and his officers are the apostles. Alms are asked in Garibaldi's name".[4]
^C.Arrivabene, "Italy Under Victor Emmanuel, a personal narrative", London, 1862; quoted in Lucy Rial, "Garibaldi, Invention of a Hero", London, 2007, pp. 230–231, p. 430 note 21
^M.Monnier, "Garibaldi. Histoire de la conquete des deux Siciles", Paris, 1861, p. 302; quoted in Rial, op.cit., p. 230, p. 429 note 18
Further readingedit
Basile L. & Morea D., "Lazzari e Scugnizzi", Newton & Compton editori, 1996
Croce B., "Aneddoti e profili settecenteschi", Remo Sandron editore, 1914
Mastriani F., "I Lazzari", Napoli, Attività bibliografica editoriale, 1976
Striano, Enzo: "Il resto di niente"
April 10, 2024
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In the Age of Revolution the Lazzaroni or Lazzari of Naples were the poorest of the lower class Italian lazzaroni or lazzari singular lazzarone in the city and Kingdom of Naples in present day Italy Described as street people under a chief they were often depicted as beggars which some actually were while others subsisted partly by service as messengers porters etc 1 No precise census of them was ever conducted but contemporaries estimated their total number at around 50 000 and they had a significant role in the social and political life of the city and of the kingdom of which Naples was the capital They were prone to act collectively as crowds and mobs and follow the lead of demagogues often proving formidable in periods of civil unrest and revolution Lazzari playing cards 1824Look up lazzarone in Wiktionary the free dictionary Contents 1 Revolutionary period 2 The Lazzaroni and Garibaldi 3 See also 4 References 5 Further readingRevolutionary period editAt the time of the French Revolution the Lazzaroni were staunchly monarchist in their political inclination the diametrical opposite of the contemporary Parisian sans culottes with their sometimes lethal mob violence being directed against supposed republican and Jacobin sympathisers For that reason republicans at the time and later dismissed them as tools of the absolutist government The Lazzaroni were fiercely loyal to the House of Bourbon and specifically to the person of King Ferdinand I who unlike most monarchs of his and other times did not keep an aristocratic distance but liked to mingle among the Lazzaroni and sport with them During the French military campaigns of the late 1790s designed to export the Revolution to Italy as to other parts of Europe the regular Neapolitan troops did not particularly distinguish themselves against the French Army The Lazzaroni to the contrary clamored to be armed and made a valiant effort to defend the city against the French even though the royal family had already fled to Sicily Some sources put as high as 2 000 the number of Lazzaroni who were killed on a single bloody day Though unable to stand in face to face fighting with trained troops a contemporary drawing shows Lazzaroni being mowed down by a volley from French guns their resistance ensured that the Parthenopaean Republic which was established in Naples had no popular base of support and could only rely on the repressive power of the French Army Thus it collapsed when the French needed to shift much of their troops elsewhere in Italy whereupon the Lazzaroni exacted acts of retribution upon that republic s adherents Friedrich Engels wrote about the Neapolitan lumpenproletariat during the repression of the 1848 Revolution in Naples This action of the Neapolitan lumpenproletariat decided the defeat of the revolution Swiss guardsmen Neapolitan soldiers and lazzaroni combined pounced upon the defenders of the barricades 2 The Lazzaroni and Garibaldi editDuring the first decades of the Nineteenth Century the Bourbons gradually lost the support of the Naples Lazzaroni This was fully evident by 1860 when Garibaldi arrived in the city at the climax of his campaign for the unification of Italy As mentioned in many eyewitness reports when entering Naples after the Bourbon King fled Garibaldi received a tumultuous welcome from the Lazzaroni as from other sections of Naples population Journalist Charles Arrivabene wrote at the time Garibaldi was accompanied by a great procession along the seafront to Piedigrotta He was cheered by fishermen and lazzaroni and women shouted May the blessed Virgin be with you Eccellenza 3 Another observer Marc Monnier noted that Garibaldi is a saint for les lazzarones It is God who had sent him to save the country Several call him Jesus Christ and his officers are the apostles Alms are asked in Garibaldi s name 4 See also editLumpenproletariatReferences edit nbsp This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Wood James ed 1907 Lazzaroni The Nuttall Encyclopaedia London and New York Frederick Warne Friedrich Engels 31 May 1848 The Latest Heroic Deed of the House of Bourbon Vol 7 Marxists Internet Archive p 24 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a work ignored help C Arrivabene Italy Under Victor Emmanuel a personal narrative London 1862 quoted in Lucy Rial Garibaldi Invention of a Hero London 2007 pp 230 231 p 430 note 21 M Monnier Garibaldi Histoire de la conquete des deux Siciles Paris 1861 p 302 quoted in Rial op cit p 230 p 429 note 18Further reading editBasile L amp Morea D Lazzari e Scugnizzi Newton amp Compton editori 1996 Croce B Aneddoti e profili settecenteschi Remo Sandron editore 1914 Croce B Curiosita storiche Napoli Ricciardi editore 1919 Dumas A Il Corricolo Colonnese editore Napoli 2004 ISBN 88 87501 58 0 Goethe J W Viaggio in Italia Mondadori editore ISBN 88 04 52334 4 Mastriani F I Lazzari Napoli Attivita bibliografica editoriale 1976 Striano Enzo Il resto di niente Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Lazzaroni Naples amp oldid 1119809527, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
