Agerola - Italy

AGEROLA IN THE MIDDLE AGES

The events of Agerola, the decadence of the Roman Empire until the last century are closely linked to the splendor and decadence of the Duchy of Amalfi, which territory was an integral part.

As early as Byzantine times was the center of the Amalfi coast because here were living representatives of the Eastern Empire. When Amalfi became the first and most dynamic maritime republic of the Middle Ages, all the coastal cities entered the orbit of his rule, more for reasons of common defense against the neighboring barbarians, who by force of arms.

Agerola was the larger area, the highest and the most distant and therefore less involved in the political affairs of the great walled cities of the center of the coast. Over the centuries the inhabitants of Agerola have always had a rather difficult, accustomed to fight against all the elements of nature, have always had a great physical vigor and a great pride of character.

In the fifth century they were converted to Christianity and the new faith became part of their nature and their costumes, and like all mountain people, accustomed to the contact with nature, have always retained a deep sense of religious life. They destroyed the shrines dedicated to pagan gods and in all parts of the territory of Agerola rose the churches of the new religion that gave life to a more intense spiritual content.

The coastal cities of developed and populated more and more, the sites of the costs needed timber, workers and local markets were in need of agricultural products and land Agerola had to produce more and more intense: the proximity of markets and so comfortable so close had to revive the economic life of Agerola, because a portion of gold that came on the Coast also went back to Agerola. Several families of Agerola, enriched themselves through trade and other activities and built luxurious mansions, and, among the oldest families of Agerola documents are remembered by the families Sarriano, box, Lantaro, Academic Press, Pulcaro, Amalfitano, Cuomo, Frederick, Imperato, Villani, Count, Coccia, Casanova, Caucella, De Stefano, Coppola, Iovane, Longo, Naclerio, Acampora, Vespolo, Acunto, Avitabile, Brancati, Knight, Farao, Lauritano, Avitrano, Fusco, Eboli, de Rosa, Positano, Rocco Gallo. Many of these families are still in existence, some have emigrated or even extinct.

Agerola as he followed the splendor of the republic of Amalfi had to follow it in the sadness of decay. The Normans who with constancy and courage had made up out of nowhere a large unified kingdom in southern Italy, occupying the coast had granted great privileges to Amalfi because they needed their fleet and the richness of its trade. But instead Amalfi needed her political autonomy for the freedom of their trade and juggle among peoples continually at war, since his business interests did not coincide with the needs of the Norman policy. Aware of this, he tried several times, by force of arms but also with that of despair, to regain its autonomy. It is from this period that we begin to find news of funds cultivated roses in Sorrento, commonly called rosaries. The essence of rose or rose water, produced from Agerola, was particularly appreciated and claimed by aristocrats and courtiers of the court of Naples.

Amalfi, already deprived of its political independence and now begins a slow process of decline, was seriously damaged by a famous storm of 1343, also described in dark colors by Petrarch. The violence of the sea flooded much of the coastline and the coastal town of Amalfi, and destroying ports, warehouses, arsenals and fortifications, he slew the Duchy of Amalfi in its most vital resources. Following the blow received by the violence of nature, the economic prosperity of the Duchy of Amalfi, ecclissò like a bright star in the morning, and the same sea that had created her wealth, forever engulfed in its furious waves.

The large family of shipowners and merchants who were the soul of the great trading power of Amalfi, deprived of the naval bases of their land, emigrated to other cities, and with their disappearance, the Amalfi lost its economic vitality.

The ongoing civil wars, incursions of the Turks, landslides, floods, pestilences, earthquakes did the rest, and so have created a vacuum centuries, in which documents are missing, churches, palaces and monuments, and that little that was saved, represents what is left of a great shipwreck. Everything now is very different and can not really difficult to imagine such a large industry of people in a land fit only the most gentle and relaxing leisure thoughtfully.

The coast from Norman went to the Swabian Emperor Frederick II who always wanted Agerola was preserved in the royal demesne, that is administered directly by their mayors and judges.

The Normans and the Swabians had created the greatest and most glorious monarchy of Italy and, if they had eliminated the local governments, their policy tended to merge their efforts for the sole purpose of creating a great political body capable of exerting a great attraction the rest of the Italian peninsula. The policy of the Norman kings and that of Frederick II and Manfred, in many ways, anticipated the modern conception of politics, both in legislation and, especially, religious toleration and the abolition of all racial issue. Following the example of Amalfi, were maintained excellent relations with the Arab world and this contributed to making safe and prosperous sailing fleet in the southern ports of the Levant. Took advantage of this especially the Amalfi who had centuries of experience in the Eastern trade. This recovery process was interrupted by the defeat and death of Manfred at Benevento in 1266.

After that battle decisively changed the fortunes of the southern kingdom: it was the dawn of the modern era, but just then the coast began to learn the more negative aspects of the Middle Ages.

ANGIOINO PERIOD (1266-1444)

The Angevin period was the most painful for the fate of southern Italy. Were sold and the free cities were infeudati castles and villages, the new lords abused, in every way, the subject population; exorbitant taxes were imposed and severe restrictions on freedom of trade that led to a state of economic decline and moral.

The state of exasperation produced the famous Sicilian Vespers, which broke away in Sicily, which broke away from the southern kingdom of Sicily. The prohibition of trade with Sicily and other Mediterranean regions definitely hit the market on the Amalfi Coast that it drew all the means of its existence. The famous storm of 1343 and so did the rest of the coast were forced to live mostly from fishing and agriculture, an area mostly steep and barren.

The conditions of Agerola ominously resentful of the general and the splendor of the court of Naples could not conceal the tragic state of the southern provinces.

In this period the population of Agerola was greatly diminished and was only reduced to 126 families.

The principles that Angevins infeudavano all, they dismembered the duchy of Amalfi, the lands of Agerola, Pine and Pimonte and donated to Landolfo of Aquino in 1284. To the latter was succeeded by Hugh French of Sully in 1294. But having rejected these, Agerola, by King Charles II, was assigned to Louis Monti. Following King Robert, son and heir of Charles II, the Neapolitan nobleman falconer and Philip, the heir's death he became the first-born son, then his sister Joan. At the time of Joan I, Agerola was again declared the royal demesne of the Duchy of Amalfi and aggregate to which he belonged for centuries. His period of servitude lasted so from 1284 to 1343.

From this time the real protagonists of the story of the bandits were Agerola that sowed terror in the country and across the Amalfi Coast so that endeavored to Agerola the reputation of being inhabited by men of blood and prone to crime.

For the bandits who made life unsafe in any locality, were added to the interminable civil wars between Durazzo and Anjou, by violence and looting, leaving a long legacy of hatred and bloodshed. During the war between the two opposing factions both died, the Durazzo, and Charles is the Anjou, Louis, took the kingdom for which Margaret, widow of Charles. Meanwhile, King Ladislaus, son of Margaret, arrived in Naples, but the situation did not improve.

Many families Agerola Agerola at that time emigrated to Naples where he formed a thriving colony of Agerolesi that were enriched with the trades and who occupied important positions in the court of Naples.

Another family of wealthy merchants Agerola was that of Lantaro. It Lisolo Lantaro (silk merchant), in 1384, lent to Charles II of Durazzo the sum of 514 ounces, and tari14 gr.16. Lisolo was the possessor of feudal property in the wall, in Terra di Lavoro, and was writing to the seat of nobility Portanuova, died in Naples in 1387 and was buried in the church of S. Augustine's Mint where he had built a chapel dedicated to St. Antonio Abate, the patron of his country.

Amalfi while she was always belonged to the royal domain was first granted in fief by King Ladislas in 1398 under the title of duchy in Wenceslas Agerola Sanseverino and followed the fate in vassalage. Thus began the sad feudal period during which the city and the other lands were bled from the taxes imposed by various gentlemen who were followed and that thought only to squander the money extorted from taxpayers. For mali already so considerable created by bad government, they added more and famines and plagues to make irreparable misery.

ARAGONESE-Spanish-AUSTRIAN PERIOD (1444-1734)

During the period of Aragonese rule in the kingdom of Naples there was some economic recovery, but the southern kingdom had a chronic illness, which prevented its development constantly, the barons ever restless, ever discord among themselves and with the king, from which trying to be independent, creating THAT 'isolation was the cause of many misfortunes.

Compared to the previous rulers, the Spanish domination was not one of the worst, and if falsified our costume, continued to swindle money from the now exhausted finances of subjects, secured at least the end of armed conflicts and repressed violence of the factions of barons.

Meanwhile, in the Duchy of Amalfi, in 1438 succeeded to the Sanseverino Raymond Dodge of Orsini, who had married Eleanor of Aragon, aunt of the King of Naples. Her husband had died the regency of the Duke's wife Eleanor in 1458. The Duchess took up residence first at Sunset in a castle which she did expand and beautify and is currently used as a cemetery, then, in 1460, he settled in Amalfi.

Although the duchess had frequently expressed his feelings of loyalty to King Ferdinand of Aragon, his relative, fought in the war against the King Rene of Anjou, however, at the first opportunity, betrayed the king and went to the enemy at war. Agerola, Amalfi, Scala, Conca and Atrani followed the party of the Duchess and Ferdinand are revolted. Sunsets and Ravello are only kept faithful to the King of Aragon. The war was fought with little success to Ferdinand who was defeated in the battle of Sarno, but then received reinforcements from the struggles and Antonio Piccolomini, overcame his rival and retain his kingdom. Nel'occasione of this war of hatred for families, was destroyed in the village of Pine Agerola. The coastal city of rebels were punished in various ways and Eleanor of Aragon lost his duchy by King Ferdinand was awarded to Antonio Piccolomini, who had helped the king in a difficult time with Decree of 24 May 1461.

In January 1493 Antonio Piccolomini died, leaving his son heir to the dukedom Alfonso I, who died three years after leaving his young wife Giovanna d'Aragona pregnant with his son, who was given the name of Alfonso II. This Duchess became famous for his tragic story of love and death that touched all of Europe.

Following the war of Spanish Succession, the Treaty of Rastad in 1714 the kingdom of Naples was assigned to the Austrians who held it until 1734 year that begins the Bourbon rule, while the towns of the Amalfi coast continued their stunted existence under the weight of old and new problems.

Even in the general misery and sadness of the times there were Agerola men honored their country distinguished by nobility of feeling and intellect.

Among the illustrious men of that time remember Andrea Vespolo who was sent as chancellor in 1503 to King Ferdinand the Catholic, Renzo Acampora Agerola of the people he was elected in 1504 and occupied the same post in 1536 Peter de Stefano and Giambattista Fusco In 1544, Alexis Knight was giustiziario family of Charles V.

Originally from Agerola was also the illustrious family that had extensive holdings in Pironti Pianillo and a chapel dedicated to St. Trofimena in S. Martin, Nicholas was born to this family who was the first Duke Pironti Country.

But the most illustrious son of Agerola in this period was Francesco Antonio Porpora. Coming from a family originally of Fury, was born in our country in the year 1583 by the family of civilized and decent condition. As happened a few times and even in those later ones had the opportunity to study fine arts, with much love. Then he began to study civil and canon law under the guidance of the famous jurist James Gall, a native of Praiano. On the death of the great master, Porpora in a very elegant Latin, wrote his life for a viable and lasting manifestation of esteem and affection. After receiving his law degree, the Purple began a brilliant career as a lawyer in the court of Naples and became the most famous among the Neapolitan jurists of the time.

It was already well established and respected forensic art when he felt the irresistible call and passion of the letters, history and archeology, and never abandoned these studies throughout his life. He conceived the design, then fill in << The history civil and ecclesiastical Duchy of Amalfi and its >>.

Having begun her work, she moved from Naples to Agerola in his father's house in the hamlet Pianillo wait for more commitment to his work in peace and quiet of his native country.

But the search of documents in the archives of the coast and the kingdom of Naples and the purchase of books needed those days it cost a lot of work but also a lot of money. The Crimson was not very rich, and began to sacrifice all his possessions, and even debts contracted to continue the work. In the eyes of the good villagers that he wanted very little of history, had certainly looks a fanatic when he sold his property to buy only books and ancient documents.

He was not fond of honors and comforts of life and so, giving up everything to dedicate herself to serving God and in the year 1628 he became a priest. In 1636 he had to go to Rome to be consecrated bishop by Pope Urban VIII and assigned to the headquarters of Montemarano (Avellino).

At his death, the precious manuscript passed into the hands of his nephew in Sorrento which certainly did not understand the great value of that work and when came the terrible plague of 1656, on suspicion of contagion, was burned. Without that act unconscious of what his obscure nephew, now a citizen of Agerola would reveal to historians as the mystery surrounding the history of the Amalfi coast for over three centuries it was the best story of Italy.

But besides a bishop Agerola in that same period had the honor of having given birth to even a cardinal, Bartholomew Brancati. He built a family chapel in S. Maria Manna. Also tied his name to build a large monastery in the village of Campora, entrusted to the order of Discalced Carmelites. The monastery, in the period of the fascist regime was demolished and built on its soil was the former home of the beam. Tradition relates that, in a conclave, only one vote was not elected Pope, and so for that one vote, Agerola Pope has lost a citizen in the glorious history of the Church.

Another citizen of Agerola. Peter De Stefano, in 1547 bought the land in Accadia headed for 12000 ducats by Giambattista Azzia of the Third Marquis. He was elected as one of the governors of the Holy Annunciation House in Naples and he was also elected the people. In 1560 he published a book: << Description of the sacred places of Naples >> which collected many useful information for understanding the churches of Naples.

Biagio was also born in Agerola Avitabile, a talented lawyer practicing in Naples who was the biographer of many academicians and Arcadian poet himself. Biagio was councilor in the island of Capri and the city and wrote a tragi-comedy entitled "Turgone" and had great friendship with many distinguished scholars of his time including Salvino Salvini of Florence, and Domenico De Angelis, wrote several letters that perhaps apologetic for their secular argument, were condemned by the Congregation of the Index.

He was born in Agerola another distinguished poet, Giovanni Acampora, who happily cultivated poetry and published a volume of Poems << choices of many distinguished poets >> Naples in the year 1728. We have him also a speech against the proceedings of the St. Office for the city of Naples.

So Agerola was home to lawyers, writers, historians and poets and great benefactors. Our past is not as obscure as many might believe, and if many documents were not lost, you could record even further the small but valuable contribution that our country has given to civil progress.

Bourbon period (1734-1860)

The Bourbon was probably the best rule of the kingdom of Naples had favorable auspices and with the reign of Charles III, who succeeded happy for the admirable arrangement of the will of the prince with that of his subjects. The Neapolitans from 230 years had never had a king just and stable, had always been ruled by viceroys, often temporary, who had only one basic purpose, to extract money by all means to feed their luxury, and that of the Spanish court . They stopped the ongoing riots, looting of venture companies, the streets were safe return, the legal authority was fully established with more honesty of public servants. Useful reforms were introduced in each branch of government, inspired by the great minister Tanucci that was the soul and mind of that government. The Amalfi coast suffered the beneficial awakening that animated the whole kingdom and its maritime trade had a strong recovery, because the shipping was free from piracy and the endless tax settings that stifled development. It is, in fact, that Charles III built the palace of Caserta and the start of the excavations of Pompeii and Herculaneum.

Agerola Meanwhile, the effect of the Bourbon reforms, economic conditions had changed. There were more exorbitant taxation, brigandage disappeared, chronic disease in the country, the government received only. he never gave anything, but had finally secured the peace and order and the people could more easily devote to their work, and there were only African and earthquakes, mali not attributable to the government.

In Agerola formed a local bourgeoisie that drew great benefits from the industry and the silk trade, drugs and medicines, and the rich merchants of Agerola devolvevano lot of money to the Mount of "marriages" in a chapel adjoining the church of S. Augustine of the Mint of Naples.

The ideas of the French Revolution, through the educated men who lived in Naples, entered in our country. Agerola was the first municipality in the Province to join the democratic constitution of the Neapolitan Republic and the sensitive core of the revolutionary ideals of democratic freedom. Later many agerolesi militated Napoleonic army and lived the heroic atmosphere of those great events, reporting in the country a new desire for freedom.

After the Bourbon restoration in 1815 developed also in Agerola secret societies and was a sale made carbonara with the name of Flavio Gioia of which he was Grand Master of D. John Amatruda, and the most influential member of the Sale was D. Salvatore Avitabile, Lieutenant of the civic.

Carbonaro movement were also part of the local priests: D. Pastor of Pianillo Joseph Naclerio, D. Vincenzo Villani, pastor of Bomerano and D. Melchiorre D'Acampora, pastor of Campora, who had been the promoter of liberal movements during the Neapolitan Republic of 1799. These three pastors were also subjected to a process by the ecclesiastical authorities of the time and whose acts are preserved in the Archiepiscopal Curia of Amalfi.

Occurred when the first movements of the Italian Risorgimento in Naples in 1820, the same year, the Carbonari of Agerola, the walk of weapons, in the Piazza di Bomerano, proclaimed their adherence to the constitution. The Carbonari were persecuted by the Bourbons of Agerola but not stopped the activities of local patriots who spread the country's new national feeling and anxiety for better times.

In those days, the agerolese Antonio De Stefano, he joined the Young Italy << >> pledging to fight for the unity and independence of Italy. Antonio De Stefano in 1848 participated in the revolution of Naples, who tore the Constitution to King Ferdinand II. Later he enlisted in the army taking part in the War of Independence. He returned to his country he was arrested, tried and sentenced to prison on the island of Ventotene. He emerged from jail only when the kingdom of Naples was liberated by the partisans.

But De Stefano, as he had fought against the Bourbons, also fought against the brigands who infested our country and other places of the coast. After the suppression of brigandage, to his great merits was appointed Chief Registrar of the Tribunal of Naples on active duty and after he retired to live in Amalfi, where he was married, honored with awards, for his patriotic merit, enjoyed a pension , collected again by his descendants.

The dominant figure in the history of the last period Agerola Bourbon is, without doubt, the General Paolo Crescenzo Martino Avitabile whose personality has such a great importance not only in local but also national one.

The General Avitabile in 1844 was Agerola detach from the province of Salerno and the aggregate was that of Naples, the capital of the kingdom. So Agerola was administratively separated from the coastal town of Amalfi, with whom she had shared for centuries periods of splendor and decadence. But, for the religious jurisdiction, remained tied to the diocese of Amalfi. The general had also realized that Agerola to improve his fate was out of its geographic isolation. For the sake of his country asked to King Ferdinand II bridge linked to a carriage road Agerola Gragnano, which he was promised after the presentation of the project. But the events of the revolution of 1848 practices were suspended. In fact only in 1873 will open the way for stock-Castellammare Agerola disappear and so the age-old isolation of our country and the new way of communication gave impetus to local activities.

In 1860, after the entrance of Garibaldi's troops in Naples, Agerola was not part of the southern kingdom but the kingdom of Italy.

But our country, like many others in southern Italy, with many difficulties are inserted in the new dispensation of the kingdom of Italy.

The new kingdom soon made his presence felt through Agerola stamp taxes on inheritance and on the ground. The peaceful mountain Bourbon era were neglected, but did not pay taxes and did not know the military draft. But now the tax collector and the police represented the price of freedom obtained, and the mountaineers taxed on their meager resources, reacted with the brigandage that further complicated the situation. After a decade of fighting, banditry was suppressed, but remained in the soul of all a dull resentment against the government, which was regarded as the greatest enemy hidden away. Thus began the sad phenomenon of emigration and hundreds and then thousands of illiterate peasants, driven by poverty and hunger, were gathering in the port of Naples, to America where they were destined for menial labor.

AGEROLA CONFLICT AND THE FIRST WORLD

On 28 June 1914 a Bosnian student murdered the 'heir to the throne of' Austria, the 'Archduke Francis Ferdinand and his wife, as they walked through the streets of Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia. This terrorist attack, became an international incident and set in motion a chain of reactions and counteractions that precipitated the 'Europe in a war of unprecedented proportions. Austria, after a series of preliminary, declared war on Serbia, the spiral of violence quickly spread to other nations.

Italy entered the Second World War in May of 1915, of siding with 'Entente against the Austro-Hungarian Empire until then his ally. The war against Austria was allowed to 'Italy to complete the process of the Risorgimento, bringing home to the Trent and Trieste, but also to help the cause of democracy that we thought would be threatened by the authoritarian empires of Central Europe.

In Trentino in Triveneto everywhere agerolesi soldiers were mobilized in defense of the rights of the Italians. These men were not new to this type of 'business, in fact, September 29, 1911, when the' Italy declared war on Turkey in order to annex the regions of Tripolitania and Cyrenaica, Libya, they participated in the war effort.

The City Council Agerola tried to support the families of their soldiers by donating large sums of money, no compensation but managed to alleviate the 'excruciating pain of the mothers, wives and children who lost their loved ones at the front. The 'June 8, 1916 the City Council in the person of' Don Matteo Coccia mayor honored the fallen soldiers: Vincent Apuzzo, Henry Cuomo, Anthony Acampora, Joseph Iovieno, Louis Apuzzo, Peter Fountain, Giovanni Acampora, Louis Avitabile, Francis Avitabile, Luigi Manzi, Louis Florio, Raphael Cuomo, Salvatore Criscuolo, Matthew Renato Florio. At this commemoration others followed. On July 9 of that year, Agerola mourned the death of the brave Captain Paul Capasso fell on Mount St. Michele in the vicinity of the river Isonzo. On August 15, the brave captain was decorated with a medal 'Gold of Valor.

For honors to the fallen was made the special Civil Committee, which he partly as an animator Rose Knight, a woman rooted patriotism and generous heart.

Selflessness and courage contraddistinsero fighters agerolesi which, by virtue of this, were awarded numerous prizes. Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Naclerio Knight and the soldier Matthew Ruocco received a Silver Medal for Valor in the field, while a reward for Valor was recognized to the sailor Raffaele Esposito, who emigrated to America at age 16 he returned to Italy for the sake of his land and to contribute to the first world war. The 'February 11, 1918, the valiant agerolese participated with Gabriele D'Annunzio to Buccari Escapade, under the command of Commander Costanzo Ciano 30 men aboard three speedboats for more than 80 anti-submarine penetrated chilimetri in the Bay of Buccari, including Austrian coastal defenses and sank. The 'impersa had the' effect of morale of the Italians after the breakthrough at Caporetto.

The end of the conflict and were greeted Agerola deserved victory in the general enthusiasm with religious and civil celebrations. The curtain finally fell on the great war, but fell on the devastation, the deaths and mutilations, because there are only destruction and pain at the end of any armed conflict.