Let's take it back dramatic story ofFrench occupation of Ortona, between the end of 1798 and the beginning of 99.
The anti-republican riots
the premium riots anti-republican riots took place between January 31st and February 1st. The first agitators were six, according to the testimony of Goodman of the BocacheFilippo la Fazia, a craftsman from San Vito, who arrived in Ortona on January 31st to stir things up; the apothecary Pasquale Torrese, originally from Canosa but who had lived in Ortona for years; the countryman Vincenzo Rapino; the notary Vincenzo Recchini; the student Gaetano Gianvito; and the cleric Tommaso Cieri.
Spontaneous riots
The first riots had a completely different character spontaneous, only La Fazia probably already had similar experiences. Coincidentally, some prominent Republican figures were in Ortona. Luis Pecul, a French commissioner both at Fortress of Pescara, was in Ortona in search of wine and food; with him was a Jacobin from Pescara, Cristofaro Basile. For other reasons, two men were in the city Giacobini From Vasto, Filippo Tambelli and Paolo Codagnone. The latter, heading for Pescara by sea, had landed in Ortona due to adverse winds. Alterisio Magnarapa, a young man from Ortona who acted as an interpreter for the French, was instead captured and taken to prison.
The Sanfedists are coming
The night of February 1st passed peacefully but the following day, around 11,30, several people arrived at Porta Caldari hundreds of Sanfedists, perhaps a thousand. About 300 were from S.Vito and the surrounding area, led by Filippo la Fazia, then there were those from Frisa, about 400 led by Coladamo Colacioppa; there were also Sanfedists from Fossacesia, Rocca, Guardiagrele, and from Caldari, according to the chronicler De Chiara. The people of Ortona were worried by this mass of troublemakers, and the facts would soon prove them right.
Ortona put to fire and sword
They were brought to the public square seven cannons for the celebrations of the capture of Ortona, all organised by Lieutenant Morelli aided by a certain Charles Di PietroThe situation worsened when the rumour spread that the cannon cartridges were being prepared by a traitorous Jacobin, and the people rose up and attacked the town hall, arrested Di Pietro, destroyed the town hall's papers and the building itself was reduced to almost nothing. rubble.
Historical losses
It was a very serious loss under the historical profile. A fire was lit in the square, and Ortona kingdom anarchy complete, and this contributed to the Ortona reaction against this sort of "coup d'etat" brought by foreigners. Above all, according to Bocache, pride in its own history, since documents prior to 1584, including registers, have been lost. Federicians and AragoneseBut before that, the Sanfedists continued to rampage through the city, taking from prison the two knights who had presided over the cannon ceremony that morning, who were massacred in the square and subsequently set on fire. The same thing happened to Codagnone del VastoHe was even prevented from confessing and was shot and then burned. The violence was so terrible that we avoid recalling it in detail.
The fake letter
The facts proceeded to great speedOn the night between the 2nd and 3rd, Ortona's most responsible men gathered to take measures to ensure that the city would not be left at the mercy of the senseless violence of foreigners. The idea was simple, yet both ingenious and risky. On the morning of the 3rd, a letter from the leader of the people was delivered. Pronio, respected and recognized by the Sanfedists, who said he was leaving Ortona to head towards Ripa Teatina, without further massacres. The letter was fakeFortunately, the "sleight of hand" succeeded without arousing suspicion, and the Sanfedists abandoned Ortona, taking with them Pecul and Magnarapa, the only survivors from the previous day. Pecul, however, was later executed in Guardiagrele—so much so that the city was later burned down in retaliation by Commander Coutard—while Magnarapa managed to escape and disappear.
The figure of Armidoro De Sanctis
Armidoro De Sanctis is the figure that emerges at this point, dictating the new course for OrtonaWisely, he convened a general assembly of citizens in the church of San Francesco. This way, decisions would be made by everyone, in a sort of temporary democracy. It was decided to manage the city among the "villagers," repelling both the invading French and the destructive Sanfedists. Baron De Sanctis organized the defense of Ortona. barricades Near the walls, to prevent the influx of foreigners into the city in any way possible, the four gates were barred: the two of Santa Caterina and Caldari were bolted, the others on the embankment, the Marina or Carmine and the San Giacomo or Santa Maria gates. The roads were destroyed to prevent the passage of cannons from Pescara and Chieti.
The French retake Ortona
Le But there was little ammunition, and emissaries were sent to Barletta to purchase rifles and cannons. Meanwhile, the French army had organized itself from the fortress of Pescara, led by Luis Coutard with 2000 men, who left on February 17th towards Ortona, arriving the following day. After the people of Ortona initially, and with great courage, managed to repel the French assault, a few days later the city was taken and the villagers had to surrender. Coutard was unable to prevent the troops from taking revenge against the people of Ortona, and the most important prey of the sack was once again the Cathedral of St. Thomas: the head was detached from the torso of the saint's silver, and the church itself was set on fire.
The long-term consequences
Il 20 February everything was over, the troops left for Lanciano and the living prisoners were transferred to Pescara or, worse, shot. The people of Ortona had shown great courage in defending the city, however this had proved useless and the destruction it had brought would have heavy social and economic repercussions for the next few decades.
