International Encyclopedia of Revolution and Protest

Extract

The Brigantaggio was a social-political peasant rebellion concentrated in southern Italy, organized as a form of social banditry that converged into a movement that was ultimately brutally suppressed by the government by military force. In the report presented to the Italian parliament during a secret session on May 3 and 4, 1863, Giuseppe Massari, president of the parliamentary commission responsible for an investigation into the roots of the brigantaggio, issued a report on the rebellion. Massari's report emphasized the many economic and social reasons that determined the resumption and the consequent diffusion of the banditry, but at the same time it avoided talking about government policies. The report eschewed the responsibilities of the ruling class – those who did not want either to abolish the feudal system or distribute land to peasants. Moreover, the insurrectional movement of peasants against the landowners was cruelly repressed by the newly created “National Anti-peasant Guard.” Together with newly implemented taxes and the imposition of five years of military service, the creation of this National Guard animated the vigorous peasant reaction. This reaction extended everywhere in southern Italy; no village was left untouched by bloody episodes. This reaction, however, was consistent with the banditry that always existed in southern Italy, but never succeeded in creating ... log in or subscribe to read full text