A Tapestry of Kings,
Fools, and Traitors
The Formation and Fall
of the Parthenon Republic
of Naples in 1799
Part II:
The Honorable Surrender of Republican Naples
by Robert Fletcher, USA
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On 16 June Cardinal Ruffo sent word to the Republican commander of the New Castle that he wished to parley. Ruffo ringed the castle with cannons as Massa requested first to speak with the French commander Mejean in the Castle of Sant’Elmo. On the 17th Ruffo consented for talks to include Mejean and negotiate the New Castle’s surrender. The negotiated surrender was not conducted and approved just by Ruffo, but also subject to approval of General Micheroux, the Turkish Commander, the Russian Commander, and the British representative, Captain Edward James Foote, commander of the HMS Seahorse and the British Commander on Procida island in the bay. The treaty stipulated for the surrender of all fortresses held by French and Republican forces. In return, the French were to be transported to France and the Republicans were to be given the option of going to France or remaining in Naples under amnesty. Mejean also stipulated a cessation of military hostilities and an armistice to last three weeks. The threat of a possible French fleet aided Ruffo and the allies to agree to the generous conditions. With the city now pacified, the Republicans began releasing prisoners they held, and started to turn the Egg Castle and New Castle over to Ruffo’s men. The Parthenopean Republic had officially ceased existence with the signing of the treaty. But in the bay, the full British fleet arrived under Admiral Nelson and with him Sir William and Emma Hamilton. Intrigue And Dishonor, Death To The RepublicansNelson was furious with Captain Foote over the treaty and his approval. On June 24, Nelson made his intentions known to Ruffo that he considered the signed treaty invalid. Lord Hamilton communicated with Ruffo about Nelson’s disagreement. Ruffo disagreed with Nelson and went aboard Nelson’s ship, the HMS Foudroyant to discuss the treaty. Nelson received Ruffo and accused him of collaborating with the Republicans. Ruffo told Nelson that the treaty stood and that he would not cause the fortresses to be turned over without the treaty being respected. After departing the ship, Ruffo ordered his forces away from the forts in fear that Nelson would order a bombardment of them from the ships causing injury to his men. With the tension between the land and sea commanders, the Lazzari once again began to loot Naples. Admiral Nelson then agreed to respect the surrender conditions, allowing the Republicans, who wanted to embark for France on ships in port to prepare. Mejean, during all this, remained in Castle of Sant’Elmo. On 28 June, Nelson received communications from Palermo and prevented the French and Republicans departure. Ruffo again protested as Nelson again decided that the treaty was void. Cardinal Ruffo sent note to Nelson, that his famous image was being tarnished and his military honor destroyed. Meanwhile Ruffo issued orders that no one was to be arrested without his express orders. Nelson again accused Ruffo of being a collaborator. Ruffo feeling outraged and dishonored tried to resign his position, sending note to King Ferdinand of the reasons why. In the city with Ruffo’s loss of authority and stimulated by the British, a hunt for Republicans started. Republicans, who had believed themselves pardoned were then massacred or arrested. Those on the ships awaiting transport were for the most part arrested other than a few escapees. On 29 June, Admiral Nelson took personal part in the bloodshed by ordering the arrest and trial of former Admiral Francesco Caracciolo. A military tribunal was set up with British and Bourbon officers and a trial was held on HMS Minerva condemning Caracciolo to death. He was hung and his body weighted and thrown into the Bay of Naples supposedly witnessed by Nelson and a gleeful Emma Hamilton. Caracciolo’s corpse later floated to the surface and was given Christian burial. The Neapolitan Jacobins suffering was not yet at end. In Castle Sant’Elmo, Commandant Mejean, negotiated with Nelson’s representatives finally reaching agreement on 11 July to allow the French garrison to surrender with honors and allow their departure to France after turning over the fortress. Also included in the capitulation was the surrender of Capua and Gaeta, but with the stipulation that all Neapolitan Republicans were to be turned over to the Bourbons. The French commander had betrayed the Neapolitans as well. The Aftermath, RevengeOn July 10, King Ferdinand IV returned to Naples, remaining on the ship with Nelson. With the King were members of a special court and a list of those who were to be tried and found guilty. The Court was to judge “all who held public or military office in the Republic, those who raised a tree of liberty, and those who by gesture, words, or comportment offended the sacred person of the king” with death. For lesser offenses, “those who showed any support or sympathy for the Republic, or who participated in minor office or Republican debate”, the sentence was either imprisonment (in the Galleys or prison) or exile, with loss of all properties. The Bourbon special court prosecuted eight thousand men, women, and children, sentencing one thousand four hundred to death or prison. King Ferdinand decided to return to Palermo and upon his arrival was welcomed as a triumphant hero. Admiral Nelson was made the Duke of Bronte and given a feudal impoverished villa and property in Sicily. Cardinal Ruffo was given new titles, lands, and made General of the Armies, a position he never practiced. For the Neapolitan Republicans, the executioner started in mid-July, erecting a scaffold in Piazza Mercato that stood until the last sentenced Jacobin a woman, Luisa Sanfelice, was decapitated 11 September 1800. Mejean and the French forces departed by ship, Mejean was later tried at a French army court martial and relieved of his rank until a later reinstatement under Napoleon. In an aftermath, the Roman Republic was next to fall, but with different results for those surrendering. The Bourbons invaded in August 1799 commanded by General Boucard. General Pierre Garnier, the French commander in Rome, held out until 27 September negotiating a surrender treaty with military honors and transportation of his entire command, French, Roman and Neapolitan Republicans to France. The last French fortress in Ancona, commanded by General Monnier held out in Ancona until he obtained a similar satisfactory agreement and surrendered 13 November, 1799. All French and Republicans being provided transportation to France. Naples TodayIn Naples today, both proponents of Monarchist and Republican views remember Admiral Nelson as a villain. Emman Hamilton remembered as Nelson’s mistress. French General Championnet is highly respected for his integrity and honor. Admiral Francesco Caracciolo is remembered as a Neapolitan hero and the principal maritime street of Naples is named for him. Descendants of the Neapolitan Lazzari still protest in the streets against the government and social conditions daily, though riots are less frequent though not unheard of. The Parthenopean republic is remembered by Italian historians as an incident of foreign interference, which led to a cruel civil war, heroes and villains on both sides. Visiting Naples of 1799 fame is still possible and may take a few days to see the areas remaining. The Porta Capuano is still standing, site of the bloodiest fighting. Nearby the Castel Capuano is still in use as a court as it was then, sentencing Republicans to death and exile. The Egg Castle, New Castle, and Saint Elmo Castles can be visited, a prison cell in the Egg castle attests to its 1799 prisoners. Ferdinand’s Royal palace is open, though noted more for Murat’s contributions. The Piazza Plebiscito, site of the Tree of Liberty and the death of Ferdinand’s messenger. The theater at Piazza Municipio was first of Republican sway, now called the Teatro Mercadante. The Carmine castle is in ruins, but the Republican martyrs are entombed in the Church of the Carmine, nearby is the Piazza Mercato, where most Republicans were hung or decapitated. The Maddalena bridge and Fortino Vigliena survive only in memory, Maddalena as a street. Hamilton’s (Nelsons) house, Palazzo Sessa is still standing but not much remembered by those nearby. BibliographySouvenirs du General Championnet, 1856, Paris
Part IA Tapestry of Kings, Fools, and Traitors Formation and Fall of the Parthenon Republic of Naples in 1799
Naples Declares War on Rome A Neapolitan Solution To Take The City Of Naples The Parthenopean Republic of Naples Internal Problems in The Republic Back to Table of Contents -- First Empire #65 Back to First Empire List of Issues Back to MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 2002 by First Empire. This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com |