Biography Fabrizio Ruffo
when in december 1798 french troops advanced on naples, ruffo fled palermo royal family. chosen head royalist movement in calabria, family, though impoverished debt, exercised large feudal powers. named vicar-general on 25 january 1800. on 8 february landed @ la cortona small following, , began raise so-called army of faith in association michele pezza, fra diavolo , , other brigand leaders. backed russian fleet of admiral ushakov, ruffo had no difficulty in upsetting parthenopean republican government established french, , june had advanced naples. possibly exceeding authority, promised neapolitan republicans immunity reprisals , obtained surrender in june, 1799. in meantime rear-admiral horatio nelson appeared fleet; called cardinal task leniency, , revoked terms of surrender. republicans, asserted, had surrendered under terms unclear. 1 of main republican figures, former admiral francesco caracciolo, ignominiously executed on 30 june, , widespread reprisals , executions of other republican sympathizers in naples followed.
the campaign gave rise controversy among nineteenth-century historians. ruffo appears have lost favor king showing tendency spare republicans. resigned vicar-generalship prince of cassero, , during second french occupation , reigns of joseph bonaparte , joachim murat lived quietly in naples. notice taken of him napoleon, never held important post. after restoration of bourbons received favor. during revolutionary troubles of 1822 consulted king, , in office short time loyalist minister.
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