Fabrizio Dionigi Ruffo was an Italian cardinal and politician, who led the popular anti-Jacobin Sanfedismo movement.
Altamura is a town and comune of Apulia, in southern Italy. It is located on one of the hills of the Murge plateau in the Metropolitan City of Bari, 45 kilometres southwest of Bari, close to the border with Basilicata. As of 2017, its population amounts to 70,595 inhabitants.
Sanfedismo was a popular anti-Jacobin movement, organized by Fabrizio Cardinal Ruffo, which mobilized peasants of the Kingdom of Naples against the pro-French Parthenopaean Republic in 1799, its aims culminating in the restoration of the Monarchy under Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies. Its full name was the Army of Holy Faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, and its members were called Sanfedisti.
Vincenzo Russo was an Italian patriot, who was a leading supporter of the short-lived Parthenopean Republic. Captured by the Sanfedista forces, he was soon executed along with many other rebels of the Bourbon rule of Ferdinand IV of Naples.
Ettore Carafa d'Andria, the Count of Ruvo was an Italian soldier and republican patriot, executed after the fall of the Parthenopean Republic. His courage, idealism, and resolute optimism created in Ettore an image of the Italian martyr for following generations involved in the struggle for more democratic structures and an Italian nation.
The Epitaph of Altamura is a monument located in Altamura, Southern Italy. According to historian Ottavio Serena, it was erected right after the visit in city, on 8 April 1807, of Joseph Bonaparte, who had just become king of Naples. According to more recent hypotheses, this monument was instead built in the year 1797, right after the visit of the kings Ferdinand IV and Maria Carolina of Austria in the city of Altamura. The commemorative monument is located in largo Epitaffio. Although traditionally named epitaph, it is not a funerary inscription but instead a commemorative monument.
Pulo di Altamura is a doline located on the Murge plateau. It is the largest doline in that region and it is located about 6 kilometers (3.7 mi) north-west of the city of Altamura. It shares the local toponym pulo with other large dolines of the region, i.e. Pulicchio di Gravina, Pulo di Molfetta and Pulicchio di Toritto.
Luca de Samuele Cagnazzi was an Italian archdeacon, scientist, mathematician, political economist. He also wrote a book about pedagogy and invented the tonograph.
Tommaso Fiore was an Italian meridionalist writer and a socialist intellectual and politician. He is known for his attention and his descriptions and studies on the inhumane conditions of Southern Italian and often specifically Apulian peasants at that time. He is also known for his Viareggio Prize-winning book Un popolo di formiche. In the 1920s, he was appointed as mayor of his hometown Altamura. During the twenty-year period of the Italian Fascist era, he strenuously opposed the regime before being sent into internal exile in 1942 and then being jailed in 1943.
Gioacchino de Gemmis was a Catholic bishop, archpriest, prelate and rector of the University of Altamura. He's best known for his role in the so-called Altamuran Revolution (1799), advocating peace and helping the refugees, who had fled Altamura after the battle with the Sanfedisti, to be allowed in Terlizzi.
Vitangelo Bisceglia was an Italian botanist, agronomist and professor. He taught inside the University of Altamura. Because of his being a polymath, he's been described as "an encyclopedic spirit, the honor of the Muses".
The University of Altamura was a former university located in Altamura, Apulia, Kingdom of Naples. It was established in Altamura in 1747 by Charles III of Bourbon, following the idea of the archpriest of Altamura Cathedral Marcello Papiniano Cusani. It was officially closed in 1812, mainly due to the lack of funds, even though some documents kept inside library Archivio capitolare in Altamura show that professors continued to teach until 1821.
Ottavio Serena was an Italian politician, judge, prefect and historian. He is known in his hometown Altamura for his works about local history, such as the Altamuran Revolution (1799). His contribution and the testimonies he collected allowed to shed light on some historical events (such as the killing of Giovanni Firrao and on legendary toponyms.
Piazza del Duomo is the main square of the city of Altamura, Italy. It is located in the center of the historic city center, as well as in the middle of the main street of the city, that is corso Federico II di Svevia. Moreover, Altamura Cathedral, the main church of the city, is located on the square. It is also known because the Tree of Liberty was planted in this square during the so-called Altamuran Revolution (1799).
Onorato Candiota was an Italian professor of philosophy and math at the Real Convitto di Bari, in Bari, Italy. He lived between the 18th and 19th centuries. The exact dates and places of birth and death are currently unknown, even though it is known that he was from Altamura, Italy. He's best known for his participation in the so-called Altamuran Revolution (1799). He died short after 1808.
Francesco Maria Bovio was an Italian lawyer, judge and professor. He is best known for being the grandfather of Italian philosopher Giovanni Bovio (1837-1903). He also fought for the Parthenopean Republic (1799) during the Altamuran Revolution (1799).
Porta Bari, previously called Porta de Bari, was one of the main gates of the city of Altamura, before the city walls of the city were torn down over the 19th century. Similarly to most European cities, the city walls were torn down, because the new technology and military techniques employed starting from the 19th century made them useless for defense purposes.
Domenico Sacchinelli was an abbot of the Catholic Church. He is best known for having followed and helped Fabrizio Ruffo and the Sanfedisti army to restore the Kingdom of Naples and the Bourbon dynasty, after the short-lived Parthenopean Republic (1799). In 1836, after a few decades, he published his memoirs of that period, titled Memorie storiche sulla vita del cardinale Fabrizio Ruffo.
Porta Matera was one of the main gates of the old city of Altamura. They were part of the City Walls of Altamura, which were completely demolished during the nineteenth century since they had become useless for defence purposes. The gate itself was demolished in 1872. The monastery Monastero del Soccorso is located on the left side of the gate, while on the right some ruins of the city walls can be seen, presumably saved from destruction because of the bas-relief depicting "Pipino's leg".
Giuseppe de Samuele Cagnazzi (1763-1837) was an Italian politician of the Kingdom of Naples. He was an inspector and director of the customs department of the Kingdom of Naples. He was the elder brother of Italian scientist and economist Luca de Samuele Cagnazzi.
