Angelo Duca

Angelo Duca (1760-1784) was an Italian bandit born in San Gregorio Magno. His parent were believed to be tenant farmers, and by twenty he had acquired a small plot of his own. The local duke, Francesco Carraciolo, who took umbrage at the younger Duca, and began harassing his family. Eventually, Duca shot and killed a horse of the Duke's, and an injunction was placed on his belongings and property. As Benedetto Croce said (who was the first to research his life): "public opinion was not wrong in considering him unjustly persecuted."[1]

Duca joined the ranks of notorious local brigand Tommaso Freda to escape his legal quagmire. After Freda was killed for his bounty, Duca took leadership of the bandits. Duca was nicknamed "little angel" (angelolillo), as he was reputed to never kill and never extort from those without the means to pay. Duca was also noted for his egalitarian manner of loot distribution. He and his company operated in and around Basilicata.

Duca became a folk hero, with much lore abounding of his noble and peaceable methods; one legend involved a bishop en route to Naples. When Duca inquired as to his loot, he said he had 1000 gold lira. Duca took half, saying he could sustain on the rest, and sent him of his way. Much of the lore also portrayed Duca as a Robin Hood-esque figure, divvying loot with poor peasants and forcing reductions in staple prices. He became known as "King of the Countryside". He was also known for flamboyant costume, and had sparkling vestments made for his company. Duca was protected or at least condoned by the rural peasantry, and heralded as a folk hero.

In 1784, one of Duca's men betrayed him for the enormous bounty on his head; he took refuge in the monastery of Muro Lullo. Soldiers then set fire to place in order to flush Duca out. After a companion was captured, his claims that Duca has died were believed. The hunt stopped until a local boy discovered Duca hiding nearby in an aqueduct.

The bandits were extradited to Salerno, where many volunteered to defend Duca at trial. The King of Naples, however, decreed that owing to his dangerous status Duca be hung without trial. He was hung and quartered that year, with memento mori being publicly exhibited throughout the countryside.[2]