Bava-Beccaris massacre

Bava-Beccaris massacre
Barricades of the rioters and intervention of the military, Milan 1898 (Photo: Luca Comerio)
Location	Milan, Italy
Date	6–10 May 1898
Target	Demonstrators against rising food prices
Attack type	Massacre
Deaths	According to the government, there were 80 killed, as well as two soldiers, and 450 wounded. The opposition claimed 400 dead and more than 2,000 injured people.
Perpetrators	Government troops
Motive	Repression of food price demonstrations and riots after a steep increase of wheat prices

Coordinates: 45°28′4″N 9°12′25″E / 45.46778°N 9.20694°E / 45.46778; 9.20694

The Bava-Beccaris massacre, named after the Italian General Fiorenzo Bava-Beccaris, refers to the repression of widespread food riots in Milan, Italy, on 6–10 May 1898. In Italy the suppression of these demonstrations is also known as Fatti di Maggio (Events of May) or I moti di Milano del 1898 (the Milan riots of 1898). At least 80 demonstrators were killed, as well as two soldiers, and 450 wounded, according to government sources.

The overreaction of the military led to the demise of Di Rudini and his government in July 1898 and created a constitutional crisis, strengthening the opposition. The events of May marked a height of popular discontent with government, the military and the monarchy.

In 1897 the wheat harvest in Italy was substantially lower than the years before; it fell from on average 3.5 million tons in 1891–95 to 2.4 million tons that year. Moreover, import of American grain was more expensive due to the Spanish–American War in 1898. Wheat prices in Milan increased from 225 lire a tonne to 330 lire a tonne in April 1898.

In order to try to diminish the rising prices the government of Antonio Di Rudinì was urged to abolish the duty on imported wheat. In January 1898 the tariff was lowered from 75 lire a tonne to 50 lire, but this was generally considered to be too little and too late. Street demonstrations demanding "bread and work" began in the South of Italy, which already had seen widespread revolts by the Fasci Siciliani in 1893–94. In towns like Bari and Naples rioting could be suppressed, while Florence was controlled by demonstrators for a whole day. The situation escalated when demonstrators were shot by nervous policemen, and rioting increased.