Giovanni Passannante
| Giovanni Passannante | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Born |
19 February 1849 Salvia di Lucania, Basilicata
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| Died | 14 February 1910 (aged 60) Montelupo Fiorentino, Tuscany
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| Nationality | Italian |
| Occupation | Cook |
| Criminal penalty | Life imprisonment |
| Criminal status | Dead |
| Conviction(s) | Attempted murder of Umberto I of Italy |
Giovanni Passannante (Italian pronunciation: [dʒoˈvanni ˈpassanˈnantɛ]; February 19, 1849 – February 14, 1910) was an Italian Republican who attempted to assassinate king Umberto I of Italy, the first attempt against Savoy monarchy since its origins. Originally condemned to death, his sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment. The conditions of his imprisonment drove him insane and have been denounced as inhumane.
Born in Salvia di Lucania (Basilicata), from Pasquale and Maria Fiore, he was the younger of ten children, four of whom died in early age. Grew up in a poor family, he was forced to work since a child as a laborer and a guardian of flocks and was able to attend school only for a short time. Later, Passannante moved to Vietri and after to Potenza working as a scullion in an osteria.
He met a captain of the royal army who, noticing the boy's interest for studies, brought Passannante along with him in Salerno and gave him an annuity to allow a higher schooling. Passannante spent his free time reading the Bible and Giuseppe Mazzini's writings, which brought him closer to republican ideas.
Passannante became involved in Mazzinian circles and began to have his first troubles with the law. In a night of May 1870, he was discovered and arrested by police guardians of public safety while posting revolutionary proclamations against monarchies and popes, as well as celebrating the Universal Republic, Mazzini and Giuseppe Garibaldi. After two months in jail, he returned in his hometown, then in Potenza working as a cook. In 1872, he returned in Salerno, continuing his job. In June 1878, Passannante moved to Naples, where he lived from day to day changing various employers.
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