Salvatore Maranzano
| Salvatore Maranzano | |
|---|---|
| Born |
July 31, 1886 Castellammare del Golfo, Sicily, Italy |
| Died | September 10, 1931 (aged 45) Manhattan, New York, United States |
| Nationality | Italian |
| Other names | "Little Caesar" |
| Occupation | Crime boss, mobster |
| Allegiance | Maranzano Crime Family |
Salvatore Maranzano (Italian pronunciation: [salvatore marandzano]) (July 31, 1886 – September 10, 1931) was an organized crime figure from the town of Castellammare del Golfo, Sicily, and an early Cosa Nostra boss who led what later would become the Bonanno crime family in the United States. He instigated the Castellammarese War to seize control of the American Mafia operations and briefly became the Mafia's capo di tutti capi ("boss of all bosses"). He was assassinated by a younger faction led by Charles "Lucky" Luciano, who established a power-sharing arrangement rather than a "boss of bosses" to prevent future turf wars.
As a youngster, Maranzano had wanted to become a priest and even studied to become one, but later became associated with the Mafia in his homeland. Maranzano had a very commanding presence and was greatly respected by his underworld peers. He had a fascination with Julius Caesar and the Roman Empire, and enjoyed talking to his less-educated American Mafia counterparts about these subjects. Because of this, he was nicknamed "Little Caesar" by his underworld peers.
Maranzano emigrated to the United States soon after World War I, settling in Brooklyn. While building a legitimate business as a real estate broker, he also maintained a growing bootlegging business, using the real estate company as a front for his illegal operations. Soon, Maranzano got involved in prostitution and the illegal smuggling of narcotics; he also became a mentor to a young Joseph Bonanno and promoted him to become his underboss.
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