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People, & History of the Family
The Pepe Family lost their title of Prince of
Naples in 1483, when Flaviano Pepe
(dissident and revolutionary) was ex-communicated by Pope Sisto IV.
The Pepe Family left a noteworthy mark in the Italian history, therefore
it is important and timely to list some of their more honored
representatives..
Legendary news and stories are known of: Antonio, Amerigo,
Raimondo, Giuliano and Giovanni Pepe. From the year 800 until 1000
their dominion held many feudal strongholds and territories in the
regions of Abruzzo and Marche; very capable and cruel commanders such as
Antonio and his brother, Amerigo Pepe, who conquered and set up many
small feudal strongholds. In that time period, also noted are Raimondo,
Giuliano and his brother, Giovanni Pepe, that gave their protection to
those territories and feudal strongholds in their dominion, increasing
commercial exchange, agriculture, and administering justice in a correct
and impeccable manner.
Also famous was Taddeo Pepe, who
placed
Bologna under his territory; and equally
famous was his hatred toward the Tettalasini Family until 1202, from
which was derived fight memorabilia from 1242-1274.
In the XIV century we note Flaviano
Pepe, rebel and revolutionary, always suspected of insurrection and
conspiracy, who was ex-communicated by Pope Sisto IV in 1483.
Also in the XIV century, we find Giovanni Pepe, son of Romeo,
and brother to the famous Taddeo, who uprooted and propagated a branch
of the family in
Sicily.
From 683, the Pepe Family participated
in the history of
Naples and her outskirts, contributing much
to nobility and institutional duties, giving shine and honor to the
Family. Many reigns passed through this provincial Byzantine, headed by
a Duke. The Pepe Family has always been present, participating in the
history of Naples e Italy, receiving distinguished titles and power in
exchange of their work. In 1078 the Duke had to renounce all of its
territory, except for
Naples, to Ruggiero D’Altavilla, first King
of
Sicily and unifier of the southern
territories. The Pepe family, even then participated in this public
affair, thanks to their past fame and nobility, receiving glory and
honor (as did the principality)
We also note other Family members such
as Cesare and Stefano Pepe circa 1450, as well as Giovan Battista Pepe,
magistrate and criminal court speaker in Genova in 1602.
Unknown are the name of the Squillacese people, who could have
aided the Neapolitan conspiracy, but they undoubtedly belong to the anti
Spanish families, such as the Pepe family (always suspected of
rebellion), the Rhodio Family, historically aligned with the anti
Spanish political party, who in turn were aligned against them.
As a matter of fact, in the city and
the diocese, the other failed conspiracy of the Dominican between
Tommaso Pignatelli of 1634, in which directly involved is citizen Anton
Maria Pepe, brother of the well-known Father Stefano Dei Teatini,
excited by the burning and patriotic meetings at the Minerva di Roma,
with Campanella, not to mention a mysterious theft of silver in the
cathedral in 1633, with the killing of the canonic treasury, sparks the
most conspicuous families as well as the people, split between the
factions of the Pepe and Giuliano Families, who will meet in a battle to
the death for 50 years, from 1607 to the end of 1657.
Florestano Pepe, of Squillace (Catanzaro) 1778-1831. General of great
prestige serving the Neapolitan republic. He fought in
Spain for Giuseppe Bonaparte and for Murat,
making himself admired for his courage and his tactical intuition. In
1812 he participated in the shipping out of the Neapolitan army to
Russia. Upon his return, he was sent to the
region of Abruzzo to suppress a dangerous revolutionary movement. In
1815 he distinguished himself while combating against the Austrians, for
which at the start of the war against the enemy, he was nominated Chief
Head of State (1821).
Gabriele Pepe, patriot, military, and Italian author (Civitacampomarano,
Campobasso 1779-1849). Entered the Neapolitan army in 1791, fought
against the French, but in 1799 adhered to the
Partenopea
Republic, battling against his defense, for
which he was compelled to take shelter in
France. Having enrolled in the Italian
legion formed in
Grenoble, he fought with Napoleon at Marengo
(1800), serving thereafter under Giuseppe Bonaparte and G. Murat in 1806
and distinguished himself in the Spanish campaign, and then in the
campaign of 1815. Liberal deputy during the revolution of 1820, he
participated in the battle of Rieti (1821), and thereafter decorated in
Moravia. In 1823, he obtained permission to
stay in Florence; he made ties with an anthology group, and acquired
great fame for having launched himself in a duel with Lamartine, at that
time Secretary of the French league in Tuscany, which in the last steps
of Aroldo’s pilgrimage he defined the Italians contemporary “de la
poussiere humaine” (February 1826) He returned to Naples in 1836,
during the revolution of 1848, and was elected deputy. He was charged
with the duty of General of the National Guard.
Guglielmo Pepe, Italian General and patriot (Squillace, Catanzaro, 1783;
Torino 1855). Brother of Florestano, after having attended the
Nunziatella, fought in 1799 in the rows of the militia of the Partenopea
republic. Having been imprisoned and exiled, he fought with Napoleon at
Marengo (1800) in the Italian Legion. In 1803 he returned to
Naples, was once again arrested for his
antiborbonic activity. He was released from captivity with the arrival
of the French (1806), fought in
Calabria against insurgents, then again in
Spain (1811), and in the region of Campagna
in 1815. He was Commander of the 3rd military division
(1818) during the Restoration. When the revolution exploded in 1820, he
adhered to the liberal movement determining it’s initial success. He
was made Supreme Commander of the constitutional army and fought in
Rieti (1821) against the Austrians, but after having been defeated he
was once again asked to leave, first to England and then to France. In
this public period he had a series of writings, among which: “L’Italia
Militare” (1839), in which he sustained
the opportunity to return to the partisan wars to liberate the
country; “L’Italia Politica” and his relationships with France and
England (1839, anonymous and written in French); “Memorie” about his
life and the recent causes in Italy (1847, first published in English in
1846). He returned to Naples in March, 1848; obtained from Ferdinando
II the Comand of the army corps, which would have had to bring fighting
in the region of Veneto against the Austrians, but which was instead
retreated by the King the day after the 15th of March. But
Pepe did not
obey, and he went to Venezia with the few divisions that had remained
loyal to him. Once in the lagoon city on the 13th of June,
he was nominated Supreme Comander of the troops on June 16th
which defended the republic. When
Venice fell in August of 1849, after a
period of exile in
Corfu` and
Paris, he went to the region of
Piedmont where he lived his last years. Very
interesting are his memories of the 3-year revolutionary, published in
Torino in 1850 (“Casi D’Italia in the years
1847, 1848, 1849
Bibliography
Registry and historical archives; Collection of Mercandetti; Collection
of Mattei; Historial Archives Araldici; Encyclopedia of Historical
Nobility of Italy Volume V, Vittorio Spreti & Arnaldo Fomi editors;
General Theatre of the Family R. Di Sicilia; Historical Archives
Araldico Studio; Archives Consulta Araldica golden book of the Italian
nobility Volumes II and III. All references are based on a transitory
disposition, and as such, can only be utilized according to article N.15
of the Italian Constitution.
Reference to the Historic Araldica is used in conformance of Law.633/41
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