FRANCESCO
MATARAZZO
In 1848, with the rank of major, Matarazzo commanded a batallion
of Neapolitan volunteers sent to aid the Piedmontese who were fighting against
the Austrians.
He then served under
General Durando who commanded the pontifical troops at Vicenza. He participated
in the defense of Venice, but once the city capitulated went into exile in
Persia.
There the Sha gave him responsibility for reorganizing his army, and conferred
on him the rank of General. Upon returning to Italy at the outbreak of the
first war of independence, Matarazzo joined the piedmontese army with the
rank of Colonel.
In 1860, he was named commander of the district of Novara and, in the following
year, of the Province of Capitanata. In 1862, he received the prestigious
command of the Piazza of Naples. In 1871, for his military merit, he was named
a Major General.
GIUSEPPE
MAJONE
After some years in the seminary of Nicastro, Majone pursued studies
in Catanzaro and Naples, where he earned his degree in law in 1832.
After practicing law for a number of years, he returned to Sambiase and
was named a district vice-magistrate. He took part in the revolutionary
committee of Sambiase at the side of G. Maria Cataldi. Majone was arrested
twice, along with other compatriots from Sambiase, and locked in the prison
of Crotone. He participated in the battle of Angitola in 1848 and in Garibaldi's
uprising of 1860. During the ensuing plebiscite, Majone played a role of
mediator since many from Sambiase refused to vote for the annexation by
king Victor Emmanuel II.
GIOVANNI
NICOTERA
Barely 20, he took part in the insurrection of 1848 under his uncle Benedetto
Musolino, and distinguished himself in the battle of Angitola. In 1857 he
participated with Carlo Pisacane in Sapri's unhappy expedition. He was sentenced
to the penitentiary and locked in the prison of Favignata. When freed, he
was a protagonist in Garibaldi's movement, participating in the latter's 1867
attempt to take Rome. After the Kingdom of Italy was proclaimed, Nicotera
was elected a deputy in the first parliament. Later he was Minister of the
interior in the De Pretis government (1876) and in Rudini's first government.
GIOVANNI
MARIA CATALDI
He was head
of the revolutionary committee of Sambiase in 1848, and participated under
the command of General Francesco Stocco in the battle of Angitola against
the Bourbon army commanded by General Nunziante. Cataldi was sentenced to
25 years in irons, later commuted to eight years of confinement on the island
of Ventotene. Having served his sentence, he participated in the campaign
of the Thousand in 1860, with the rank of captain, leading a contingent of
Lamezian patriots as far as Campania.
