MAYNO, the BANDIT of MARENGO

By Liliana Angela Angeleri

Joseph Mayno of Spinetta (suburb of Alexandria, Italy), the bandit of Marengo, is a thief who has made a name for itself in the first half of the nineteenth century. He gave a hard time to the French authorities, occupying the Piedmont in the name of "freedom" revolutionary, and which the powerful at the time (not excluding Napoleon Bonaparte) often solicited the help, if not the alliance. A gentleman bandit, with many gestures of humanity, it is also a gangster joker. Some of his shots played the authorities have remained famous. A folk hero, and as such can die. The fields of his exploits are Piedmont, Genoa and Lombardy.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Liliana Angela Angeleri
• Release date: Aug 10, 2015
• ISBN: 9786050404791

Book preview

Farm

MAYNO, THE BANDIT OF MARENGO - Screenplay

Projectline

M A Y N O, 

the

b a n d i t

of

Marengo

PROJECTline  FOR TV MOVIE or VERY LONG FEATURE FILM

(History, 1790-1806-biographical)

Audiovisual

The wish for freedom, love for his woman, avenge the abuses. PLACES THE MUSIC AND LOCAL HISTORY ...

LOG LINE In a tavern, Mayno insolences undergo a lieutenant. Must escape. Returned three years later. Steals from the rich to help the poor. A gentleman bandit.  

Copyright Registration Receipt ID # DEP634764820257778750

HISTORICAL

BACKROUND

In 1790 Joseph Mayno enters the Episcopal Seminary in Alexandria to become, perhaps, a priest in the reign Piedmont Savoy.

In 1796 he was forced to leave the seminary to become a soldier and fight against the French.

The French domination is, in the countryside, very oppressive and taxes are too high, the rebellion is on.

Joseph Mayno distributes a lot of money to the poor and assists the needy people who come to him for protection against the foreign ruler.

ENVIRONMENTAL HISTORY 

Piedmont is already annexed to France and the trees of liberty have already been planted in the squares of the largest municipalities, while the troops liberating, like all foreign invaders pillaged the countryside, violate the girls, destroy crops, requisition animals farmers already reduced to a minimum of subsistence by the frequent famines and war. They are the worst of misfortunes for more offend the religious sentiments and traditions to which the rural population is devout.

The well-fed bourgeoisie joins, in large part, to the French ideas, including some clergy democratic. The common people suffered in the flesh the new form of oppression and French masters, not at all better than the previous ones, have the opportunity to see the glaring contradiction between the words of freedom and equality, preached by the Jacobins and the reality of the facts.

In the Alessandria area, as elsewhere in the region, some popular sayings point out this:

"Liberté, égalité fraternité / i an Carosa France / and Lisandren to pé.

Liberté, égalité fraternity / your wife to me give it to me!

Liberté, égalité fraternity / undress yourself, dress me. "

This song is sung by farmers bitter campaign Alexandrian, at the end of the eighteenth century the French troops invaded the lands, destroyed and looted. The advent of a much-desired egalitarian revolution, robbery and injustice shuts down even more serious than those of the old regime Savoy.

The starving peasants certainly do not tolerate the spectacle offered by the invaders. In Fraschetta of Alexandria, as in other parts of the Piedmont, the anti-French hatred rages so indirectly proportional to hunger and oppression of the liberators.

The farmers, led by many priests..... break down in many places the tree of freedom imposed by occupiers and local Jacobins, the cry of tree without roots, without a head cap, idiots are those who have not made the party.

In 1799, the municipalities of Fraschetta Alexandrian, from Pozzolo Formigaro, Mandrogne, Spinetta, Frugarolo, Castellazzo until Strevi, Acqui, when they vote on the plebiscite for annexation of France, rebelled and deserted the vote. Oviglio, Sezzadio and Castelferro arise. 

CONTENTS

1 BIBLE

2 THE CONCEPT

3 BRIEF SYNOPSIS

4 SUMMARY OF THE THREE TIMES

B I B B I A

1 - GIUSEPPE MAYNO (of Spinetta)

- Child of seven or eight years old, slender, dark hair and eyes, handsome features.

- Sixteen years old, tall, normal build, dark hair and eyes, beautiful face.

- Twenty, beautiful, athletic man, hair and dark eyes, beautiful face, personality

very charismatic.

2 - CRISTINA FERRARIS (Wife of Joseph Mayno)

- Sixteen years old, beautiful and fresh as a flower of rose, of medium height and build, hair and eyes

dark.

- Nineteen years, increases its beauty.

3 - GENERAL DESPINOY (Commander of the French police in the district of Alexandria).

Middle-aged, tall. On the drive aspect, gaunt and absolute modes. He always wears the same dress resigned whose odor is heard from afar.

4 - PAOLO FERRARIS (Brother of Cristina, Secretary of Mayno).

About twenty-five years old, tall and medium build, black hair and brown eyes and dark.

5 - GEROLAMA mother of Christine and Paul

Woman still beautiful middle-aged, gray-streaked hair, brown eyes. Of average height and build.

6 - JOHN THE BAPTIST Ferraris, father of Christine and Paul

Handsome man of middle age. Gray hair, dark eyes. Of average height and build.

OTHER CHARACTERS

THE CONCEPT

Joseph Mayno of Spinetta (suburb of Alexandria, Italy), the bandit of Marengo, is a thief who has made a name for itself in the first half of the nineteenth century. He gave a hard time to the French authorities, occupying the Piedmont in the name of freedom revolutionary, and which the powerful at the time (not excluding Napoleon Bonaparte) often solicited the help, if not the alliance. A gentleman bandit, with many gestures of humanity, it is also a gangster joker. Some of his shots played the authorities have remained famous. A folk hero, and as such can die. The fields of his exploits are Piedmont, Genoa and Lombardy. 

   GIUSEPPE MAYNO (of Spinetta). Born in Marengo in 1784, the son of a carter.

He studied with profit. All hope and also believe, to have the vocation to become a priest.

At sixteen he is tall and beautiful, with dark hair and eyes. After a few years, the government forces, even seminarian’s military service. In a tavern, Mayno insolences undergo a second lieutenant. He hides and reappears after three years.

Twenty years after his body is very athletic. Having spent the years of hiding in the band of James, an outlaw Calabria, goes into hiding in 1803, after her marriage to Christina Ferraris for breaking the ban on the use of firearms, imposed by the occupying French. Become a fierce leader of a band (200 men on foot and 40 on horseback, the majority fleeing from enrollment in the army forced Napoleon), which gives quite a hard time to the Imperial Gendarmerie.

Steals from the rich to help the poor. His exploits the reckless earn the nickname Terror Department des au deal des Apes are some historical shots as blatant aggression Saliceti to the Minister, the Commissioner of the Napoleonic government in January Milhaud and the convoy of Pope Pius VII, who was in Paris for the coronation of Napoleon (1804).

Skilled in disguises and mock the French gendarmes, Mayno comes and goes and goes incognito under the noses of the police, with the help and connivance of the rural population, which interprets attachment to the traditional order (Throne and Altar) against foreign oppression and against the war.

With naive controversy with Bonaparte (with whom she has a secret meeting in Milan), Mayno calls himself King of Marengo and Emperor of the Alps.

The wife does not want to follow him in secret hideouts in the mountains, so Mayno is forced, at night, to visit her in Spinetta. Blessed with a spy caught in an ambush while on a visit to his wife Cristina, on the night of April 12, 1806.

His body, riddled and disfigured by a saber, is exposed for twelve hours on stage in Piazza Grande, in Alexandria.

Avenger of wrongs and robberies suffered by the civilian population, is the Passator kind of Piedmont.

His exploits are legendary and have now entered the data subject in novels, popular dramas and scripts for animation theater (puppets).

SYNOPSIS

The background in which is located Mayno and his band is the violent years that followed the French Revolution that bring the ideas of freedom but also theft, oppression, impositions, rape, vandalism.

The ideas of progress are not seen, the farmers see the plundering of their lands and their homes.

The fierce hatred is ably managed by a conservative nobles and priests.

The legend has made Mayno a likeable hero, a champion of chivalry and generosity. G. Hills in Monferrato, Italy, ed. Vitality, 1971, p.127 defines a criminal. His generosity to the poor does not redeem his crimes, nor makes them forget. Although if he left the house to wear the hated uniform of the French army, it is equally true that he was a patriot without ideals, only prone to robbery and murder. Death in battle saved him from the gallows and gave wings to the imagination of his legend.

According Viganò, Mayno is not a vulgar robber, but a hero victim of his fate that seeks to play the role of a knight generous protector of the poor, the unfortunate, the weak.

The popular admiration for this bandit did protagonist, for more than a century, countless presentations of puppetry in all of northern Italy.

In drama and variety in Piedmont, in 1972 he staged the musical comedy: Mayn chief of brigands Mesturino-Asterella-Lupica theater Grass of Turin in 1975, the play cloak and boots knife Alberto Gozzi and Nico Orengo, interpreted by Gipo Farassino, directed by Massimo Scaglione.

As is evident, we are faced with Joseph Mayno a criminal for the authorities (state and local) for a hero to the peasant society and popular culture. This is the typical situation that reveals the social bandit, the exponent of a primitive form of social protection organized, generally expression (such as Robin Hood, the Passatore, the Andalusian Diego Corrientes, the Carpathian Juro Janosik) of a traditional agrarian society, type of pre-capitalist, pre-industrial and pre-political.

When he was born the legend of Mayno? Perhaps the novel by Viganò (1845).

Many people think, however, that the legend of heroism and generosity of Mayno was formed, when he was still living in the wake of the fury exceptional audacity of some of its businesses, such as the attack on the car of the minister Saliceti and that of the papal convoy in 1804.

FIRST TIME 

Year 1793 - The King Vittorio Amedeo III ordered a forced conscription in Piedmont, Joseph also Mayno, Spinetta, a village near Alexandria, priest at the seminary and intended to take orders, he enlisted and assigned based in Tortona. Many consider it, until then, a model student, speak French, know Latin, science, literature, and a little 'philosophy. Desirous of novelty, Mayno willingly accepts the new state. Be a good soldier and, as for courage, but little loving discipline. For beautiful eyes of the daughter of an innkeeper, harassed by a cadet from him beaten to duty, he was arrested. During the transfer, walk from Tortona in Alexandria, flees and is declared a deserter. For two years no one has heard from him. With the French occupation, Joseph returns to being a free man. Found friends, is already in love with Cristina Ferraris who insists on taking in marriage despite his young age. Cristina is 16 years old and Joseph has 20, the day of the wedding: February 19, 1803. The evening of the wedding, friends and relatives are invited to the farm for large empty glasses, throwing confetti, and at the end of the banquet, the dance in the yard. The friends pull shots and launch rockets. At that time there is an order to hand over all weapons. Some old gun is hidden for hunting and defense against thieves. The lieutenant, whom he wounded, hates him to death, and knows of the wedding party. Order to cease fire with guns. Joseph, altered from too much wine, not intimate friends to cease fire. The police involved. There are more injuries among cops that among the locals. The groom, family and friends escape to the mountains between Genoa and Novi. Mayno thus becomes a bandit, cruel but cultured, good administrator and organizer, builds a structure constantly working in order to provide each member with a width and equity. The Para-military organization with iron discipline, consisting of very specific rules, on which the charge and honors, promotions and punishments are known in advance to all. The members of the band live in caves in the event of capture, all the family would have the best assistance. Education is compulsory: all the bandits must learn to read and write. There is an offer to the bandits to present itself to the courts. He offers to pay for having minor penalties and the possibility of returning to civilian life. Mayno warning and remain in hiding. Many people swear to stay with him. Mayno swears in front of her, in a mutual pact of solidarity and undertakes to protect his followers. Exposes a few rules of coexistence: daily exercise in the use of weapons: remove the goods from the rich, without physical violence, protection and assistance to the poor, the weak and the unhappy, prohibition to disclose information about members and their shelters. Establishing the court and the administrative office, with functions of government: Prime Minister Paul is the brother of Christina, tailor, farmer, expert imitator of any signature and handwriting. Replaces his boss where he cannot go. Stephen Barberis is lieutenant. Luigi, the loved brother of Cristina, is promoted to head of the cavalry. Mayno leads her to the oath in a large natural cave with double opening, in the vicinity of Alexandria. His refuge is at the top of a hill, which overlooks the sea and where there are a number of caves, one of which is underground. There establishes the slots, the arsenal and offices. The camp is organized as a fortress. Have guard duty and service orders: the morning start groups in all directions and in the evening they come back with ammunition, firearms, clothing, money, newspapers and news. The band becomes large. There are 200 people on foot and 40 on horseback, divided into various parts, like an army. Mayno military is making clothes in Alexandria. The men of Joseph may be exchanged for regular troops and a tailor packages uniforms, tailored for many bandits. Are considered the most elegant, most of the French, compared to only Hussars Murat. Paolo Ferraris knows all the characters of calligraphic art and draw false passports English, French, Spanish for brigands in their trip to Genoa, Livorno, Milan, London and Paris, where they go to look for information, to learn the languages and manners to live and trade. With megalomania, Mayno is defined in the Alps Emperor and King of Marengo. Comes to possess considerable wealth, higher than that of many principles and its influence extends beyond the Piedmont.

SECOND TIME

Come spring, housing can be hospitable for women and allows his to lead the wives and brides. Almost all men allow themselves to be convinced by them or they kidnap, except Cristina. Mayno has informants everywhere, well paid and unexpected, even into the palace of justice. The inns of Formigaro, Sezzadio, Bosco Marengo, the farms of Casalcermelli, always provide a refuge, a meal and useful. Unexpected change jewelers jewelry stolen, I estimate the value of the stones and think to place them conveniently on the market. Mayno, like any art lover can recognize and assess an important piece. After the battle of Marengo, the rubble and the ruins of the walls of Alexandria, have created caves hidden in weeds that become a safe haven for men Mayno for their trade in the city. With the flavor of mockery, November 30, 1803, a well-known and wealthy gentleman Alexandrian publicly boast not to fear Mayno, so that would not accept requests for money. Our bandit point in their pride, reacts organizing the kidnapping of eleven year old son (takes place at night, with great regard for the kid). The teenager is transported into the camp of the caves, located at the head and begins the banquet which becomes the little despot. All are racing to amuse him. Give him a sword, a gun discharged, a big hat, his pipe. he baby enjoys playing the bandits. On the same day, the man living at Alessandria has received a letter with the notice of the amount to be paid for redemption. The letter ends with the phrase: We protest robbers, thieves and murderers ... The sum is paid. The guy comes back, with great regret, at home, safe and sound.

In November of the following year, 1804, Pope Pius VII must go to Paris to crown Napoleon Emperor, with the crown of Charlemagne. Mayno, disguised as a French officer, police believe is the Pope who have been victims of marauding bandits Marengo. With a clever maneuver, a group of his bandits, arrives with a crash on the road where there are wagons from valuable content. The gendarmes of the Pope fled into the forest and fellow Mayno, emptying the contents all banks. This action causes uproar in Paris. The maximum of the masterpieces of the bandit was against Saliceti, a course which enjoys the full favor of Napoleon, Minister and Commissioner of the executive power in the Republic of Genoa. Traveling by coach through the Piedmont to Paris, accompanied by his secretary and the January Milhaud. Mayno know in advance the path and, with trusted men, waiting for the car. Stop the carriage, Mayno opens the door and, with the more polite manners, greets Minister and informs him that he needs money and invites him to come down. With each other about the band disarm and immobilize the general and the secretary. Mayno can see the ring on her finger Saliceti door and asked him to remove it. Willow informs him that he is a dear memory of a Genoese lady, Mayno returns, with cavalry, to the owner. Free, however, the general of the ribbon of the Legion of Honor that the appointment on his chest. Returns the state documents, but it retains considerable loot from the astronomical value, for that time, including cash and silver. (August 14, 1805 between Spinetta and Pozzolo).Mayno not separate most of the Légion d'Honneur, until his death, which opens up many important ports. Increases, however, the fury with which the French, mocked, engage in his capture and the end of the policy Saliceti that cannot avoid the ridiculous.

THIRD TIME

With these and other good shots and the antics that accompany them, creating the legend of the bandit gentleman: its ranks swell of deserters, draft evaders and to all those who cannot tolerate the abuses of the occupation troops , often aided by the clergy, who does not like the French occupants, guilty of having nailed the doors of churches and monasteries.

The populace believes that Mayno has made a pact with the devil, eludes every ambush, ridicules the authorities fail to capture it, even raising the size: it is said that he crossed the

Broni country, riding with his hussars and that regular soldiers, deployed on both sides, have not even fired a shot. The momentum of hellish ride them paralyzed. Joseph, however, may not be clear: it bother you his woman, willing to risk persecution and prison rather than leave his humble home of Spinetta. He, with great danger, goes to visit her in the house. Even in caves and mountain huts, Cristina could enjoy more comfort. In order not to undermine the prestige of her man, after much persuasion, Cristina finally agrees to follow him for a few days in the mountains, where he was received like a queen. Joseph prepares for her in those caves, a small apartment that was very comfortable. Nothing can replace the heart of the woman's house Spinetta. More in love than ever, makes every attempt to keep her with him. This leads, in a carriage in Milan, where he attended the Teatro alla Scala and the representations of the operas he loves very much. Are admired for the elegance of their clothing. In those days, at Monza, the emperor meets Mayno that with Cristina, is in that city. Napoleon asks the delivery of bandwidth for which there would be no mercy in return, offers him a free pass to go anywhere, with the property and family. Mayno rejects with indignation (the interview is heard by some