Conspiracy Of Macchia
Noble Uprising Conspiracy
CLASSIFICATION: Unsolved Homicide
LOCATION
Naples, Italy
TIME PERIOD
1701
VICTIMS
1 confirmed
In September 1701, a three-day uprising known as the Conspiracy of Macchia occurred in Naples, following the ascension of Philip V, the first Bourbon monarch of Spain, which sparked tensions amid the War of the Spanish Succession. Key figures involved included Neapolitan nobles such as Gaetano Gambacorta, Prince of Macchia, and other conspirators like Don Carlo di Sangro and Tiberio Carafa, who sought to replace the Spanish viceroy, Luis Francisco de la Cerda, with Habsburg leadership. The uprising began on September 21, 1701, but quickly lost momentum as the local populace showed little support, recalling past betrayals by the nobility. By the third day, the revolt was effectively quelled, leading to the death of Giuseppe Capece during his escape, and the conspirators' failure to achieve their objectives against the viceroy's superior forces. The current status reflects a complete suppression of the uprising, with no significant changes in governance following the incident.
The Neapolitan nobles believed that by overthrowing the Spanish viceroy, they could restore Habsburg rule and potentially increase their own power within the kingdom. There was a strong distaste for the Spanish viceroy, Luis Francisco de la Cerda, which fueled their desire for rebellion. Additionally, some theorized that the involvement of Italian mercenaries and the hopes of military support from the Habsburgs indicated a broader plan to re-establish Habsburg influence in Italy.
The Conspiracy of Macchia: A Three-Day Rebellion
In the vibrant city of Naples, the year 1701 marked the onset of a bold and short-lived uprising known as the Conspiracy of Macchia. This rebellion unfolded in the shadow of a significant European power shift—the ascension of the first Bourbon monarch, Philip V, to the Spanish throne. The event sparked the War of the Spanish Succession, creating a tumultuous backdrop for the Neapolitan nobles' audacious attempt to wrest control from the Spanish viceroy. Their objective? To install an Austrian Habsburg on the throne instead.
The Brewing Storm
The death of Charles II of Spain left a power vacuum that the Neapolitan aristocracy was keen to fill. Unwilling to pledge their loyalty to the Bourbon King, Philip V, several noble families conspired to transfer power to a king from the Austrian Habsburg lineage, specifically eyeing Leopold I's family. Their motivations were not entirely altruistic, as some among them harbored ambitions of increasing their own influence and power. Furthermore, the Spanish viceroy, Luis Francisco de la Cerda, Duke of Medinaceli, was unpopular among the nobility, adding fuel to the conspiratorial fire.
The Austrian monarchy, sensing an opportunity, released two Italian mercenaries to Italy—Giovanni Carafa della Spina and Giuseppe Capece, the brother of the Marchese di Rofrano. They were joined by Don Carlo di Sangro, the Prince of Sansevero. These men were soon accompanied by Gaetano Gambacorta, the Prince of Macchia, who had been leading Neapolitan troops in Catalonia under the Spanish flag. Under the guise of attending to family matters, Gambacorta made his way to Rome by 1701.
The Plan Unfolds
In Rome, the Prince of Macchia sought the support of Prince Eugene of Savoy, hoping to rally troops allied with the Habsburgs to his cause. However, the Duke of Medinaceli, ever watchful, caught wind of the plot through his network of spies and promptly barred foreign entry into Naples. Despite this setback, the conspirators pressed on. In Naples, Gambacorta, along with the Prince of Chiusano, Tiberio Carafa, and Giuseppe Carafa, joined forces with the Princes of Caserta and Riccia.
September 21, 1701, saw these nobles take to the streets, rallying support for the Habsburg Archduke Charles, the second son of Leopold, as their preferred monarch for Naples. They marched into the lower-class district of Mercato, only to be met with skepticism. The local populace, recalling the 1647 Masaniello-led revolt against the Spanish Habsburgs—a movement the nobility had largely ignored—questioned why they should now support the nobles' cause.
The Rebellion Fizzles
The conspirators did manage to garner some support, enough to storm the Vicaria jail and secure a few neighborhoods like San Pietro a Majella and Mercatella. However, Gambacorta made a critical misstep by forbidding the looting of private homes. The decision sapped the fervor of his followers, many of whom lost interest in the cause.
By the third day, the rebellion was crumbling under the weight of the viceroy's superior artillery. Giuseppe Capece met his end while attempting to escape. Carlo De Sangro was captured and executed. Gambacorta, however, managed to flee to Vienna. Though he survived, his estates were confiscated, and he succumbed to illness a few years later.
The Aftermath
What seemed a doomed endeavor—a rebellion without the promised Austrian military support—did have a peculiar twist. Twelve years later, the Austrian rule over Naples manifested, albeit briefly, following the Peace of Utrecht in 1713, which granted control of Naples to the Habsburg emperor Charles VI. However, by 1734, the tides turned once more as the future Charles III of Spain's armies reclaimed the territory, eventually passing it to Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies.
Sources
- [Treccani Encyclopedia, entry of Congiura di Macchia by Michelangelo Schipa, 1934.]
- [Napoligrafia entry.]
- [Dell'istoria del Regno di Napoli e suo governo dalla decadenza dell'Imperio ... By Nicola Vivenzio, page 259-160.]
- [Naples Under Spanish Dominion: The Carafas of Maddaloni and Masaniello, Alfred de Reumont, 1853, translated from German, George Bell and Sons, Covent Garden, London, page 416-417.]
- [Storia della congiura del principe di Macchia e della occupazione fatta dalle Armi Austriache del Regno di Napoli Nel 1707, Volume 1, by Angelo Granito (principe di Belmonte), Stamperia dell'Iride, Napoli 1861.]
For more detailed accounts and references, visit the Wikipedia page.
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Uprising Begins
Neapolitan nobles initiate a revolt against Spanish viceroy, calling for Habsburg Archduke Charles to be King of Naples.
Initial Successes
Conspirators capture the jail at Vicaria and gain control of neighborhoods near San Pietro a Majella.
Revolt Fizzles
The uprising collapses under the superior artillery of the Viceroy; key conspirators face dire consequences.
Key Arrests
Carlo De Sangro is captured and executed; Giuseppe Capece is killed while fleeing.
Gambacorta Flees
Gaetano Gambacorta escapes to Vienna, but loses all his estates and dies from illness shortly after.
Austrian Rule Established
The Peace of Utrecht grants the rule of Naples to Habsburg emperor Charles VI.
Spanish Reconquest
Charles III of Spain's armies reconquer Naples, ending Habsburg rule.
In September 1701, a three-day uprising known as the Conspiracy of Macchia occurred in Naples, following the ascension of Philip V, the first Bourbon monarch of Spain, which sparked tensions amid the War of the Spanish Succession. Key figures involved included Neapolitan nobles such as Gaetano Gambacorta, Prince of Macchia, and other conspirators like Don Carlo di Sangro and Tiberio Carafa, who sought to replace the Spanish viceroy, Luis Francisco de la Cerda, with Habsburg leadership. The uprising began on September 21, 1701, but quickly lost momentum as the local populace showed little support, recalling past betrayals by the nobility. By the third day, the revolt was effectively quelled, leading to the death of Giuseppe Capece during his escape, and the conspirators' failure to achieve their objectives against the viceroy's superior forces. The current status reflects a complete suppression of the uprising, with no significant changes in governance following the incident.
The Neapolitan nobles believed that by overthrowing the Spanish viceroy, they could restore Habsburg rule and potentially increase their own power within the kingdom. There was a strong distaste for the Spanish viceroy, Luis Francisco de la Cerda, which fueled their desire for rebellion. Additionally, some theorized that the involvement of Italian mercenaries and the hopes of military support from the Habsburgs indicated a broader plan to re-establish Habsburg influence in Italy.
The Conspiracy of Macchia: A Three-Day Rebellion
In the vibrant city of Naples, the year 1701 marked the onset of a bold and short-lived uprising known as the Conspiracy of Macchia. This rebellion unfolded in the shadow of a significant European power shift—the ascension of the first Bourbon monarch, Philip V, to the Spanish throne. The event sparked the War of the Spanish Succession, creating a tumultuous backdrop for the Neapolitan nobles' audacious attempt to wrest control from the Spanish viceroy. Their objective? To install an Austrian Habsburg on the throne instead.
The Brewing Storm
The death of Charles II of Spain left a power vacuum that the Neapolitan aristocracy was keen to fill. Unwilling to pledge their loyalty to the Bourbon King, Philip V, several noble families conspired to transfer power to a king from the Austrian Habsburg lineage, specifically eyeing Leopold I's family. Their motivations were not entirely altruistic, as some among them harbored ambitions of increasing their own influence and power. Furthermore, the Spanish viceroy, Luis Francisco de la Cerda, Duke of Medinaceli, was unpopular among the nobility, adding fuel to the conspiratorial fire.
The Austrian monarchy, sensing an opportunity, released two Italian mercenaries to Italy—Giovanni Carafa della Spina and Giuseppe Capece, the brother of the Marchese di Rofrano. They were joined by Don Carlo di Sangro, the Prince of Sansevero. These men were soon accompanied by Gaetano Gambacorta, the Prince of Macchia, who had been leading Neapolitan troops in Catalonia under the Spanish flag. Under the guise of attending to family matters, Gambacorta made his way to Rome by 1701.
The Plan Unfolds
In Rome, the Prince of Macchia sought the support of Prince Eugene of Savoy, hoping to rally troops allied with the Habsburgs to his cause. However, the Duke of Medinaceli, ever watchful, caught wind of the plot through his network of spies and promptly barred foreign entry into Naples. Despite this setback, the conspirators pressed on. In Naples, Gambacorta, along with the Prince of Chiusano, Tiberio Carafa, and Giuseppe Carafa, joined forces with the Princes of Caserta and Riccia.
September 21, 1701, saw these nobles take to the streets, rallying support for the Habsburg Archduke Charles, the second son of Leopold, as their preferred monarch for Naples. They marched into the lower-class district of Mercato, only to be met with skepticism. The local populace, recalling the 1647 Masaniello-led revolt against the Spanish Habsburgs—a movement the nobility had largely ignored—questioned why they should now support the nobles' cause.
The Rebellion Fizzles
The conspirators did manage to garner some support, enough to storm the Vicaria jail and secure a few neighborhoods like San Pietro a Majella and Mercatella. However, Gambacorta made a critical misstep by forbidding the looting of private homes. The decision sapped the fervor of his followers, many of whom lost interest in the cause.
By the third day, the rebellion was crumbling under the weight of the viceroy's superior artillery. Giuseppe Capece met his end while attempting to escape. Carlo De Sangro was captured and executed. Gambacorta, however, managed to flee to Vienna. Though he survived, his estates were confiscated, and he succumbed to illness a few years later.
The Aftermath
What seemed a doomed endeavor—a rebellion without the promised Austrian military support—did have a peculiar twist. Twelve years later, the Austrian rule over Naples manifested, albeit briefly, following the Peace of Utrecht in 1713, which granted control of Naples to the Habsburg emperor Charles VI. However, by 1734, the tides turned once more as the future Charles III of Spain's armies reclaimed the territory, eventually passing it to Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies.
Sources
- [Treccani Encyclopedia, entry of Congiura di Macchia by Michelangelo Schipa, 1934.]
- [Napoligrafia entry.]
- [Dell'istoria del Regno di Napoli e suo governo dalla decadenza dell'Imperio ... By Nicola Vivenzio, page 259-160.]
- [Naples Under Spanish Dominion: The Carafas of Maddaloni and Masaniello, Alfred de Reumont, 1853, translated from German, George Bell and Sons, Covent Garden, London, page 416-417.]
- [Storia della congiura del principe di Macchia e della occupazione fatta dalle Armi Austriache del Regno di Napoli Nel 1707, Volume 1, by Angelo Granito (principe di Belmonte), Stamperia dell'Iride, Napoli 1861.]
For more detailed accounts and references, visit the Wikipedia page.
No Recent News
No recent news articles found for this case. Check back later for updates.
No Evidence Submitted
No evidence found for this case. Be the first to submit evidence in the comments below.
Join the discussion
Loading comments...
Uprising Begins
Neapolitan nobles initiate a revolt against Spanish viceroy, calling for Habsburg Archduke Charles to be King of Naples.
Initial Successes
Conspirators capture the jail at Vicaria and gain control of neighborhoods near San Pietro a Majella.
Revolt Fizzles
The uprising collapses under the superior artillery of the Viceroy; key conspirators face dire consequences.
Key Arrests
Carlo De Sangro is captured and executed; Giuseppe Capece is killed while fleeing.
Gambacorta Flees
Gaetano Gambacorta escapes to Vienna, but loses all his estates and dies from illness shortly after.
Austrian Rule Established
The Peace of Utrecht grants the rule of Naples to Habsburg emperor Charles VI.
Spanish Reconquest
Charles III of Spain's armies reconquer Naples, ending Habsburg rule.