Unknown to most and merely mentioned in history books, Anna Marsich Bandiera acquires a particular role in the history of the Italian Risorgimento not only for having been the mother of the Bandiera brothers shot in the Vallone di Rovito di Cosenza but also for understanding and knowing the family and historical-social environment of the time.

The quiet life of the Venetian noblewoman, firm in her ideals of loyalty to Austria, is shattered by the madness of her two sons who, exiled in Corfu, pursue ideals of unity and freedom from foreigners.

She will begin her journey through the Italy of the Risorgimento which will always take her incognito up to Cosenza where she will see, alas, Attilio and Emilio on the way to the execution.

Throughout her life she will try to understand the reason why her sons sacrificed themselves until the complex events that shaped the new free and united Italy make her aware that they died not as traitors but as heroes.

Anna Bandiera Marsich (1786-1872) belonged to a noble family from Bosnia, of the boyar class, who, in order not to be subjected to the oppression of the Turks, settled in Ragusa di Dalmazia: a family of officers of the Navy and “honor ac Libertas” was the heraldic motto, who then moved between Arbe and Venice where she was enrolled in the ancient Venetian patriciate.

On 9 January 1808 she married the frigate lieutenant Francesco Bandiera who commanded the “Incorruptible” in Gravosa, from whom they were born,

Attilio Bandiera (Venice, 24 May 1810 – Rovito, 25 July 1844) and Emilio Bandiera (Venice, 20 June 1819 – Rovito Cosenza, 25 July 1844) who were executed by firing squad by Bourbon justice on 25 July 1844 after a failed attempt to raise the local populations of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies against the government of Ferdinand II with a view to the national unification of Italy.

The book “La Baronessa” The mother of the Bandiera brothers, published by Armando Curcio Editore by Thea Magliozzi is nothing more than a flashback of letters, documents and unpublished episodes of her life that are important and captivating for a scholar of Risorgimento history.

“The Baroness is a historical novel with a rapid and incisive style that effectively outlines the protagonist's personality.

Her characters speak for her, through dialogues, whispers, barely murmured words or through the power of silence.”

Francis Rosati – 25/07/2016

Source: Italian Press Agency