CARACCIOLO

Perhaps the oldest of the Neapolitan noble families. Its history in Naples dates back to the 8th or 9th century. For the most part its members are noteworthy for their loyalty to the rulers of Naples and to the Church. Outstanding figures include Sergianni, or Giovanni (d. Naples, 1431), who fought under King Ladislaus of Naples in 1411 and became the seneschal of his successor, Joanna II. Out of favor and then returned to power, he oppressed the nobles and acted arrogantly toward the queen. He was murdered, probably at her orders. Giovanni (b. 1487; d. Susa, 1550) was a general in Florence in 1529, then marshal of Kings Francis I and Henry II of France. Galeazzo (b. Naples, 1517; d. Geneva, 1586), a nephew of Pope paul iv, was influenced by the new religious teachings and in 1551 became a follower of Calvin in Geneva, where he remained. Domenico (b. in Spain, 1715;d. Naples, 1789) was educated at the Caracciolo College in Naples. After brief diplomatic experiences in Florence and Paris, he represented Naples at Turin (1754–64). Advanced to the major courts of London (1764–71) and Paris (1771–81), he was well liked and praised by the French. In 1781 he was appointed viceroy of Sicily, where his reforms were the finest work of his career, according to Croce. In 1786 he was recalled to be the chief minister in Naples, an office he held until his death. Francesco (b. Naples, 1752; d. Naples, 1799) obtained naval experience by serving on a British ship, fighting the pirates of North Africa, participating in the Battle of Toulon, and commanding a Neapolitan ship that supported the English blockade of the French coast (1795). When Ferdinand IV and Maria Carolina fled from Naples to Sicily at the approach of the French army, December 1798, Francesco commanded one of the ships, Nelson the other. In January, Francesco obtained permission to return to Naples, where he joined the Republicans. During Cardinal Fabrizio ruffo's siege of Naples in June, Francesco escaped from the city but was captured and turned over to Nelson by the cardinal. He was tried and hanged on board ship, and his body was thrown into the sea, June 29, 1799.

The cardinals in the family (the first date given being that of their cardinalate) included Bernardo (1244; d.1255) and the Dominican theologian Nicolò (1378; d.1389). Marino (1535; d. 1538) represented the Duke of Milan at Lateran Council V (1515) and later Pope leo x, first at Augsburg (1518), then at Worms (1521). During Pope clement vii's pontificate he favored a league with Emperor charles v against King Francis I of France. Charles V appointed him governor of Milan in 1536. Innico (1667; d. 1685) was an energetic archbishop of Naples. His nephew Innico (1715; d. 1730) spent 33 years as bishop of Aversa. Nicolò (1715; d. 1728) was nuncio to Florence and vicegerent of Rome. Giovanni Costanzo (1759; d. 1780) was a member of several congregations in Rome. Diego Innico (1800; d. 1820) accompanied Pope pius vi into exile and remained with him until he died. He negotiated a concordat with Naples in 1818.

Landolf (d. 1351) was a distinguished Franciscan theologian. The Augustinian Giacomo (d. 1357) was a philosopher, theologian, and preacher. Roberto (d. 1495), a Franciscan Conventual, was perhaps the greatest preacher of the school of bernardine of siena. St. Francis Caracciolo (d. 1608) founded the Congregation of Clerks Minor Regular (Caracciolini) in 1588.

Bibliography: f. de'pietri, Cronologia della famiglia Caracciolo (Naples 1605). g. moroni, Dizionario de erudizione storicoecclesiastica, 103 v. in 53 (Venice 1840–61) 9:231–235. p. litta, Famiglie celebri italiane, 11 v. (Milan 1819–99); 2d ser., 78 fasc. (Turin 1902–23), fasc. 6. m. sagliocco, Compendio delle virtù del cardinale I. Caracciolo già vescovo d'Aversa (Rome 1738). b. croce, Uomini e cose della vecchia Italia, 2 ser. (Bari 1927), ser. 1, 143–182; ser. 2, 83–112. m. schipa, Nel regno di Ferdinando IV Borbone (Florence 1938) 77–323. h. m. acton, The Bourbons of Naples, 1734–1825 (New York 1958) 92–94, 198–206, 364–366, 398–401. g. fussenegger et al., Lexikon für Theologie und Kirche, ed. j. hofer and k. rahner, 10 v. (2d, new ed. Freiburg 1957–65) 2:933–934.

[m. l. shay]