Fernando Ruggi d’Aragona and Abbot Conforti

Also in Salerno, in 1799, came the time of the Republic. After the arrival of the French in Naples and the escape of the Bourbons in Palermo, protected by the English, was proclaimed the Neapolitan Republic, that of Mario Pagano, Eleonora Fonseca de Pimentel, by Francesco Caracciolo.

In Salerno the lighting impulses had influences, after the studies of Antonio Genovesi, was born, in the fatidic year 1789, the Encyclopaedic Warehouse, a newspaper of cultural and literary debate. With the birth of the Republic, some Salernitans also organized in Salerno the land for a revival of freedom. The abbot Gian Francesco Conforti went to the capital to be part of the government, becoming Minister of the Interior. His mission is to reconcile the Christian ideal with the Republican ideal.

Meanwhile, in Salerno, the Marquis Ferdinando Ruggi d’Aragona is head of the municipal government, along with his brother Antonio, who writes on the Neapolitan Monitor, the newspaper directed by Eleonora Fonseca de Pimentel, organ of the Republic.

But before seeing the effects of the reforms, the army of the Holy Faith led by Cardinal Ruffo overthrows the Republic and restores the Bourbons, which trigger a terrible repression. Both the Abbot Conforti and the Marquis Ruggi d’Aragona are led to Naples and beheaded, in the Market Square, on December 7, 1799 and the same fate was touched, a few days before, to brother Antonio.