Cesare Battisti
Encyclopedia
Cesare Battisti was an Italian
politician who became a prominent Irrendentist
at the start of the First World War
.
, a city with a predominantly Italian
-speaking population, which at the time was part of the crown land of Tyrol
in Austria-Hungary
. Battisti attended the University of Florence
where is started to follow the Italian irredentism ideals for his Trentino and, a journalist by profession, won office both municipally and in the County of Tyrol
. He was elected to the Tyrolean Landtag
at Innsbruck
and to the Austrian Reichsrat
at Vienna
in 1911 as a Socialist
representative.
Disgruntled by Austro-Hungarian attitudes to minorities in their empire, Battisti agreed to construct a military guide for the Italians to Austrian provinces that bordered Italy. When Austria-Hungary mobilised in August 1914, Battisti fled to the Kingdom of Italy
with his family where he held public meetings demanding Italy attack Austria.
With Italy's belated entry into World War I following the 1915 London Pact, though still an Austro-Hungarian citizen, Battisti fought against the Austro-Hungarian Army
in the Alpini Corps
at the Italian Front
.
After the Battle of Asiago
he was captured by the Austrian forces on 10 July 1916 and faced a court-martial
in his hometown Trento at the Castello del Buonconsiglio
, charged with high treason
. Sentenced to death by strangulation, he requested a military execution by firing squad so as to not dishonor the Italian Army uniform. The judge denied his request, and instead procured for him some shabby civilian clothes. Dressed in these, he was executed (hanged and garrotted) the next day, the brutality of which was increased by the fact that the executioner Joseph Lang botched the job and Battisti actually was hanged twice.
The smiling execution squad posed with his body for photographs, which later published did severe damage to the Austrian reputation.
Battisti is considered a national hero in Italy, and a memorial monument was dedicated to him in his hometown.
Italian people
The Italian people are an ethnic group that share a common Italian culture, ancestry and speak the Italian language as a mother tongue. Within Italy, Italians are defined by citizenship, regardless of ancestry or country of residence , and are distinguished from people...
politician who became a prominent Irrendentist
Italia irredenta
Italian irredentism was an Italian Irredentist movement that aimed at the unification of all ethnically Italian peoples....
at the start of the First World War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
Biography
He was born the son of a merchant at TrentoTrento
Trento is an Italian city located in the Adige River valley in Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol. It is the capital of Trentino...
, a city with a predominantly Italian
Italian language
Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
-speaking population, which at the time was part of the crown land of Tyrol
County of Tyrol
The County of Tyrol, Princely County from 1504, was a State of the Holy Roman Empire, from 1814 a province of the Austrian Empire and from 1867 a Cisleithanian crown land of Austria-Hungary...
in Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary , more formally known as the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Imperial Council and the Lands of the Holy Hungarian Crown of Saint Stephen, was a constitutional monarchic union between the crowns of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary in...
. Battisti attended the University of Florence
University of Florence
The University of Florence is a higher study institute in Florence, central Italy. One of the largest and oldest universities in the country, it consists of 12 faculties...
where is started to follow the Italian irredentism ideals for his Trentino and, a journalist by profession, won office both municipally and in the County of Tyrol
County of Tyrol
The County of Tyrol, Princely County from 1504, was a State of the Holy Roman Empire, from 1814 a province of the Austrian Empire and from 1867 a Cisleithanian crown land of Austria-Hungary...
. He was elected to the Tyrolean Landtag
Landtag
A Landtag is a representative assembly or parliament in German-speaking countries with some legislative authority.- Name :...
at Innsbruck
Innsbruck
- Main sights :- Buildings :*Golden Roof*Kaiserliche Hofburg *Hofkirche with the cenotaph of Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor*Altes Landhaus...
and to the Austrian Reichsrat
Reichsrat (Austria)
The Imperial Council of Austria from 1867 to 1918 was the parliament of the Cisleithanian part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. It was a bicameral legislature, consisting of the Herrenhaus and the Abgeordnetenhaus...
at Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
in 1911 as a Socialist
Social Democratic Party of Austria
The Social Democratic Party of Austria is one of the oldest political parties in Austria. The SPÖ is one of the two major parties in Austria, and has ties to trade unions and the Austrian Chamber of Labour. The SPÖ is among the few mainstream European social-democratic parties that have preserved...
representative.
Disgruntled by Austro-Hungarian attitudes to minorities in their empire, Battisti agreed to construct a military guide for the Italians to Austrian provinces that bordered Italy. When Austria-Hungary mobilised in August 1914, Battisti fled to the Kingdom of Italy
Kingdom of Italy (1861–1946)
The Kingdom of Italy was a state forged in 1861 by the unification of Italy under the influence of the Kingdom of Sardinia, which was its legal predecessor state...
with his family where he held public meetings demanding Italy attack Austria.
With Italy's belated entry into World War I following the 1915 London Pact, though still an Austro-Hungarian citizen, Battisti fought against the Austro-Hungarian Army
Austro-Hungarian Army
The Austro-Hungarian Army was the ground force of the Austro-Hungarian Dual Monarchy from 1867 to 1918. It was composed of three parts: the joint army , the Austrian Landwehr , and the Hungarian Honvédség .In the wake of fighting between the...
in the Alpini Corps
Alpini
The Alpini, , are the elite mountain warfare soldiers of the Italian Army. They are currently organized in two operational brigades, which are subordinated to the Alpini Corps Command. The singular is Alpino ....
at the Italian Front
Italian Campaign (World War I)
The Italian campaign refers to a series of battles fought between the armies of Austria-Hungary and Italy, along with their allies, in northern Italy between 1915 and 1918. Italy hoped that by joining the countries of the Triple Entente against the Central Powers it would gain Cisalpine Tyrol , the...
.
Battle of Asiago
The Battle of Asiago ' or the Trentino Offensive , nicknamed Strafexpedition by the Austrians, was a counteroffensive launched by the Austro-Hungarians on the Italian Front on 15 May 1916, during World War I...
he was captured by the Austrian forces on 10 July 1916 and faced a court-martial
Court-martial
A court-martial is a military court. A court-martial is empowered to determine the guilt of members of the armed forces subject to military law, and, if the defendant is found guilty, to decide upon punishment.Most militaries maintain a court-martial system to try cases in which a breach of...
in his hometown Trento at the Castello del Buonconsiglio
Castello del Buonconsiglio
-Construction:The castle originated from a fortified building erected in the 13th century next to the city's walls. This first edifice was called Castelvecchio , and was the seat of the Bishopric of Trent from the 13th century onwards....
, charged with high treason
High treason
High treason is criminal disloyalty to one's government. Participating in a war against one's native country, attempting to overthrow its government, spying on its military, its diplomats, or its secret services for a hostile and foreign power, or attempting to kill its head of state are perhaps...
. Sentenced to death by strangulation, he requested a military execution by firing squad so as to not dishonor the Italian Army uniform. The judge denied his request, and instead procured for him some shabby civilian clothes. Dressed in these, he was executed (hanged and garrotted) the next day, the brutality of which was increased by the fact that the executioner Joseph Lang botched the job and Battisti actually was hanged twice.
The smiling execution squad posed with his body for photographs, which later published did severe damage to the Austrian reputation.
Battisti is considered a national hero in Italy, and a memorial monument was dedicated to him in his hometown.
Works
- Opere geografiche, Trento, La Finestra editrice, 2005
- Scritti politici, Trento, La Finestra editrice, 2006
- Guida alle Giudicarie, Monauni editore, Trento 1909
- Il Trentino, Novara 1910.
External links
- Cesare Battisti: Italian hero, patriot, martyr
- The execution of Battisti - series of photographs