Laura Lanza
Encyclopedia
Laura Lanza, Baroness of Carini (1529 – 4 December 1563) was a noblewoman in Carini
, Sicily
who was murdered, allegedly by her father, for having committed adultery
.
, and she was murdered in her bedchamber in Carini Castle, along with her lover Ludovice Vernagallo.
Her father, Cesare Lanza, Count of Trabia, confessed to the killing in a letter which he wrote to King Philip
, but her husband
, Don Vincenzo La Grua Talamanca, Baron of Carini has also been suspected on the possibility that he planned to marry again. It is also believed that La Grua killed Vernagallo to prevent Vernagallo from assuming the Lanza inheritance were the Baroness to give birth to an illegitimate child. One reason proposed for Cesare being willing to accept the blame is that the crime qualified as an honor killing
and therefore somewhat socially acceptable by the Italian nobility at the time.
The confessional letter is housed at the Chiesa Madre church in Carini.
The mayor
of Carini, in conjunction with a project to restore the famed castle
to its 16th century appearance, has reopened the case for forensic study.
In 2007, Italian state television aired a two-part drama with the role of the Baroness played by Italian actress, Vittoria Puccini
.
Carini
Carini is a town and comune in the Province of Palermo, Sicily, 13 miles by rail WNW of Palermo. It has a population of 25,752....
, Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
who was murdered, allegedly by her father, for having committed adultery
Adultery
Adultery is sexual infidelity to one's spouse, and is a form of extramarital sex. It originally referred only to sex between a woman who was married and a person other than her spouse. Even in cases of separation from one's spouse, an extramarital affair is still considered adultery.Adultery is...
.
Laura's murder
On 4 December 1563 Laura was caught having sex with a man who was not her husband. This resulted in a crime of passionCrime of passion
A crime of passion, or crime passionnel, in popular usage, refers to a crime in which the perpetrator commits a crime, especially assault or murder, against someone because of sudden strong impulse such as sudden rage or heartbreak rather than as a premeditated crime...
, and she was murdered in her bedchamber in Carini Castle, along with her lover Ludovice Vernagallo.
Her father, Cesare Lanza, Count of Trabia, confessed to the killing in a letter which he wrote to King Philip
Philip II of Spain
Philip II was King of Spain, Portugal, Naples, Sicily, and, while married to Mary I, King of England and Ireland. He was lord of the Seventeen Provinces from 1556 until 1581, holding various titles for the individual territories such as duke or count....
, but her husband
Husband
A husband is a male participant in a marriage. The rights and obligations of the husband regarding his spouse and others, and his status in the community and in law, vary between cultures and has varied over time...
, Don Vincenzo La Grua Talamanca, Baron of Carini has also been suspected on the possibility that he planned to marry again. It is also believed that La Grua killed Vernagallo to prevent Vernagallo from assuming the Lanza inheritance were the Baroness to give birth to an illegitimate child. One reason proposed for Cesare being willing to accept the blame is that the crime qualified as an honor killing
Honor killing
An honor killing or honour killing is the homicide of a member of a family or social group by other members, due to the belief of the perpetrators that the victim has brought dishonor upon the family or community...
and therefore somewhat socially acceptable by the Italian nobility at the time.
The confessional letter is housed at the Chiesa Madre church in Carini.
Legacy
There is a popular legend that, on the anniversary of Baroness Lanza's murder, her bloody handprint will appear on a particular spot on her chamber wall.The mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Carini, in conjunction with a project to restore the famed castle
Castle
A castle is a type of fortified structure built in Europe and the Middle East during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars debate the scope of the word castle, but usually consider it to be the private fortified residence of a lord or noble...
to its 16th century appearance, has reopened the case for forensic study.
In 2007, Italian state television aired a two-part drama with the role of the Baroness played by Italian actress, Vittoria Puccini
Vittoria Puccini
Vittoria Puccini is an Italian film and television actress.Puccini is perhaps best known for playing a lead role in 2003 in the Italian soap opera Elisa di Rivombrosa...
.