Mario Pagano
Encyclopedia
Mario Pagano was an Italian controversial author, jurisconsult and man of letters.
in the southern Province of Potenza
on 8 December 1748. At twenty he became special lecturer in moral philosophy at the University of Naples, at the same time practising law. He was friend of Gaetano Filangieri
, entering the masonry with him.
"Saggi politici" (1783-5) provided a philosophical history of the Kingdom of Naples, arguing against torture and capital punishment and advocating more benign penal codes.
He published various works on criminal jurisprudence, e.g., "Considerazioni sulla procedura criminale". He became professor of criminal law in 1785. He likewise published in 1792 some political essays on barbarian peoples and the origin and decadence of civilized society and of nations, revealing the idea of Vico
.
As early as 1768 he had written a political review of the entire Roman legislation, which was much applauded. In this is discerned the influence of Montesquieu and in general of the philosophy then in vogue. The novelty, and in part the audacity, of these theories created some enemies, and although he enjoyed the favour of the Court, he was imprisoned. His writings, accused of irreligion, were subjected to theological examinations, which resulted in his favour.
In 1794 he defended Vincenzo Galiani, Vincenzo Vitalini, and Emanuele De Deo, three alleged conspirators against Ferdinand IV; after they were sentenced to death, Pagano, accused by a lawyer convicted of corruption, was deprived of his professorship, arrested, imprisoned and expelled from the kingdom.
When in 1799 the revolutionary French troops established the Parthenopaean Republic
at Naples, Pagano was one of the most active collaborators. He wrote the constitution
, built up on the remains of the French Constitution of 1793
.
On the restoration of the Bourbon monarchy, Pagano was on the side of those republicans who made the last resistance at the Castel Nuovo
. Contrary to the agreement of capitulation, he was imprisoned and condemned. In prison he composed æsthetic discourses and produced a number of lyric and dramatic compositions, of which only two were printed, the tragedy "Gerbino", and the melodrama
"Agamemnon". He was executed at Naples on 29 October 1799 with Domenico Cirillo, Giorgio Pigliacelli and Ignazio Ciaia.
Biography and works
He was born in BrienzaBrienza
Brienza is a town and comune in the province of Potenza, in the Southern Italian region of Basilicata.-History and Legends from the Castle of Brienza:Caracciolo’s Castle on top of a rocky spurdominates the Melandro valley...
in the southern Province of Potenza
Province of Potenza
The Province of Potenza is a province in the Basilicata region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Potenza.-Geography:It has an area of 6,545 km² and a total population of 387,107 . There are 100 comuni in the province .-History:In 272 B.C. the province was conquered by the Greek army...
on 8 December 1748. At twenty he became special lecturer in moral philosophy at the University of Naples, at the same time practising law. He was friend of Gaetano Filangieri
Gaetano Filangieri
Gaetano Filangieri , Italian jurist and philosopher, was born in San Sebastiano al Vesuvio, a country near Naples....
, entering the masonry with him.
"Saggi politici" (1783-5) provided a philosophical history of the Kingdom of Naples, arguing against torture and capital punishment and advocating more benign penal codes.
He published various works on criminal jurisprudence, e.g., "Considerazioni sulla procedura criminale". He became professor of criminal law in 1785. He likewise published in 1792 some political essays on barbarian peoples and the origin and decadence of civilized society and of nations, revealing the idea of Vico
Vico
Vico or de Vico may refer to:* Francesco de Vico, Italian astronomer* Francesco Vico, Baroque painter from Milan* Giambattista Vico, Italian philosopher, historian, and jurist* Prefetti di Vico, Italian noble family...
.
As early as 1768 he had written a political review of the entire Roman legislation, which was much applauded. In this is discerned the influence of Montesquieu and in general of the philosophy then in vogue. The novelty, and in part the audacity, of these theories created some enemies, and although he enjoyed the favour of the Court, he was imprisoned. His writings, accused of irreligion, were subjected to theological examinations, which resulted in his favour.
In 1794 he defended Vincenzo Galiani, Vincenzo Vitalini, and Emanuele De Deo, three alleged conspirators against Ferdinand IV; after they were sentenced to death, Pagano, accused by a lawyer convicted of corruption, was deprived of his professorship, arrested, imprisoned and expelled from the kingdom.
When in 1799 the revolutionary French troops established the Parthenopaean Republic
Parthenopaean Republic
The Parthenopean Republic was a French-supported republic in the territory of the Kingdom of Naples, formed during the French Revolutionary Wars after King Ferdinand IV fled before advancing French troops...
at Naples, Pagano was one of the most active collaborators. He wrote the constitution
Constitution
A constitution is a set of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or other organization is governed. These rules together make up, i.e. constitute, what the entity is...
, built up on the remains of the French Constitution of 1793
French Constitution of 1793
The Constitution of 24 June 1793 , also known as the Constitution of the Year I, or the The Montagnard Constitution , was the constitution instated by the Montagnards and by popular referendum under the First Republic during the French Revolution...
.
On the restoration of the Bourbon monarchy, Pagano was on the side of those republicans who made the last resistance at the Castel Nuovo
Castel Nuovo
Castel Nuovo , often called Maschio Angioino, is a medieval castle in the city of Naples, southern Italy. It is the main symbol of the architecture of the city...
. Contrary to the agreement of capitulation, he was imprisoned and condemned. In prison he composed æsthetic discourses and produced a number of lyric and dramatic compositions, of which only two were printed, the tragedy "Gerbino", and the melodrama
Melodrama
The term melodrama refers to a dramatic work that exaggerates plot and characters in order to appeal to the emotions. It may also refer to the genre which includes such works, or to language, behavior, or events which resemble them...
"Agamemnon". He was executed at Naples on 29 October 1799 with Domenico Cirillo, Giorgio Pigliacelli and Ignazio Ciaia.
Sources
- Nico PerroneNico PerroneNico Perrone is an Italian essayist, historian and journalist. He firstly discovered papers on the plot for killing Enrico Mattei, the Italian state tycoon for oil in the 1950s....
. La Loggia della Philantropia. Un religioso danese a Napoli prima della rivoluzione. PalermoPalermoPalermo is a city in Southern Italy, the capital of both the autonomous region of Sicily and the Province of Palermo. The city is noted for its history, culture, architecture and gastronomy, playing an important role throughout much of its existence; it is over 2,700 years old...
: Sellerio publ., 2006. ISBN 8-83892-141-5. - Catholic Encyclopedia article