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| The royal family of Bourbon-Two Sicilies. From left to right: Princess Maria Carolina Duchess of Palermo, Princess Camilla Duchess of Castro, Prince Carlo Duke of Castro and Princess Maria Chiara Duchess of Capri. Photo courtesy of Carlo Rainone |
For the members of the Independent Neapolitan Nation movement, the unification of Italy was a mistake
At the Independent Neapolitan Nation’s headquarters in Naples, Italy, there is a statue of the siren Parthenope. The ancient Greek myth claims a king requested suitors fight for his daughter’s hand in marriage. The two finalists were Hercules and the unscrupulous river god Achelous. Achelous could not beat Hercules in a fair fight so he took the form of a mighty bull. Hercules still defeated the river god, breaking off the bull’s horn. From that defeat was born Parthenope. Once the name of Naples, Parthenope is still seen as the city’s protector and according to Italian literary historian Giuseppina Palma, symbolizes strength, courage, vanquishing evil, suppression of usurpers and abusers of power, and restoration of order.
This myth is particularly important to the Independent Neapolitan Nation and a wider group of southern Italians called Neo-Bourbons. Part cultural heritage organization, part secessionist movement, the devout members believe the 1860 unification of Italy was wrong and wish to restore the former Kingdom of Two Sicilies and crown the rightful heir of the House of Bourbons. Continue reading
