Il Portastendardo di Civitella del Tronto (n. 61 - Luglio 2026)

Europe Through the Lens of Christendom

Next: Europe of a Hundred Flags

I recently came across this thought-provoking map captioned, “This is how I divide Europe,” and I was struck by how closely it aligns with my own fundamental understanding of the continent’s historic ethnic landscape—though not without a few adjustments.

In my view, southern France and Corsica belong firmly within the broader European, Mediterranean, and Latin world rather than being separated from it. I also agree that the Hungarians occupy a category all their own, though I have always referred to them as Magyar rather than Aryan—Turanian when I want to impress the ladies.

What struck me most, however, was not the map’s divisions but the deeper thread connecting them. Maps of ethnicity can tell us much about Europe’s diversity, but they often obscure the civilizational framework within which those peoples developed.

Whether Latin, Germanic, Celtic, Slavic, Greek, Magyar, or Nordic, Europe’s peoples largely developed within the common civilizational framework of Christendom. While ethnic and regional differences were real, they existed within a broader religious and cultural inheritance that gave Europe much of its historical character.

Looking at maps such as this one, I see less a collection of competing ethnic groups and more the many branches of a civilization that, despite its diversity, once understood itself as part of a greater whole. The presence of historic Islamic communities in parts of the Balkans does not alter the fact that Christianity was the principal force that shaped Europe’s civilizational character.

Europe’s story is therefore one of many peoples and one civilization.

~ By Giovanni di Napoli, July 10th, Feast of Santa Rufina and Santa Seconda

Il Portastendardo di Civitella del Tronto (n. 60 - Giugno 2026)

A Pilgrimage to the Tomb of King Francis II

The Fondazione Francesco II delle Due Sicilie invites those devoted to the memory of King Francis II to make a private pilgrimage—individually or in groups—to his tomb in the monumental Basilica of Santa Chiara. There, visitors may pay their respects to the last sovereign of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies and also venerate the urn of his mother, Maria Cristina of Savoy, who has been beatified by the Church. 

Beyond an act of remembrance, such a pilgrimage offers an opportunity for prayer, reflection, and renewed appreciation for a king whose life was marked by faith, sacrifice, and fidelity in both sovereignty and exile.

Francesco II of Bourbon Continues His Journey Toward the Altars

Francesco II di Borbone, ora pro nobis

I am pleased to share a recent update regarding the Cause of Beatification and Canonization of His Majesty Francesco II di Borbone, the last King of the Two Sicilies. As many devotees of the saintly sovereign know, efforts to advance his cause have been underway for several years. This article at Il Quotidiano della Costiera (IQDC) provides an overview of the canonical process currently being followed by the Church to examine his life, the heroic practice of the Christian virtues, his reputation for holiness, and any signs attributed to his intercession.

Among the important developments discussed are the formal appointment of a Postulator in 2019 and the favorable disposition expressed by the Archdiocese of Naples in 2020 to proceed with opening the cause. The Holy See has since requested an additional procedural step through the Campanian Bishops’ Conference before the diocesan phase of the investigation can officially begin. Once opened, this phase will gather and examine evidence both for and against the cause, allowing for a thorough and rigorous evaluation of Francesco II’s life of Christian virtue.

Should the Church ultimately recognize the heroic nature of his virtues, Francesco II would be declared Venerable. The recognition of a miracle attributed to his intercession would then be required for beatification, followed by a second miracle for canonization.

The original article is in Italian. I encourage all those devoted to the memory of Francesco II and interested in the progress of his Cause to read it in full:

Francesco II di Borbone, prosegue il cammino verso gli altari: lo stato dell’iter canonico

May God grant that the Church be able to fully examine the life and virtues of this faithful Catholic king, whose dignity in exile, fidelity in suffering, and unwavering devotion to Christ continue to inspire many throughout the former Kingdom of the Two Sicilies and beyond.

Il Portastendardo di Civitella del Tronto (n. 59 - Maggio 2026)

The Feast of the Ascension at Carditello

HRH Princess Beatrice of Bourbon–Two Sicilies with dignitaries and reenactors
Photos courtesy of Gaetano Bonelli and 1° Reggimento Re

At the historic Royal Site of Carditello, the Feast of the Ascension unfolded as a rare union of sacred tradition, historical memory, and Bourbon heritage. The event gathered clergy, historians, reenactors, and distinguished guests—including HRH Princess Beatrice of Bourbon–Two Sicilies—for a day that restored something of the ceremonial spirit once associated with the old Kingdom of the Two Sicilies.

Members of the 1° Reggimento Re

Particularly notable was the presentation of several unique and largely unseen artifacts from the collections of the Museum of Naples, many connected to the history of the Bourbon dynasty. The exhibition transformed the estate from a mere historical site into something closer to a living continuity, offering a rare glimpse into a world too often flattened into stereotype, yet still preserved through objects, ritual, and memory.

The religious dimension of the celebration remained central. The traditional floral display, the solemn Mass celebrated by Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, and the procession of Carlo Brunelli’s altarpiece reaffirmed the deeply Catholic character of the feast. Especially striking was the ancient blessing of the waters from the Carolino Aqueduct, a rite that seemed to bind together landscape, faith, and history in a distinctly Duosiciliano way.

Rather than functioning as a simple cultural event, the Feast of the Ascension at Carditello demonstrated how historical memory can still be lived publicly and spiritually. For a few hours, the Royal Site became, once again, part of a living tradition rather than a monument to a vanished world.

~ By Giovanni di Napoli, May 20th, Feast of San Bernardino da Siena

HRH Princess Beatrice of Bourbon–Two Sicilies with Gaetano Bonelli

Cav. Mirko Speranza 

The Founding of Constantinople

The Founding of Constantinople by Sir Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640)

Reprinted from Western Exile @westernexile

We commemorate a day holy in the annals of history indeed. For it was on the 11th May AD 330, the Feast of Saint Mocius, that the Emperor Constantine the Great consecrated the imperial city of Constantinople, Byzantium of old and bastion of Christendom new, as the Second Rome.

Almost six centuries after the banner of the Romans was furled over the Golden Horn, her spirit remains unbroken.

Preparing for the Siege at Castello di Lettere

Photos courtesy of 1° Reggimento Re

Members of the 1° Reggimento Re historical reenactment and cultural association are preparing and training at Castello di Lettere, Napoli, for their next event with discipline, dedication, and a passion for history.

Il Portastendardo di Civitella del Tronto (n. 58 - Aprile 2026)

Frank Frazetta Immortalized in Gold

Dark Kingdom

Three of Frank Frazetta’s most iconic paintings—Dark Kingdom, Dawn Attack, and Green Death—have been newly minted as real 24-karat gold bills through MetaMark’s official Aurum® series, issued in a strictly limited quantity.

As someone who has long admired Frazetta’s work—the raw power, movement, and mythic intensity he brought to fantasy art—I have to admit this is a striking concept. Seeing these pieces translated into gold gives them a certain permanence and novelty that collectors will no doubt appreciate.

That said, while I find the idea undeniably appealing, the price point places it just out of reach for me. Still, for those who are interested in owning a unique and tangible tribute to one of the greats, it may be worth a look.

mtlmrk.com/frazetta

Dawn Attack

Green Death

1° Reggimento Re at the Royal Site of Carditello in Caserta

Photos courtesy of 1° Reggimento Re

On Sunday afternoon, the 1° Reggimento Re (1° Reggimento Re. Associazione culturale e di rievocazione storica) took the field at the Cavalier and Cavalieri event held at the Reggia di Carditello in Caserta. Under clear skies and with excellent conditions, the unit turned out in force, executing a disciplined and visually striking presence. The parade ground was alive with ceremony—crisp formations, immaculate period uniforms, and the thunder of magnificent horses on display. With strong attendance and high esprit de corps throughout, the engagement was a resounding success, marked by both martial precision and regal pageantry.