Giuseppe Abbamonte

Giuseppe Abbamonte (1759–1818) was a Neapolitan statesman who became secretary-general of the Cisalpine Republic in 1798 and a member of the executive commission at Naples. Upon the restoration of the king in 1799, he moved to Milan where he continued in his job until 1805.

Biography

While living Naples he adhered to the Jacobin ideals. In 1794, after being involved in a conspiracy, he was forced to flee to Oneglia. He then lived in Loano and Milan, where in 1797 he published the "Saggio leggi fondamentali dell'Italia libera" (Essay on the fundamental laws of Italian liberty). In Milan he also founded the "Giornale dei Patrioti italiani" (Newspaper of the Italian patriots) and collaborated with the "Monitore italiano" (Italian monitor).

In 1798 he became general inspector of the ministry of police of the Cisalpine Republic, but later on he was arrested for causing political conflicts.

After the proclamation of the Neapolitan Republic, despite being absent from the city, he was called up to be part of the provisional government. He arrived in Naples in the second half of February 1799, and organized the court of justice. He was at first appointed as Chairman of the Central Committee, and later of the Executive Committee.

He participated in the defence of the city against the Sanfedist troops. After the surrender he was supposed to go to Toulon together with the other Neapolitan patriots, but the winning party broke the agreement and imprisoned them. Abbamonte was sentenced to death by the State Council but, for surrendering, the punishment was changed to life imprisonment.

He was liberated in 1801 and went to Milan, and in the end returned to Naples permanently when Joseph Bonaparte became king of the city. Here he held important roles in the magistracy and was later appointed as state councillor by Joachim Murat. After the restoration he still remained in the city, under the reign of Ferdinando and was appointed as counsellor of the supreme court of justice.