domenica 18 maggio 2008

The story of Giovanni Beatrice also known as Zanzanù

This course will focus on a particular story: the story of Giovanni Beatrice also known as Zanon or Zanzanù. The in-depth investigation of Zanzanù’s life is situated against the backdrop of this course’s main theme, the rise and the persistence (even though in different ways) of banditry between the fourteenth and the nineteenth centuries. There will be two different ways to analyse it: on the one hand, we will explain and highlight the particular biography of this bandit and its relationship with the intentional overemphasizing of its mythical dimension, in which it becomes quickly enmeshed, till it looses some of its most important original features; on the other hand, we will examine the political, social, and economical environment in which this biography is inscribed, showing both its peculiarity and the features it shared with other similar life experiences.

We will not examine the documentation in the chronological course of events. We will start with analysing the transcripts of the case that was filed in 1617, right after the killing of Zanzanù, at the instance of Tignale and Gargnano. These two communities were interested in cashing the rewards and the prices provided for by the numerous banishment sentences that were issued against Zanzanù since 1602. This documentation complements the wonderful ex-voto painting that is placed in the shrine of Madonna di Montecastello. This painting was commissioned by the people of Tignale, to remember the “miracle” granted by the Holy Virgin in that memorable 17th of August 1617. The case file (that is entirely transcribed) and the ex-voto painting are the essential instruments to penetrate the typical mythical profile that has been given to Zanzanù. This myth would have survived in a contradictory way throughout centuries till nowadays.

After that, we will continue essentially in chronological order. We will examine the archival documentation concerning the biography of Zanzanù, starting from his first sentence for banishment of 1602, till the testimonies after his death. This documentation is basically generated by the repressive action of the judicial institutions (both local and Venetian), but also by measures taken by the Magnifica Patria of the Riviera and some of its communities. A specific course section examines the documentation produced by the general council of the Magnifica Patria. This will allow us to analyze the social and political relations between local institutions and the dominant city of Venice.

The course draws upon a broad research that was made easier by the skills and kindness of a few friends and historians, especially dr. Giuseppe Scarazzini and all the group of passionate historians who are working on cataloguing the ancient archival found of the Magnifica Patria of the Riviera. Thanks to teacher Andrea Bonassi I was able to move confidently in the places where the memorable battle of the 17th of August 1617 took place. Thanks also to my friend Giovanni Pellizzari who, once again, has been with me in this new adventure and gave a great support transcribing some of the files shown here. Finally, thanks to my friend Giovanni Mometto who encouraged me to try again the experience of the Rama criminal case and helped considerably in building this new web-site dedicated to Zanzanù: he is the one who made the amazing work on the images of the ex-voto painting of the shrine of Montecastello.

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