Ruffo, Fabrizio

Ruffo, Fabrizio

(fäbrē`tsēō ro͞of`fō), 1744–1827, Neapolitan general, cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. In the French Revolutionary Wars he led the royal Neapolitan army against the Parthenopean RepublicParthenopean Republic
[from Parthenope, an ancient name of Naples], state set up in Naples in Jan., 1799, by the French Revolutionary army under General Championnet and by liberal Neapolitans after the flight of King Ferdinand IV (later Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies).
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, set up at Naples under French protection. Possibly exceeding his authority, he promised the republicans full immunity from reprisals and obtained their surrender in June, 1799. Even before Naples capitulated, Admiral Horatio NelsonNelson, Horatio Nelson, Viscount,
1758–1805, British admiral. The most famous of Britain's naval heroes, he is commemorated by the celebrated Nelson Column in Trafalgar Square, London.
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 appeared with his fleet, called the cardinal to task for his leniency, and revoked the terms of surrender. The rebels, who had been only vaguely informed of the change, surrendered nevertheless. Their leader, Caracciolo, was executed on Nelson's flagship, and a general massacre of the rebels followed.