Calogero Vizzini facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Calogero Vizzini
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1935 mugshot of Calogero Vizzini
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| Born | 24 July 1877 |
| Died | 10 July 1954 (aged 76) Villalba, Sicily, Italy
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| Nationality | Italian |
| Other names | Don Calò |
| Allegiance | Cosa Nostra |
Calogero Vizzini (born July 24, 1877 – died July 10, 1954) was a powerful figure in the Sicilian Mafia. He was known as "Don Calò" and came from the village of Villalba in Sicily, Italy. Many people saw him as one of the most important Mafia leaders in Sicily after World War II, until he passed away in 1954.
Some people even called him the "boss of bosses," but this title doesn't really exist in the way the Mafia is organized. Don Calò was seen as a traditional "man of honour" from a time when the Mafia in rural areas was different. Back then, some people thought mafiosi helped keep order and peace in their communities.
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Who Was Don Calò?
Don Calò Vizzini was a well-known figure in Sicily. He was born in a small village called Villalba. This area was quite poor, and most people worked as farmers.
His family wasn't very rich, but they were respected. His father was a farmer, and his mother's family had some land. Two of Calogero's brothers became priests. However, Calogero himself didn't finish elementary school and could barely read or write.
How the Mafia Started in Villalba
The Mafia in Villalba was not as old as in other parts of Sicily, like around Palermo. It began because people needed protection. At the time, the government police were not always helpful, and there were many bandits.
So, some people, including young Calogero Vizzini, decided to create their own system for safety. This system became the Villalba Mafia. It was often linked to church groups, which helped it gain trust and influence in the community.
Don Calò once explained his view of the Mafia in an interview in 1949. He said that in any society, there are people who fix problems when things get complicated. If the government isn't strong enough to do this, then private individuals step in.
Don Calò's Early Work
Calogero Vizzini started his career as a cancia. This was someone who helped farmers get their wheat turned into flour. The mills were far away, about 80 kilometers, and the roads were dangerous because of bandits.
Mafia groups controlled these mills and didn't like competition. Don Calò helped farmers by arranging safe transport for their grain. He worked with a bandit named Francesco Paolo Varsallona to provide protection. Varsallona was also said to be a "man of honour" and helped landowners control farmers' protests.
World War I and Growing Influence
By the time World War I began in 1914, Vizzini was the main Mafia leader in Villalba. The war created new ways for mafiosi to become rich. The Italian Army needed horses and mules for its soldiers.
Vizzini made a deal with the Army. He would help them get the animals they needed. He also collected money from animal owners who wanted to avoid their animals being taken by the Army. He even bought stolen animals cheaply and sold them to the Army for a good price.
However, many animals died before reaching the war. The army started an investigation. In 1917, Vizzini faced legal issues for fraud and other problems. But he was cleared of the charges, thanks to his powerful friends. He became very wealthy from the black market during the war. He also started working in the sulphur mines.
Role in World War II
Don Calò Vizzini is famous for his supposed help to the Allied Forces when they invaded Sicily in 1943. This event was called Operation Husky. After World War II, he became a symbol of the Mafia's return to power. This happened after the strict rule of Fascism ended and democracy was restored.
At first, he supported a movement for Sicily to become independent. But when it became clear that independence wouldn't happen, he switched his support to the Christian Democrat political party.
Don Calò's Legacy
When Don Calò Vizzini died in 1954 at age 76, many people attended his funeral. Thousands of farmers, important mafiosi, politicians, and priests were there. His tombstone said that his "mafia" was not criminal. Instead, it stood for respecting the law, defending rights, and having a great character. It even said it was "love."
While Don Calò was seen as a very powerful Mafia boss, historians today have a more balanced view of his importance.
Land and Farmers
Even though Vizzini gained a lot of land during his life, some historians believe he actually helped end the old system of large land estates. He made sure that local farmers, especially those in Catholic groups, got their share of land. He did this after he secured his own portion.
When land reform laws were finally passed in 1950, mafiosi like Vizzini played a key role. They acted as go-betweens for farmers, landowners, and the government. They used the farmers' strong desire for land to their advantage. They also got deals from landowners by limiting the impact of the reforms. This allowed them to make a lot of money from mediating land sales.
Images for kids
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"Don Calò used to walk around in shirtsleeves and overalls. His slovenly dress and laconic speech were typical Mafia affectations. It was not done for a Mafia chieftain to show off in the matter of his clothing or any other way, and sometimes, as in Don Calò's case, this lack of concern for appearances was carried to extremes." – Norman Lewis
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Vizzini's funeral in Villalba.
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"His 'mafia' was not criminal, but stood for respect of the law, defense of all rights, greatness of character. It was love." – The epitaph for Calogero Vizzini.
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A Sherman tank moves past Sicily's rugged terrain. (National Archives)
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Vito Genovese.
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Girolamo Li Causi addressing a commemorative meeting in Portella della Ginestra.
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"He always wore tinted spectacles, as you can see on photographs. And behind these spectacles, his eyes were half closed, as if he was slumbering. His mouth was always open, with his lower lip hanging out. He looked dim-witted, for those who did not know him." – Luigi Lumia, local historian.
