Carlo Cafiero facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Carlo Cafiero
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born | September 1 1846 |
| Died | July 17, 1892 (aged 45) |
Carlo Cafiero (September 1, 1846 - July 17, 1892) was an Italian anarchist. He was a close friend of Mikhail Bakunin in the late 1800s.
Contents
Who Was Carlo Cafiero?
His Early Life
Carlo Cafiero was born in Barletta, Italy, on September 1, 1846. His family was wealthy and well-known in Southern Italy. Even though his family was involved in traditional politics, Carlo was often called the 'black sheep' because he had different ideas.
In 1864, he studied law in Naples. Later, he moved to Florence and then to Paris in 1870. From Paris, he went to London. There, he decided to give up his career as a diplomat and his family's wealth. He chose to join the movement for social change and socialism.
In London, Cafiero met important thinkers like Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. He joined a group called the International Workingmen's Association. This group worked to unite workers around the world. Carlo was asked to go back to Italy. His job was to spread Marx's ideas there. But in Italy, many people followed the ideas of Anarchism from Mikhail Bakunin or Republicanism from Giuseppe Mazzini.
Carlo helped restart a local group of 'L'Internazionale' in Naples. He worked with a young man named Errico Malatesta. During a meeting, Carlo was arrested for the first time.
How Carlo Cafiero Became an Anarchist
After more than a year, Carlo Cafiero started to be influenced by anarchist ideas. He became good friends with Giuseppe Fanelli. This friendship led him to join Bakunin and his followers in Italy.
In early 1872, Carlo helped with a newspaper called La Campana. He wrote articles for it and gave money to help publish it. In the same year, he met Bakunin in Locarno, Switzerland.
In the summer of 1873, Carlo helped make an old dream come true. They wanted to create a special international center for revolution in Italy and worldwide. Carlo sold all the land he had inherited. With that money, he bought a farm in Switzerland where Bakunin could live. This place was called La Baronata. It was also a safe place for revolutionaries who were being hunted by their governments.
In 1875, Cafiero went to Milan. He joined the team that wrote for La Plebe. This was the first daily socialist newspaper.
In April 1877, Cafiero, Malatesta, and about 30 other friends started an uprising in the area of Benevento. They took over the village of Letino without any fighting. Everyone was very excited. They took weapons and food and shared them with the people. They gave back tax money and destroyed official papers.
Carlo spoke to the villagers in their local language. He talked about anarchism, freedom, justice, and a new society. This new society would have no government, no bosses, no servants, no soldiers, and no owners. Even the local priest was convinced! He called the group 'the true apostles sent by the Lord'. The next day, they took over the village of Gallo in the same peaceful way.
As they were leaving Gallo, government soldiers surrounded them. All the revolutionaries were arrested. They were kept in prison for over a year before their trial. In August 1878, all of them were found not guilty.
In 1878, Cafiero lived in Marseille, France. He worked as a cook and a docker (someone who loads and unloads ships). In October, he was arrested with Malatesta. He was later released and told to leave France. He rested in Switzerland. There, he met Peter Kropotkin. Carlo also helped publish Bakunin's writings with Élisée Reclus. In 1881, Cafiero went to London for a long time. In March 1882, he returned to Italy. He wanted to join the upcoming elections.
Later Years and Illness
On April 5, Carlo was arrested without any clear reason. On May 2, while still in prison, he became very ill mentally. He wanted to end his life. People were shocked that he was imprisoned without cause and was now so unwell. Carlo was released. He had to choose between staying in his hometown of Barletta under watch, or going to Switzerland. Carlo chose to go to Chiasso, a small town in Switzerland.
Emilio Bellerio took Carlo into his home in Locarno. Errico Malatesta wrote about him, "if his mind is ill, his heart is still healthy..."
In February 1883, Carlo left for Florence. He was found on a street, very confused. Doctors took him to a special hospital for mental health in the city. For the rest of his life, he had health problems. Olimpia Kutusoff, Carlo's partner, came back from Russia in September 1883 to help him in the hospital in Imola. Olimpia left him after about a year and a half.
Carlo wanted to return to Barletta. He arrived there in late 1889. However, his brothers turned him away. After staying in a hotel for a while, his brother Pietrantonio took him in. In 1891, after another mental health crisis, Carlo Cafiero was taken to the hospital in Nocera Inferiore. He passed away there on Sunday, July 17, 1892.
Important Work
- The Compendium of The Capital
Related Pages
See also
In Spanish: Carlo Cafiero para niños
