Luigi Gabrielli

Born in Naples to a family originally from Gubbio, Luigi was the son of Antonio Gabrielli, a nobleman of progressive ideas who in 1799 had supported the Parthenopean Republic against the Bourbon kings.

In 1809, at the age of 19, Luigi enlisted in the army and served under Joachim Murat, the newly appointed king of the Two Sicilies, until 1815, when Ferdinand I was restored.

Luigi's wishes to see a modernisation of the Neapolitan society were however frustrated by the increasingly conservative policy adopted by the government.

Disillusioned and influenced by reformers such as Giuseppe Rosaroll, Luigi was introduced in philhellenic circles and briefly fought in Greece with the patriots pursuing the country's independence from the Ottoman Empire.

Following an injury, he decided to go back to Italy and joined again the Neapolitan army, with the hope of contributing to its modernization.