Vito Nunziante

He was entrusted by his father Pasquale to a canonical uncle to be initiated to the priesthood, but in 1794 he was called, through dell'imbossolamento method (pretty much a draw), to perform military service, activities for which he probably felt more inclined.

Its exceptional stature, an extraordinarily strong body and his courage made him a soldier of election and earned him the esteem of Luigi Pignatelli colonel who commanded the 13th Infantry Regiment of the Line "Lucania" to which he was assigned.

It was the same Pignatelli to appoint him quartermaster of the regiment and to obtain later, thanks to the fact that, had the task of capturing the defectors will shoot about two thousand in two years, for the young recruit the shoulder straps of the official with the rank of ensign in 1797.

Following the escape of Ferdinand I to Sicily, on 22 December 1798, and the Neapolitan army victory, he managed to form a regiment which he called "Holy Cross", by which he joined all armed sanfedista of Cardinal Ruffo.

[2] In 1806, after the defeat in the battle of Campotenese and the consequent French reconquest of the kingdom of Naples, is brought in Sicily where he was charged with his regiment and a small reinforcement of cavalry to keep Reggio, only foothold on the continent still holding to Bourbon.

[4] Back in Reggio (with the remains of his regiment reduced from 1,200 to 579 men, including 49 hospitals)[5] Nunziante assured the defense of the castle for another six months, after which he was recalled in Sicily[6] where he was promoted to Brigadier and put in charge of the Milazzo forces.

In his new role, he managed to reorganize the forces under his command, improving conditions for soldiers and relations with allies British and obtained, unlike the provisions of applicable regulations, to have this in case its degree was greater than that of the English officer present in the same place.

[15] In early April 1821 he was called to be part of the temporary Government Council[16] and from 30 July 1822 took charge of the army's reorganization with the office of inspector general of infantry and cavalry of the line.