141-511: The 'Ndrangheta ( / ən d r æ ŋ ˈ ɡ ɛ t ə / , Italian: [nˈdraŋɡeta] , Calabrian: [(ɳ)ˈɖɽaɲɟɪta] ) is an Italian Mafia -type association based in the peninsular region of Calabria and dating back to the 19th century. Although loosely structured, it is considered one of the most powerful organized crime groups in the world. It is characterized by a horizontal structure made up of autonomous clans known as 'ndrine , based almost exclusively on blood ties. Since
282-744: A pentito ; at the end of 2002, there were 157 Calabrian witnesses in the state witness protection program . Unlike the Sicilian Mafia in the early 1990s, they have meticulously avoided a head-on confrontation with the Italian state. Prosecution in Calabria is hindered by the fact that Italian judges and prosecutors who score highly in exams get to choose their posting; those who are forced to work in Calabria will usually request to be transferred right away. With weak government presence and corrupt officials, few civilians are willing to speak out against
423-579: A Mafia-type association in 2010, under Article 416 bis of the Italian penal code. Italy's highest court of last resort, the Supreme Court of Cassation , had ruled similarly on 30 March 2010. The word Mafia ( English: / ˈ m ɑː f i ə / ; Italian: [ˈmaːfja] ) derives from the Sicilian adjective mafiusu , which, roughly translated, means 'swagger', but can also be translated as 'boldness' or ' bravado '. In reference to
564-442: A board of directors, called the "camera di controllo", or chamber of control. The local board, as in other countries around the world and other regions of Italy where clans have spread, have all been subservient to the mother clans of Calabria, under a body known as 'il Crimine di Siderno'". By mid-2019, however, police in both countries were convinced that "the 'Ndrangheta's Canadian presence has become so powerful and influential that
705-708: A brief period in the early 1700s under the Austrian Habsburgs, Calabria came into the control of the Spanish Bourbons in 1735. It was during the 16th century that Calabria would contribute to modern world history with the creation of the Gregorian calendar by the Calabrian doctor and astronomer Luigi Lilio . In 1466, King Louis XI decided to develop a national silk industry in Lyon and called
846-414: A century. The earlier works were mainly dedicated to the evolution of the basement rocks of the area. The Neogene sedimentary successions were merely regarded as "post-orogenic" infill of "neo-tectonic" tensional features. In the course of time, however, a shift can be observed in the temporal significance of these terms, from post- Eocene to post-Early Miocene to post-middle Pleistocene . The region
987-460: A compound of the words ἀνήρ, anḗr ( gen. ἀνδρóς, andrós ), i.e. man, and ἀγαθός, agathós , i.e. good, brave, meaning a courageous man. In many areas of Calabria the verb ' ndranghitiari , from the Greek verb andragathízesthai , means "to engage in a defiant and valiant attitude". The etymological approach is criticised by some historians. John Dickie argues that "the flattering connotations of
1128-549: A fleet of ships that supported cocaine shipped to Europe from Venezuela, Argentina, and the Dominican Republic. On 9 October 2012, following a months-long investigation by the central government, the City Council of Reggio Calabria headed by Mayor Demetrio Arena [ it ] was dissolved for alleged ties to the group. Arena and all the 30 city councilors were sacked to prevent any "mafia contagion" in
1269-566: A former 'ndranghetista, "almost all the male inhabitants belong to the 'Ndrangheta, and the Sanctuary of Polsi has long been the meeting place of the affiliates." Bosses from outside Calabria , from as far as Canada and Australia , regularly attend the meetings at the Sanctuary of Polsi, an indication that the 'ndrine around the world perceive themselves as being part of the same collective entity. The basic local organizational unit of
1410-422: A given ' ndrina ." Indeed, since there is no limit to the membership of a single unit, bosses try to maximize descendants. At the bottom of the chain of command are the picciotti d'onore or soldiers, who are expected to perform tasks with blind obedience until they are promoted to the next level of cammorista , where they will be granted command over their own group of soldiers. The next level, separated by
1551-784: A history of the Goths, the Variae and account of his administrative career and the Institutiones divinarum et saecularium litterarum, an introduction to the study of the sacred scriptures and the liberal arts which was very influential in the Middle Ages. Byzantine (Eastern Roman) Emperor Justinian I, retook Italy from the Ostrogoths between 535 and 556. They soon lost much of Italy to the Lombards between 568 and 590, but retained
SECTION 10
#17327795676991692-472: A large number of Italian workers, mainly from Calabria. The fame of the master weavers of Catanzaro spread throughout France and they were invited to Lyon to teach the techniques of weaving. In 1470, one of these weavers, known in France as Jean Le Calabrais, invented the first prototype of a Jacquard -type loom. He introduced a new kind of machine which was able to work the yarns faster and more precisely. Over
1833-531: A large scale. In 1442, the Aragonese took control under Alfonso V of Aragon who became ruler under the Crown of Aragon . In 1501 Calabria came under the control of Ferdinand II of Aragon , whose wife Queen Isabella of Castille is famed for sponsoring the first voyage of Christopher Columbus in 1492. Calabria suffered greatly under Aragonese rule with heavy taxes, feuding landlords, starvation and sickness. After
1974-512: A man, mafiusu ( mafioso in Italian) in 19th century Sicily signified 'fearless', 'enterprising', and 'proud', according to scholar Diego Gambetta . In reference to a woman, however, the feminine-form adjective mafiusa means 'beautiful' or 'attractive'. Because Sicily was once an Islamic emirate from 831 to 1072, Mafia may have come to Sicilian through Arabic , although the word's origins are uncertain. Possible Arabic roots of
2115-723: A maximum width of 110 km (68 mi). Some 42% of Calabria's area, corresponding to 15,080 km , is mountainous, 49% is hilly, while plains occupy only 9% of the region's territory. It is surrounded by the Ionian and Tyrrhenian seas. It is separated from Sicily by the Strait of Messina , where the narrowest point between Capo Peloro in Sicily and Punta Pezzo in Calabria is only 3.2 km (2 mi). Three mountain ranges are present: Pollino , La Sila , and Aspromonte , each with its own flora and fauna. The Pollino Mountains in
2256-531: A result of a coordinated probe by investigators in Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal and Spain. Major investigations included getting a glimpse into inner workings of the organisation, including their crypto phones and services such as EncroChat and Sky ECC , which 'Ndrangheta resorted to using amid movement restrictions imposed over the COVID-19 pandemic . Also in 2023, it was alleged that links with
2397-457: A strong grip on the economy and governance in Calabria. According to a leaked US Embassy cable , the 'Ndrangheta controls huge segments of its territory and economy, and accounts for at least three percent of Italy's GDP through drug trafficking, extortion, skimming of public contracts, and usury. The principal difference with the Mafia is in recruitment methods. The 'Ndrangheta recruits members on
2538-529: A territory, usually a town or village, though without ever fully conquering and legitimizing its monopoly of violence. There are approximately 100 of these families, totaling between 4,000 and 5,000 members in Reggio Calabria . Other estimates mention 6,000–7,000 men. Worldwide there might be some 10,000 members. Most of the groups (86) operate in the Province of Reggio Calabria , although a portion of
2679-586: Is a region in Southern Italy . It is a peninsula bordered by Basilicata to the north, the Ionian Sea to the east, the Strait of Messina to the southwest, which separates it from Sicily , and the Tyrrhenian Sea to the west. It has almost 2 million residents across a total area of 15,222 km (5,877 sq mi). Catanzaro is the region's capital. Calabria is the birthplace of
2820-816: Is dotted with ancient villages, castles and archaeological parks. Three national parks are found in the region: the Pollino National Park (which is the largest in Italy), the Sila National Park and the Aspromonte National Park . Starting in the third century BC, the name Calabria was originally given to the Adriatic coast of the Salento peninsula in modern Apulia . In the late first century BC this name came to extend to
2961-780: Is formed by the Apulia Platform, which is part of the Adriatic Plate, and the Ragusa or Iblean Platform, which is an extension of the African Plate. These platforms are separated by the Ionian Basin . The Tyrrhenian oceanized basin is regarded as the back-arc basin . This subduction system therefore shows the southern plates of African affinity subducting below the northern plates of European affinity. The geology of Calabria has been studied for more than
SECTION 20
#17327795676993102-430: Is influenced by the sea and mountains. The Mediterranean climate is typical of the coastal areas with considerable differences in temperature and rainfall between the seasons, with an average low of 8 °C (46 °F) during the winter months and an average high of 30 °C (86 °F) during the summer months. Mountain areas have a typical mountainous climate with frequent snow during winter. The erratic behavior of
3243-546: Is not limited to Calabria. On 10 October 2012, the commissioner of Milan's regional government in charge of public housing, Domenico Zambetti of People of Freedom (PDL), was arrested on accusations he paid the 'Ndrangheta in exchange for an election victory and to extort favours and contracts from the housing official, including construction tenders for the World Expo 2015 in Milan . The probe of alleged vote-buying underscores
3384-483: Is seismically active and is generally ascribed to the re-establishment of an equilibrium after the latest (mid-Pleistocene) deformation phase. Some authors believe that the subduction process is still ongoing, which is a matter of debate. Calabria has one of the oldest records of human presence in Italy, which date back to around 700,000 BC when a type of Homo erectus evolved leaving traces around coastal areas. During
3525-443: Is to ask the local mafioso to oversee the transaction, in exchange for a fee proportional to the value of the transaction but below the legal tax. If the butcher cheats the grocer by selling rotten meat, the mafioso will punish the butcher. If the grocer cheats the butcher by not paying on time and in full, the mafioso will punish the grocer. Punishment might take the form of a violent assault or vandalism against property. The grocer and
3666-457: The 'ndrina but part of 'Ndrangheta, is known as santista and higher still is the vangelista , upon which the up-and-coming gangster has to swear their dedication to a life of crime on the Bible . The Quintino , also called Padrino , is the second-highest level of command in a 'Ndrangheta clan (name Ndrina ), being made up of five privileged members of the crime family who report directly to
3807-515: The Carabinieri arrested 33 suspects in the Calabrian mafia's Piromalli 'ndrina ('Ndrangheta) which was allegedly exporting fake extra virgin olive oil to the U.S.; the product was actually inexpensive olive pomace oil fraudulently labeled. In early 2016, the American television program 60 Minutes had warned that "the olive oil business has been corrupted by the Mafia" and that "Agromafia"
3948-616: The First 'Ndrangheta war (1974–77) killing 233 people. The prevailing factions began to kidnap rich people located in northern Italy for ransom. A high-profile case was the 1973 kidnapping of John Paul Getty III , who had his severed ear mailed to a newspaper in November, and later released in December following the negotiated payment of $ 2.2 million by Getty's grandfather, J. Paul Getty . There were reportedly more than 200 abductions between
4089-691: The Gambino family allows the 'Ndrangheta to use New York as a 'gym' to train new recruits. In November 2023, over 200 people connected to the 'Ndrangheta were convicted in the largest mafia trial for three decades. Despite more than 100 individuals being acquitted following the three year trial proceedings, it still represented a huge blow to the crime organisation's activities in Europe. Almost all defendants had been arrested in 2019. The 'Ndrangheta has established branches abroad, mainly through migration. The overlap of blood and mafia family seems to have helped
4230-519: The Gothic War , it became and remained for five centuries a Byzantine dominion, fully recovering its Greek character. Cenobitism flourished, with the rise throughout the peninsula of numerous churches, hermitages and monasteries in which Basilian monks were dedicated to transcription. The Byzantines introduced the art of silk in Calabria and made it the main silk production area in Europe . In
4371-882: The Iberian Peninsula is considered the main entry point for cocaine into Europe and a gateway to the European market. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) estimated that in 2007 nearly ten times as much cocaine was intercepted in Spain (almost 38 MT) in comparison with Italy (almost 4 MT). 'Ndrangheta groups and Sicilian Cosa Nostra groups sometimes act as joint ventures in cocaine trafficking enterprises. Further activities include skimming money off large public work construction projects, money laundering and traditional crimes such as usury and extortion . 'Ndrangheta invests illegal profits in legal real estate and financial activities. In early February 2017,
'Ndrangheta - Misplaced Pages Continue
4512-656: The Paleolithic period Stone Age humans created the " Bos Primigenius ", a figure of a bull on a cliff which dates back around 12,000 years in the Romito Cave in the town of Papasidero . When the Neolithic period came the first villages were founded around 3,500 BC. Around 1500 BC a tribe called the Oenotri ("vine-cultivators"), settled in the region. Ancient sources state they were Greeks who were led to
4653-529: The Peloritano Mountains (although some authors extend this domain from Naples in the north to Palermo in the southwest). The Calabrian area shows basement (crystalline and metamorphic rocks) of Paleozoic and younger ages, covered by (mostly Upper) Neogene sediments. Studies have revealed that these rocks comprise the upper part of a pile of thrust sheets which dominate the Apennines and
4794-686: The Tyrrhenian coast of Lucania), Laüs (on the border with Lucania) and Scidrus (on the Lucanian coast in the Gulf of Taranto ). Locri was renowned for being the town where Zaleucus created the first Western Greek law, the "Locrian Code" and the birthplace of ancient epigrammist and poet Nossis . The Greek cities of Calabria came under pressure from the Lucanians who conquered the north of Calabria and pushed further south, taking over part of
4935-549: The name of Italy , given to it by the Ancient Greeks who settled in this land starting from the 8th century BC . They established the first cities, mainly on the coast, as Greek colonies and during this period Calabria became the home of key figures in history such as Pythagoras , Herodotus and Milo . In Roman times, it was part of the Regio III Lucania et Bruttii , a region of Augustan Italy . After
5076-531: The " 'ndrina boss", according to the Antimafia Commission . The 'ndrina is usually in control of a small town or a neighborhood. If more than one 'ndrina operates in the same town, they form a locale . Blood family and membership of the crime family overlap to a great extent within the 'Ndrangheta. By and large, the 'ndrine consist of men belonging to the same family lineage. Salvatore Boemi, anti-mafia prosecutor in Reggio Calabria , told
5217-531: The "'Ndrangheta is now one of the most powerful criminal organizations in the world." Economic activities of 'Ndrangheta include international cocaine and weapons smuggling, with Italian investigators estimating that 80% of Europe's cocaine passes through the Calabrian port of Gioia Tauro and is controlled by the 'Ndrangheta. However, according to a report of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) and Europol ,
5358-487: The "Giants of the Sila" and can reach up to 40 m (130 ft) in height. The Sila National Park is also known to have the purest air in Europe. The Aspromonte massif forms the southernmost tip of the Italian peninsula bordered by the sea on three sides. This unique mountainous structure reaches its highest point at Montalto, at 1,995 m (6,545 ft), and is full of wide, man-made terraces that slope down toward
5499-421: The "Great Wood of Italy", is a vast mountainous plateau about 1,200 m (3,900 ft) above sea level and stretches for nearly 2,000 km (770 sq mi) along the central part of Calabria. The highest point is Botte Donato , which reaches 1,928 m (6,325 ft). The area boasts numerous lakes and dense coniferous forests. La Sila also has some of the tallest trees in Italy which are called
5640-615: The 'Ndrangheta expand beyond its traditional territory: "The familial bond has not only worked as a shield to protect secrets and enhance security, but also helped to maintain identity in the territory of origin and reproduce it in territories where the family has migrated." 'Ndrine are reported to be operating in northern Italy, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, France, the rest of Europe, the Americas, Australia, West Africa, and Asia. One group of 'ndranghetisti discovered outside Italy
5781-743: The 'Ndrangheta for their "adoration of evil and contempt of the common good" and vowed that the Church would help tackle organized crime, saying that Mafiosi were excommunicated . A spokesperson for the Vatican clarified that the pope's words did not constitute a formal excommunication under canon law , as a period of legal process is required beforehand. The 'Ndrangheta has expanded its activities to Northern Italy, mainly to sell drugs and to invest in legal businesses which could be used for money laundering. In May 2007 twenty members of 'Ndrangheta were arrested in Milan . On 30 August 2007, hundreds of police raided
'Ndrangheta - Misplaced Pages Continue
5922-572: The 'Ndrangheta had roots in the country and shipped cocaine through Spain to Milan and Turin . In October 2022, an Italian 'Ndrangheta mafia leader, Carmine Alfonso Maiorano, who was responsible for drug and arms trafficking operations between Latin America and Europe was captured in Guernica, Buenos Aires after years-long of manhunt. Known by the name " The Honoured Society ," the 'Ndrangheta controlled Italian-Australian organized crime all along
6063-587: The 'Ndrangheta in an operation involving 2,500 police. Among those arrested was Giancarlo Pittelli , a prominent lawyer and former member of Silvio Berlusconi 's Forza Italia party. The arrests were said by Nicola Gratteri , the chief prosecutor in Catanzaro , to be the second largest in number in the history of Italian organised crime, after those that led to the so-called " Maxi Trial " of Sicilian Mafia bosses in Palermo between 1986 and 1992. The trial against
6204-439: The 'Ndrangheta is called a locale (local or place) with jurisdiction over an entire town or an area in a large urban center. A locale may have branches, called 'ndrina (plural: 'ndrine ), in the districts of the same city, in neighbouring towns and villages, or even outside Calabria , in cities and towns in the industrial North of Italy in and around Turin and Milan : for example, Bardonecchia , an alpine town in
6345-452: The 'Ndrangheta mafia, specifically the Farao and Marincola clans based in Calabria. Assets worth € 50 million (£44/$ 59m) were seized. The indictment mentions that owners of German restaurants, ice cream parlours, hotels and pizzerias were forced to buy wine, pizza dough, pastries and other products made in southern Italy. The Farao clan was being led by life-imprisoned Giuseppe Farao, before
6486-483: The 'Ndrangheta restricted their Italian operations to Calabria, mainly involved in extortion and blackmail. Their involvement in cigarette contraband expanded their scope and contacts with the Sicilian Mafia and the Neapolitan Camorra . With the arrival of large public works in Calabria, skimming of public contracts became an important source of income. Disagreements over how to distribute the spoils led to
6627-421: The 'Ndrangheta. Sometimes sotto 'ndrine are established. These subunits enjoy a high degree of autonomy – they have a leader and independent staff. In some contexts the 'ndrine have become more powerful than the locale on which they formally depend. Other observers maintain that the 'ndrina is the basic organizational unit. Each 'ndrina is "autonomous on its territory and no formal authority stands above
6768-659: The 1060s the Normans , under the leadership of Robert Guiscard 's brother, Roger I of Sicily , established a presence in this borderland , and organized a government modeled on the Eastern Roman Empire and was run by the local magnates of Calabria. Of note is that the Normans established their presence here, in southern Italy (namely Calabria), 6 years prior to their conquest of England, (see The Battle of Hastings ). The purpose of this strategic presence in Calabria
6909-653: The 11th century, the Norman conquest started a slow process of Latinization. In Calabria there are three historical ethnolinguistics minorities: the Grecanici , speaking Calabrian Greek ; the Arbëreshë people ; and the Occitans of Guardia Piemontese . This extraordinary linguistic diversity makes the region an object of study for linguists from all over the world. Calabria is famous for its crystal clear sea waters and
7050-462: The 1950s, following wide-scale emigration from Calabria , 'Ndrangheta clans dispersed to other European countries, Australia and the Americas . Currently, its main activity is drug trafficking , but it also deals with arms trafficking , money laundering , racketeering , extortion , and loan sharking . It is capable of influencing local and national Italian politics, and infiltrating sectors of
7191-502: The 1950s, the chiefs of the 'Ndrangheta locali have met regularly near the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Polsi in the municipality of San Luca during the September Feast. These annual meetings, known as the crimine , have traditionally served as a forum to discuss future strategies and settle disputes among the locali . The assembly exercises weak supervisory powers over the activities of all 'Ndrangheta groups. Strong emphasis
SECTION 50
#17327795676997332-590: The 1970s and mid-1990s acredited to the 'Ndrangheta. The Second 'Ndrangheta war raged from 1985 to 1991. The bloody six-year war between the Condello - Imerti - Serraino - Rosmini clans and the De Stefano - Tegano - Libri -Latella clans led to more than 600 deaths. The Sicilian Mafia contributed to the end of the conflict and probably suggested the subsequent set up of a superordinate body, called La Provincia , to avoid further infighting. Deputy President of
7473-475: The 48 arrested, four were forced to house arrest and 44 were ordered to jail detention. Two-time mayor of Taurianova, Calabria and his former cabinet member were among the indicted. It was alleged by investigators that the Calabrian clans had infiltrated construction of public works, control of real estate brokerage, food fields, greenhouse production and renewable energy. On 9 January 2018, law enforcement in Italy and Germany arrested 169 people in connection with
7614-620: The Byzantine Emperor. Therefore, during the sixth century, under the Ostrogoths' rule, Romans could still be at the center of government and cultural life, such as the Roman Cassiodorus who, like Boethius and Symmachus, emerged as one of the most prominent men of his time. He was an administrator, politician, scholar and historian who was born in Scylletium (near Catanzaro). He spent most of his career trying to bridge
7755-414: The Calabrian part of the duchy was conquered by the Lombards during the eighth and ninth centuries AD, the Byzantines continued to use the name Calabria for their remaining territory in Bruttium. Originally the Greeks used Italoi to indicate the native population of modern Calabria, which according to some ancient Greek writers was derived from a legendary king of the Oenotri, Italus . Over time
7896-406: The German Federal Intelligence Service, the Bundesnachrichtendienst (BND), in a leaked report to a Berlin newspaper, states that the 'Ndrangheta "act in close co-operation with Albanian mafia families in moving weapons and narcotics across Europe's porous borders". In November 2006, a cocaine trafficking network that operated in Argentina, Spain and Italy was dismantled. The Argentinian police said
8037-400: The Greeks started to use Italoi for the rest of the southern Italian peninsula as well. After the Roman conquest of the region, the name was used for the entire Italian peninsula and eventually the Alpine region too. The region is generally known as the "toe" of the Italian Peninsula , and is a long and narrow peninsula which stretches from north to south for 248 km (154 mi), with
8178-462: The Italian Antimafia Commission that "one becomes a member for the simple fact of being born in a mafia family", although other reasons might attract a young man to seek membership, and non-kin have also been admitted. Marriages help cement relations within each 'ndrina and to expand membership. As a result, a few blood families constitute each group, hence "a high number of people with the same last name often end up being prosecuted for membership of
8319-501: The Italian penal code. Italy's highest court of last resort, the Supreme Court of Cassation , had ruled similarly in March 2010. In folk culture surrounding 'Ndrangheta in Calabria , references to the Spanish Garduña often appear. Aside from these references, however, there is nothing to substantiate a link between the two organizations. The Calabrian word 'Ndrangheta derives from the Greek word ἀνδραγαθία andragathía meaning "gallantry" or "manly virtue" or ἀνδράγαθος andrágathos ,
8460-611: The Lucanians and Bruttii sided with Pyrrhus and provided contingents which fought with his army. After Pyrrhus was eventually defeated, to avoid Roman revenge the Bruttii submitted willingly and gave up half of the Sila, a mountainous plateau valuable for its pitch and timber. Rome subjugated southern Italy by means of treaties with the cities. During the Second Punic War (218–201 BC) the Bruttii allied with Hannibal , who sent Hanno , one of his commanders, to Calabria. Hanno marched toward Capua (in Campania) with Bruttian soldiers to take them to Hannibal's headquarters there twice, but he
8601-512: The Mafia's function in the Sicilian economy. Suppose a grocer wants to buy meat from a butcher without paying sales tax to the government. Because this is a black market deal, neither party can take the other to court if the other cheats. The grocer is afraid that the butcher will sell him rotten meat. The butcher is afraid that the grocer will not pay him. If the butcher and the grocer cannot get over their mistrust and refuse to trade, they would both miss out on an opportunity for profit. Their solution
SECTION 60
#17327795676998742-413: The Normans previously constructed. After the death of Frederick II in 1250, Calabria was controlled by the Capetian House of Anjou , under the rule of Charles d’Anjou after being granted the crown of the Sicilian Kingdom by Pope Clement IV . In 1282, under Charles d’Anjou, Calabria became a domain of the newly created Kingdom of Naples , and no longer of the Kingdom of Sicily, after he lost Sicily due to
8883-548: The Pythian Games, nine events in the Nemean Games and ten events in the Isthmian Games and also Astylos of Croton , who won six running events in three Olympics in a row. Through Alcmaeon of Croton (a philosopher and medical theorist) and Pythagoras (a mathematician and philosopher), who moved to Kroton in 530 BC, the city became a renowned center of philosophy, science and medicine. The Greeks of Sybaris created "Intellectual Property." The Sybarites founded at least 20 other colonies, including Poseidonia ( Paestum in Latin, on
9024-446: The Romans and Calabria was put under a military commander. Nearly a decade after the war, the Romans set up colonies in Calabria: at Tempsa and Kroton (Croto in Latin) in 194 BC, Copiae in the territory of Thurii (Thurium in Latin) in 193 BC, and Vibo Valentia in the territory of Hipponion in 192 BC. Starting in the third century BC, the name Calabria was given to the Adriatic coast of the Salento peninsula in modern Apulia . In
9165-432: The Sicilian Maghrebides . The Neogene evolution of the Central Mediterranean system is dominated by the migration of the Calabrian Arc to the southeast, overriding the African Plate and its promontories. ) The main tectonic elements of the Calabrian Arc are the southern Apennines fold-and-thrust belt, the "Calabria-Peloritani", or simply Calabrian block and the Sicilian Maghrebides fold-and-thrust belt. The foreland area
9306-417: The Sicilian Mafia or the Italian-American Mafia and sometimes Italian organized crime in general (e.g., Camorra , 'Ndrangheta , etc.). Today the 'Ndrangheta, originating in the southern Italian region of Calabria , is widely considered the richest and most powerful Mafia in the world. The 'Ndrangheta has been around for as long as the better-known Sicilian Cosa Nostra, but was only recently designated as
9447-496: The Sun " and would later defend Galileo Galilei during his first trial with his work "A Defense of Galileo", which was written in 1616 and published in 1622. In 1613 philosopher and economist Antonio Serra wrote "A Short Treatise on the Wealth and Poverty of Nations" and was a pioneer in the Mercantilist tradition. During the 17th century, silk production in Calabria begin to suffer by the strong competition of new-raising competitors in Italian Peninsula and Europe (France), but also
9588-422: The Tyrrhenian Sea can bring heavy rainfall on the western slopes of the region, while hot air from Africa makes the east coast of Calabria dry and warm. The mountains that run along the region also influence the climate and temperature of the region. The east coast is much warmer and has wider temperature ranges than the west coast. The geography of the region causes more rain to fall along the west coast than that of
9729-526: The arbitration of disputes between criminals, as well as the organization and enforcement of illicit agreements between criminals through the use of threat or violence. Mafias often engage in secondary activities such as gambling , loan sharking , drug-trafficking , prostitution , and fraud . The term Mafia was originally applied to the Sicilian Mafia . Since then, the term has expanded to encompass other organizations of similar methods and purpose, e.g. "the Russian Mafia" or "the Japanese Mafia". The term
9870-518: The areas of Calabria rich in olives and vines were distinct from the often anarchic forms of local banditry and were organized hierarchically with a code of conduct that included omertà – the code of silence – according to a sentence from the court in Reggio Calabria in 1890. An 1897 sentence from the court in Palmi mentioned a written code of rules found in the village of Seminara based on honour , secrecy, violence, solidarity, often based on blood relationships, and mutual assistance. Until 1975,
10011-507: The arrests were the most important step taken against the 'Ndrangehta in the past 20 years. Eleven suspects were detained, and accused of blackmailing and money laundering. They were deported back to Italy. Alessandro Figliomeni, former mayor of Siderno, Calabria , was sentenced to 12 years in prison on 7 May 2018. He is alleged to be a member of the Commisso 'ndrina clan and served in the top hierarchy. In December 2019, more than 300 people were arrested in Calabria on suspicion of belonging to
10152-552: The arrests, and was passing orders onto his sons. They controlled bakeries, vineyards, olive groves, funeral homes, launderettes, plastic recycling plants and shipyards. The waste disposal of the Ilva steel company based in Taranto was also infiltrated. Some of the charges were mafia association, attempted murder, money laundering, extortion and illegal weapons possession and trafficking. Italian prosecutor Nicola Gratteri said that
10293-546: The beginning of the tenth century ( c. 903 ), the city of Catanzaro was occupied by the Muslim Saracens , who founded an emirate and took the Arab name of قطنصار – Qaṭanṣār. An Arab presence is evidenced by findings at an eighth-century necropolis which had items with Arabic inscriptions. Around the year 1050, Catanzaro rebelled against Saracen dominance and returned to a brief period of Byzantine control. In
10434-625: The board north of Toronto has the authority to make decisions, not only in relation to Canada's underworld, but also abroad, even back in Siderno". In 2007, Italian anti-organized crime agencies estimated that the 'Ndrangheta has an annual revenue of about € 35–40 billion ( US$ 35–40 billion), which amounts to approximately 3.5% of the GDP of Italy. This comes mostly from illegal drug trafficking, but also from ostensibly legal businesses such as construction, restaurants and supermarkets. The 'Ndrangheta has
10575-465: The boss, the capobastone (head of command). During a 2018 trial in Toronto, ex-mobster Carmine Guido told the court that the 'Ndrangheta is a collection of family-based clans, each with its own boss, working within a uniform structure and under board of control. For many years, the power apparatus of the single families were the sole ruling bodies within the two associations, and they have remained
10716-520: The butcher both fear the mafioso, so each honors their side of the bargain. All three parties profit. Introduced by Pio La Torre , article 416-bis of the Italian Penal Code defines a Mafia-type association (Italian: associazione di tipo mafioso ) as one where "those belonging to the association exploit the potential for intimidation which their membership gives them, and the compliance and omertà which membership entails and which lead to
10857-682: The clans on the Ionic side (the Aspromonte mountains and Locride ) of Calabria, a second for the Tyrrhenian side (the plains of Gioia Tauro ) and one central mandamento for the city of Reggio Calabria . An article published in July 2019 in Canada, summarized the traditional structure. "For decades, the 'Ndrangheta families of Siderno operating in Canada—about seven of them—have been governed by
10998-511: The clans remain single territorial units, based on blood and family ties, and do not act jointly with a common strategic design. The name "'Ndrangheta" is more like a brand, rather than describing a tightly knit organisation. According to Sergi "the misconception of the 'Ndrangheta as a single organisation is likely to work to the advantage of such groups" and "invoke the 'Ndrangheta's formidable international reputation to exploit weak political systems, invest in new ventures and grow." At least since
11139-567: The coast of Calabria with his fleet, took Hipponium and forced the Bruttii into unfavourable peace terms. However, they soon seized Hipponium again. After Agathloces' death in 289 BC the Lucanians and Bruttii pushed into the territory of Thurii and ravaged it. The city sent envoys to Rome to ask for help in 285 BC and 282 BC. On the second occasion, the Romans sent forces to garrison the city. This
11280-434: The committing of crimes, the direct or indirect assumption of management or control of financial activities, concessions, permissions, enterprises and public services for the purpose of deriving profit or wrongful advantages for themselves or others". Mafia-proper can refer to either: Italian criminal organizations include: [REDACTED] The dictionary definition of mafia at Wiktionary Calabria Calabria
11421-475: The creation in the 'Ndrangheta of a secret society within the secret society: La Santa . Membership in the Santa is known only to other members. Contrary to the code, it allowed bosses to establish close connections with state representatives, even to the extent that some were affiliated with the Santa . These connections were often established through Freemasonry , which the santisti – breaking another rule of
11562-470: The criterion of blood relationships resulting in an extraordinary cohesion within the family clan that presents a major obstacle to investigation. Sons of ' ndranghetisti are expected to follow in their fathers' footsteps, and go through a grooming process in their youth to become giovani d'onore ('boys of honour') before they eventually enter the ranks as uomini d'onore ('men of honour'). There are relatively few Calabrian mafiosi who have opted out to become
11703-535: The cultivation of mulberry was difficult in Northern and Continental Europe, merchants and operators used to purchase in Calabria raw materials to finish the products and resell them for a better price. The Genoese silk artisans used fine Calabrian silk for the production of velvets. In particular, the silk of Catanzaro supplied almost all of Europe and was sold in a large market fair to Spanish, Venetian , Genoese , Florentine and Dutch merchants. Catanzaro became
11844-583: The death of Domenico Italiano, known as Il Papa, different clans tried to gain control over the produce market. At the time it was unclear that most involved were affiliated with the 'Ndrangheta. Mafia " Mafia ", as an informal or general term, is often used to describe criminal organizations that bear a strong similarity to the original Mafia in Sicily , to the Italian-American Mafia , or to other organized crime groups from Italy . The central activity of such an organization would be
11985-515: The divides of East and West, Greek and Latin cultures, Romans and Goths, and official Christianity and Arian Christianity , which was the form of Christianity of the Ostrogoths and which had earlier been banned. He set up his Vivarium (monastery) in Scylletium. He oversaw the collation of three editions of the Bible in Latin. Seeing the practicality of uniting all the books of the Bible in one volume, he
12126-581: The duchy of Calabria. Around the year 800, Saracens began invading the shores of Calabria, attempting to wrest control of the area from the Byzantines. This group of Arabs had already been successful in Sicily and knew that Calabria was another key spot. The people of Calabria retreated into the mountains for safety. Although the Arabs never really got a stronghold on the whole of Calabria, they did control some villages while enhancing trade relations with
12267-738: The east coast of Australia since the early 20th century. 'Ndrangheta operating in Australia include the Sergi, Barbaro and Papalia clans. Similarly in Victoria the major families are named as Italiano, Arena, Muratore, Benvenuto, and Condello. In the 1960s warfare among 'Ndrangheta clans broke out over the control of the Victoria Market in Melbourne , where an estimated $ 45 million worth of fruits and vegetables passed through each year. After
12408-504: The east coast, which occurs mainly during winter and autumn and less during the summer months. Below are the two extremes of climate in Calabria, the warm mediterranean subtype on the coastline and the highland climate of Monte Scuro. Calabria is commonly considered part of the "Calabrian Arc", an arc-shaped geographic domain extending from the southern part of the Basilicata Region to the northeast of Sicily , and including
12549-474: The eastern world. In 918, Saracens captured Reggio (which was renamed Rivà ), holding many of its inhabitants to ransom or keeping them prisoners as slaves. It is during this time of Arab invasions that many staples of today's Calabrian cuisine came into fashion: Citrus fruits and eggplants for example. Exotic spices such as cloves and nutmeg were also introduced. Under the Byzantine dominion, between
12690-491: The end of the 19th century, some stable mechanisms for coordination and dispute settlement have existed. Contacts and meetings among the bosses of the locali were frequent. A investigation, known as Operation Crimine, which ended in July 2010 with an arrest of 305 'Ndrangheta members revealed that the 'Ndrangheta was extremely "hierarchical, united and pyramidal", and not just clan-based as previously believed, as said by Italy's chief anti-mafia prosecutor Pietro Grasso. Although
12831-438: The end of the 9th and the beginning of the 10th century, Calabria was one of the first regions of Italy to introduce silk production to Europe. According to André Guillou, mulberry trees for the production of raw silk were introduced to southern Italy by the Byzantines at the end of the ninth century. Around 1050 the theme of Calabria had 24,000, mulberry trees cultivated for their foliage, and their number tended to expand. At
12972-706: The entirety of the Salento, when the Roman emperor Augustus divided Italy into regions. The whole region of Apulia received the name Regio II Apulia et Calabria . By this time modern Calabria was still known as Bruttium , after the Bruttians who inhabited the region. Later in the seventh century AD, the Byzantine Empire created the Duchy of Calabria from the Salento and the Ionian part of Bruttium. Even though
13113-494: The first King of Sicily and formed what would become the Kingdom of Sicily , which lasted nearly 700 years. Under the Normans southern Italy was united as one region and started a feudal system of land ownership in which the Normans were made lords of the land while peasants performed all the work on the land. In 1147, Roger II of Sicily attacked Corinth and Thebes , two important centers of Byzantine silk production, capturing
13254-558: The groups and families that comprise the Sicilian Mafia that other criminal groups are given the label. Giovanni Falcone , an anti-Mafia judge murdered by the Sicilian Mafia in 1992, objected to the conflation of the term Mafia with organized crime in general: While there was a time when people were reluctant to pronounce the word "Mafia" ... nowadays people have gone so far in the opposite direction that it has become an overused term ... I am no longer willing to accept
13395-657: The habit of speaking of the Mafia in descriptive and all-inclusive terms that make it possible to stack up phenomena that are indeed related to the field of organized crime but that have little or nothing in common with the Mafia. Scholars such as Diego Gambetta and Leopoldo Franchetti have characterized the Sicilian Mafia as a cartel of private protection firms whose primary business is protection racketeering : they use their fearsome reputation for violence to deter people from swindling, robbing, or competing with those who pay them for protection. For many businessmen in Sicily, they provide an essential service when they cannot rely on
13536-475: The infiltration of the 'Ndrangheta in the political machine of Italy's affluent northern Lombardy region. Zambetti's arrest marked the biggest case of 'Ndrangheta infiltration so far uncovered in northern Italy and prompted calls for Lombardy governor Roberto Formigoni to resign. On 12 December 2017, 48 members of 'Ndrangheta were arrested for mafia association, extortion, criminal damage, fraudulent transferral of assets and illegal possession of firearms. Out of
13677-613: The interior, probably after they defeated the Thurians near Laus in 390 BC. A few decades later the Bruttii took advantage of the weakening of the Greek cites caused by wars between them and took over Hipponium, Terina and Thurii. The Bruttii helped the Lucanians fight Alexander of Epirus (334–32 BC), who had come to the aid of Tarentum (in Apulia ), which was also pressured by the Lucanians. After this, Agathocles of Syracuse ravaged
13818-519: The lace capital of Europe with a large silkworm breeding facility that produced all the laces and linens used in the Vatican . The city was known for its fabrication of silks, velvets, damasks and brocades. In the 15th century, Catanzaro was exporting both its silk cloth and its technical skills to neighbouring Sicily . By the middle of the century, silk spinning was taking place in Catanzaro, on
13959-550: The late first century BC this name came to extend to the entirety of the Salento, when the Roman emperor Augustus divided Italy into regions and modern Calabria was known as Regio III Lucania et Bruttii. After sacking Rome in 410, Alaric I (King of the Visigoths) went to Calabria with the intention of sailing to Africa. He contracted malaria and died in Cosentia ( Cosenza ), probably of fever. Legend has it that he along with
14100-500: The legal definition of the 'Ndrangheta as a hierarchical structure is legally attractive because of the wider possibilities in Italian criminal law to convict criminals from different clans through the doctrine of criminal association, criminologists have challenged the view of the 'Ndrangheta as a stable, monolithic criminal association. While there are coordinating structures, according to criminologist Anna Sergi, these are mainly used by distinct clans to boost business and share risks, but
14241-438: The legal economy in Italy and some other countries. In 2013, they purportedly made €53 billion. In 2010, a US diplomat estimated that the organization's drug trafficking, extortion and money laundering activities accounted for at least three per cent of Italy's GDP . The 'Ndrangheta has existed for as long as the better-known Sicilian Cosa Nostra, but was only designated as a Mafia -type association in 2010 under Article 416 bis of
14382-420: The local government. This was the first time a government of a capital of a provincial government was dismissed. Three central government-appointed administrators governed the city for 18 months until new elections. The move came after unnamed councilors were suspected of having ties to the 'Ndrangheta under the 10-year centre-right rule of Mayor Giuseppe Scopelliti . 'Ndrangheta infiltration of political offices
14523-423: The more than 300 'Ndrangheta members began on 13 January 2021. In early May 2023, a police crackdown on the 'Ndrangheta network on suspicion of cocaine smuggling, money laundering and several other offences got 108 people arrested in Italy by Carabinieri and 30 people arrested in several states of Germany by over 1,000 police officers. The raids were prepared four years into highly secretive investigations and were
14664-504: The most important facts taking place in his territory such as kidnappings, homicides, etc." The historical preeminence of the San Luca family is such that every new group or locale must obtain its authorization to operate and every group belonging to the 'Ndrangheta "still has to deposit a small percentage of illicit proceeds to the principale of San Luca in recognition of the latter's primordial supremacy". Security concerns have led to
14805-487: The most senior administrative officials) in 523. He was praetorian prefect (chief minister) under the successors of Theodoric: under Athalaric (Theodoric's grandson, reigned 526–34) in 533 and, between 535 and 537, under Theodahad (Theodoric's nephew, reigned 534–36) and Witiges (Theodoric's grandson-in-law, reigned, 536–40). The major works of Cassiodorus, besides the mentioned bibles, were the Historia Gothorum,
14946-442: The north of the region are rugged and form a natural barrier separating Calabria from the rest of Italy. Parts of the area are heavily wooded, while others are vast, wind-swept plateaus with little vegetation. These mountains are home to a rare Bosnian Pine variety and are included in the Pollino National Park , which is the largest national park in Italy, covering 1,925.65 square kilometres. La Sila , which has been referred to as
15087-795: The organization. In the 2018 book, The Good Mothers: The True Story of the Women Who Took on the World's Most Powerful Mafia , Alex Perry reports that the Calabrian 'Ndrangheta has, for the past decade, been replacing the Sicilian Cosa Nostra as the primary drug traffickers in North America. According to Italian DIA ( Direzione Investigativa Antimafia , Department of the Police of Italy against organized crime) and Guardia di Finanza (Italian Financial Police and Customs Police)
15228-499: The police and judiciary to enforce their contracts and protect their properties from thieves (this is often because they are engaged in black market deals). The [Sicilian] Mafia's principal activities are settling disputes among other criminals, protecting them against each other's cheating, and organizing and overseeing illicit agreements, often involving many agents, such as illicit cartel agreements in otherwise legal industries. Scholars have observed that many other societies around
15369-633: The presence of so-called camorristi , a term used at the time since there was no formal name for the phenomenon in Calabria (the Camorra was the older and better known criminal organization in Naples ). Since the 1880s, there is ample evidence of 'Ndrangheta-type groups in police reports and sentences by local courts. At the time they were often being referred to as the picciotteria , onorata società (honoured society), ' ndrina , Famiglia Montalbano , fibbia , or camorra and mafia . These secret societies in
15510-549: The province of Turin in Piedmont , where the presence of the 'Ndrangheta has been attested since the early 60s. In 1995 Bardonecchia has been, the first municipality in northern Italy dissolved for alleged mafia infiltration, with the arrest of Rocco Lo Presti , the historical 'Ndrangheta boss of Bardonecchia and Susa Valley . The small towns of Corsico and Buccinasco in Lombardy are considered to be strongholds of
15651-552: The real centres of power even after superordinate bodies were created in the Cosa Nostra beginning in the 1950s (the Sicilian Mafia Commission ) and in the 'Ndrangheta a superordinate body was created only in 1991 as the result of negotiations to end years of inter-family violence. However, the absolute autonomy of Calabrian crime families prior to this is not supported by historical evidence. At least since
15792-475: The rebellion of the Sicilian Vespers . During the 14th century, would emerge Barlaam of Seminara who would be Petrarch 's Greek teacher and his disciple Leonzio Pilato , who would translate Homer's works for Giovanni Boccaccio . While the cultivation of mulberry was moving first steps in northern Italy , silk made in Calabria reached the peak of 50% of the whole Italian/European production. As
15933-475: The recorded 70 criminal groups based in the Calabrian provinces Catanzaro and Cosenza also appear to be formally affiliated with the 'Ndrangheta. The families are concentrated in poor villages in Calabria such as Platì , Locri , San Luca , Africo and Altomonte as well as the main city and provincial capital Reggio Calabria . San Luca is considered to be the stronghold of the 'Ndrangheta. According to
16074-859: The region by their king, Oenotrus . However it is believed they were an ancient Italic people who spoke an Italic language. During the eighth and seventh centuries BC, Greek settlers founded many colonies (settlements) on the coast of southern Italy. In Calabria they founded Chone ( Pallagorio ), Cosentia ( Cosenza ), Clampetia ( Amantea ), Scyllaeum ( Scilla ), Sybaris ( Sibari ), Hipponion ( Vibo Valentia ), Locri Epizephyrii ( Locri ), Kaulon ( Monasterace ), Krimisa ( Cirò Marina ), Kroton ( Crotone ), Laüs ( comune of Santa Maria del Cedro ), Medma ( Rosarno ), Metauros ( Gioia Tauro ), Petelia ( Strongoli ), Rhégion ( Reggio Calabria ), Scylletium ( Borgia ), Temesa ( Campora San Giovanni ), Terina ( Nocera Terinese ), Pandosia ( Acri ) and Thurii , (Thurio, comune of Corigliano Calabro ). Rhegion
16215-639: The region. The 10th-century church in Rossano, together with the "twin" church of Sant'Adriano in San Demetrio Corone (foundation 955, rebuilt by the Normans on the, still, visible foundations of the previous Byzantine church), are considered between the best preserved Byzantine churches in Italy. They were both built by St. Nilus the Younger as a retreat for the monks who lived in the tufa grottos underneath. The present name of Calabria comes from
16356-517: The regional parliament of Calabria Francesco Fortugno was killed by the 'Ndrangheta on 16 October 2005 in Locri . Demonstrations against the organization then ensued, with young protesters carrying banderoles reading " Ammazzateci tutti !", Italian for "Kill us all". The national government started a large-scale enforcement operation in Calabria and arrested numerous 'ndranghetisti including the murderers of Fortugno. In June 2014, Pope Francis denounced
16497-500: The sea. Most of the lower terrain in Calabria has been agricultural for centuries, and exhibits indigenous scrubland as well as introduced plants such as the prickly pear cactus . The lowest slopes are rich in vineyards and orchards of citrus fruit, including the Diamante citron . Further up, olives and chestnut trees appear while in the higher regions there are often dense forests of oak, pine, beech and fir trees. Calabria's climate
16638-544: The simultaneous growth of prices, and became one of the most important Mediterranean markets for silk. In 1563 philosopher and natural scientist Bernardino Telesio wrote "On the Nature of Things according to their Own Principles" and pioneered early modern empiricism. He would also influence the works of Francis Bacon, René Descartes, Giordano Bruno, Tommaso Campanella and Thomas Hobbes. In 1602 philosopher and poet Tommaso Campanella wrote his most famous work, " The City of
16779-494: The south for around 500 years until 1059–1071, where they thrived and where the Greek language was the official and vernacular language. In Calabria and towns such as Stilo and Rossano and San Demetrio Corone achieved great religious status. From the 7th Century many monasteries were built in the Amendolea and Stilaro Valleys and Stilo was the destination of hermits and Basilian monks. Many Byzantine churches are still seen in
16920-411: The term krysha . With the [Russian] state in collapse and the security forces overwhelmed and unable to police contract law, ... cooperating with the criminal culture was the only option. ... most businessmen had to find themselves a reliable krysha under the leadership of an effective vor . In his analysis of the Sicilian Mafia, Gambetta provided the following hypothetical scenario to illustrate
17061-407: The town had about 16,000 inhabitants, its silk industry kept 1,000 looms, and at least 5,000 people, busy. The silk textiles of Catanzaro were not only sold at the kingdom 's markets, they were also exported to Venice, France, Spain and England. In the 16th century, Calabria was characterized by a strong demographic and economic development, mainly due to the increasing demand of silk products and
17202-588: The town of San Luca , the focal point of the bitter San Luca feud between rival clans among the 'Ndrangheta. Over 30 men and women, linked to the killing of six Italian men in Germany, were arrested. On 4 June 2012, numerous arrests in Spain, Croatia, Slovenia, Italy, the Netherlands, Bulgaria, and Finland were made following the Milan District Anti-Mafia Prosecutor's Office investigation into several Switzerland bank accounts and
17343-518: The traditional code – were allowed to join. Since the end of the Second 'Ndrangheta war in 1991, the 'Ndrangheta is ruled by a collegial body or Commission, known as La Provincia . Its primary function is the settlement of inter-family disputes. The body, also referred to as the Commission in reference to its Sicilian counterpart , is composed of three lower bodies, known as mandamenti . One for
17484-821: The treasure of Rome were buried under the bed of the River Busento. With the fall of the western part of the Roman Empire in 476, Italy was taken over by the Germanic chieftain Odoacer and later became part of the Ostrogothic Kingdom in 489. The Ostrogothic kings ruled officially as Magistri Militum of the Byzantine Emperors and all government and administrative positions were held by the Romans, while all primary laws were legislated by
17625-782: The use of 'Ndrangheta as a name for the Calabrian mafia was adopted by Calabrian mafiosi themselves around the time it first appeared in the documentary sources of the Carabinieri in the late 1920s. The word 'Ndrangheta was brought to a wider audience by the Calabrian writer Corrado Alvaro in the Corriere della Sera in September 1955. Both the Sicilian Cosa Nostra and the 'Ndrangheta are loose confederations of about one hundred organized groups, also called cosche or families, each of which claims sovereignty over
17766-418: The use of the term Mafia began appearing in the Italian state's early reports on the phenomenon. The word made its first official appearance in 1865 in a report by the prefect of Palermo Filippo Antonio Gualterio [ it ] . The term Mafia was never officially used by Sicilian mafiosi, who prefer to refer to their organization as " Cosa Nostra ". Nevertheless, it is typically by comparison to
17907-509: The weavers and their equipment and establishing his own silkworks in Calabria, thereby causing the Norman silk industry to flourish. In 1194, Frederick II , took control of the region, after inheriting the Kingdom from his mother Constance, Queen of Sicily . He created a kingdom that blended cultures, philosophy and customs and would build several castles, while fortifying existing ones which
18048-432: The word 'Ndrangheta (courage, martial prowess, manliness) indicate that the 'Ndrangheta as a social phenomenon was rooted in the same positive values, and that it only later degenerated into criminality." A historical and sociological approach shows that 'Ndrangheta is actually the most recent of many earlier descriptions of the phenomenon of organised crime in Calabria. Historical evidence suggests, according to Dickie, that
18189-670: The word include: The public's association of the word with the criminal secret society was perhaps inspired by the 1863 play I mafiusi di la Vicaria ('The Mafiosi of the Vicaria') by Giuseppe Rizzotto and Gaspare Mosca. The words Mafia and mafiusi are never mentioned in the play. The play is about a Palermo prison gang with traits similar to the Mafia: a boss, an initiation ritual, and talk of umirtà ( omertà or code of silence) and pizzu (a codeword for extortion money). The play had great success throughout Italy. Soon after,
18330-529: The world have criminal organizations of their own that provide the same sort of protection service. For instance, in Russia, after the collapse of communism, the state security system had all but collapsed, forcing businessmen to hire criminal gangs to enforce their contracts and protect their properties from thieves. These gangs are popularly called "the Russian Mafia" by foreigners, but they prefer to go by
18471-441: The years, improvements to the loom were ongoing. Charles V of Spain formally recognized the growth of the silk industry of Catanzaro in 1519 by allowing the city to establish a consulate of the silk craft, charged with regulating and check in the various stages of a production that flourished throughout the sixteenth century. At the moment of the creation of its guild, the city declared that it had over 500 looms . By 1660, when
18612-410: Was $ 16-billion per year enterprise. The business volume of the 'Ndrangheta is estimated at almost € 44 billion in 2007, approximately 2.9% of Italy's GDP , according to a private research institute, Eurispes (Institute of Political, Economic and Social Studies) in Italy. Drug trafficking is the most profitable activity with 62% of the total turnover. In 1861, the prefect of Reggio Calabria noticed
18753-584: Was born in San Marco Argentano , would be one of the leaders in the first crusade. Of particular note is the Via Francigena , an ancient pilgrim route that goes from Canterbury to Rome and southern Italy, reaching Calabria, Basilicata and Apulia, where the crusaders lived, prayed and trained, respectively. In 1098, Roger I of Sicily was named the equivalent of an apostolic legate by Pope Urban II . His son Roger II of Sicily later became
18894-532: Was coined by the press and is informal; the criminal organizations themselves have their own names (e.g. the Sicilian Mafia and the related Italian-American Mafia refer to their organizations as "Cosa Nostra"; the "Japanese Mafia" calls itself "Ninkyō dantai", but is more commonly known as " Yakuza " by the public; "Russian Mafia" groups often call themselves " bratva "). "Chinese Mafia" groups are often referred to as Triads . When used alone and without any qualifier, "Mafia" or "the Mafia" typically refers to either
19035-505: Was defeated on both occasions. When his campaign in Italy came to a dead end, Hannibal took refuge in Calabria, whose steep mountains provided protection against the Roman legions. He set up his headquarters in Kroton and stayed there for four years until he was recalled to Carthage. The Romans fought a battle with him near Kroton, but its details are unknown. Many Calabrian cities surrendered to
19176-682: Was in Ontario , Canada, several decades ago. They were dubbed the Siderno Group by Canadian judges as most of its members hailed from and around Siderno . Magistrates in Calabria warned a few years ago about the international scale of the 'Ndrangheta's operations. It is now believed to have surpassed the traditional axis between the Sicilian and American Cosa Nostra , to become the major importer of cocaine to Europe. Outside Italy 'Ndrangheta operates in several countries, such as: According to
19317-591: Was part of the episode which sparked the Pyrrhic war. At the beginning of the 3rd century BC the cities of southern Italy, which had been allies of the Samnites, were still independent but inevitably came into conflict as a result of Rome's continuous expansion as their expansion in central and northern Italy had not been sufficient to provide new arable lands they needed. During the Pyrrhic War (280–275 BC)
19458-418: Was placed on the temporary character of the position of the crimine boss. A new representative was elected at each meeting. Far from being the "boss of bosses", the capo crimine actually has comparatively little authority to interfere in family feuds or to control the level of interfamily violence. At these meetings, every boss "must give account of all the activities carried out during the year and of all
19599-400: Was the birthplace of one of the famed nine lyric poets , Ibycus and Metauros was the birthplace of another, Stesichorus , who was amongst the first lyric poets of the western world. Kroton spawned many victors during the ancient Olympics and other Panhellenic Games. Amongst the most famous were Milo of Croton , who won six wrestling events in six Olympics in a row, along with seven events in
19740-633: Was the first who produced Latin Bibles in single volumes. The most well-known of them was the Codex Grandior which was the ancestor of all modern western Bibles. Cassiodorus was at the heart of the administration of the Ostrogothic kingdom. Theodoric made him quaestor sacri palatii (quaestor of the sacred palace, the senior legal authority) in 507, governor of Lucania and Bruttium, consul in 514 and magister officiorum (master of offices, one of
19881-554: Was to lay the foundations for the Crusades 30 years later, and for the creation of two Kingdoms: the Kingdom of Jerusalem, and the Kingdom of Sicily. Ships would sail from Calabria to the Holy Land. This made Calabria one of the richest regions in Europe as princes from the noble families of England, France and other regions, constructed secondary residences and palaces here, on their way to the Holy Land. Guiscard's son Bohemond , who
#698301