Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)/Fra Diavolo

FRA DIAVOLO ("The Devil's Brother"), a Neapolitan robber, whose real name was Michael Pezza; born in Calabria, 1760. He began life as a stocking-maker, after which he became a friar, and in this capacity was the leader of a gang of banditti in Calabria. In 1799 he assisted Cardinal Ruffo, who headed the counter-revolutionists in favor of the Bourbons of Naples. For this he received a pardon of his crimes, and a pension of 3,600 ducats, with which he was enabled to purchase an estate. He lived in peace till 1806, when he rose again in favor of the expelled Bourbons. He entered Spalinga, and threw open the prisons, when he was joined by large numbers of lazzaroni; but after a severe engagement with the Bonapartists, he was taken prisoner, condemned, and summarily executed in the same year. Auber, the French musical composer, has written one of his best operas founded on the adventures of this bandit.