Una «rivoluzione» europea. Napoli, Masaniello e la repubblica del 1647-48

What was the revolt of 1647–48 in the Kingdom of Naples? It was not merely an outburst of popular rage, but one of the “six contemporary revolutions”—as they were perceived in the 1640s—alongside the Catalan revolt, the Portuguese secession, the English Revolution, the uprisings in Sicily, and the French Fronde: all signs of a world “out of joint.” It was not a class war, although there were certainly socio-economic drivers and conflicts between the excluded and the castes of an Ancien Régime that looked much the same across most of Europe. Masaniello was not the only key figure, even though he played a major role during the first ten days, rallying both the more organized popular classes and the common people around shared anti-fiscal, anti-noble, and political goals—specifically, equal representation in the capital’s government. The revolt lasted nearly a year and spread to the Kingdom’s provinces. It was shaped by political ideas and objectives circulating throughout Europe and had both domestic and international repercussions—affecting the balance of power within the Spanish Empire, influencing European relations, and giving rise to the enduring and extraordinary legend of Masaniello.