L'Italia contesa : Nazione Napoletana e Nazione Italiana in Giacinto De Sivo

Giacinto De Sivo (Maddaloni 1814 – Rome 1867) was the leading pro-Bourbon historian after the fall of the Kingdom of Naples and his books provided the main intellectual support in the struggle to undermine the legitimacy of the Kingdom of Italy. At a closer analysis, however, his image of the Neapolitan nation profoundly differs from other legitimist authors. Although recognising the traditional pillars of the Neapolitan national consciousness, De Sivo was well aware of how the latter was inseparable from the broader Italian nation. At the same time, his works offered valuable insights into the political crisis of Naples and the brigandage that followed the birth of Italy.