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- BIOGRAPHY
Bartolomeo Caracvzolus dictus Carafa was born about 1300, the son of Bartolomeo I Carafa and Teodora del Gaudio. A member of the nobility, he was a representative in the Parliament summoned by Robert d'Anjou, king of Naples and Sicily, in 1332. Probably in the same capacity he was also present at the signing of the treaty concluded in Naples on 17 June 1341 to ratify the anti-imperial league with Florence and other cities in north-central Italy. On 26 November 1343 he was appointed _maestro razionale_ of the royal court, responsible for its financial and fiscal affairs. In 1344, when the papal legate, Cardinal Aymeric de Chalus, came to Naples to attend to the administrative reform of the kingdom, Bartolomeo was appointed to his Board. On the death of _maestro razionale_ Guglielmo do Gioia, the papal legate wanted Bartolomeo to succeed him in office, and he solicited and obtained from Pope Clement VI a recommendation to Giovanna I d'Anjou, queen of Naples and Sicily, that she approve the appointment.
It is unclear if Bartolomeo participated in the murder in 1345 of András, prince of Hungary, the first husband of the queen, though it appears that he was among those who were reported on 6 March 1346 under torture by the steward Raimondo da Catania, who was arrested for the murder but managed to escape. However on 27 January 1348 Bartolomeo became a member of the provisional government of Naples along with Giovanni Barrili and six other prominent citizens. Bartolomeo is best known as the author of the _Cronaca di Partenope_ (Chronicle of Parthenope), a vernacular history of Naples written in the mid-14th century, whose narrative ranges from antiquity to 1343, the year of the death of Robert d'Anjou.
The work is dedicated to Louis of Sicily-Anjou, prince of Tarent, the second husband of Queen Giovanna, granddaughter of Robert d'Anjou. It exalts the noble heritage of the city of Naples and its leading personalities. In addition to the many folk traditions tied to places and relics of antiquity that are still recognisable, the Chronicle is distinguished by the attention devoted to the figure of Virgil, and in particular to a genre very popular in the Middle Ages, focusing on his legendary magical powers.
With his wife Mabilia di Montefalcione, daughter of Andrea di Montefalcione and Margherita Braida, Bartolomeo had two sons, Andrea and Tomaso, who would have progeny.
Bartolomeo died in Naples on 7 December 1362, and was buried there in the church of S.Domenico Maggiore.
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Our Family History
Abt 1300 - 1362 (62 years)
