Amilcare Paulucci military branch navy
Early years
Amilcare Ambrosio Paulucci delle Roncole was born in Modena on 11 January 1776 to the Marquis Giuseppe Paulucci delle Roncole (1726–1785) and Claudia Scutellari Ajani.
His mother was a noblewoman from Parma, former lady of honor to the Queen of Spain.
His father came from the aristocracy of Pesaro, and had obtained the title of "marquis" in 1738.
His uncle, Massimo, had been an officer in the navy of the Kingdom of Naples.
His younger brother Filippo Paulucci (1779–1849) became a soldier, and served in the Austrian, Italian, Russian and Sardinian armies.
Another brother, Luigi (1777–1844), served the Napoleonic Kingdom of Italy.Amilcare's father settled in Modena, but visited various European courts as representative of Francesco III d'Este, Duke of Modena.
In 1767 the duke appointed him secretary of state and president of the ministries of Commerce and Agriculture.
Amilcare's father died on 26 November 1785 when Amilcare was 9 years old.
His uncle Massimo had Amilcare admitted to the Naval Academy of the Kingdom of Naples in Portici on 19 April 1787.
After his studies he joined the frigate Sirena.
He was appointed sottobrigadiere dei guardiamarina in November 1792, spent two years sailing on square rigged ships and then served in Naples for a period.
In April 1796 he sailed on the xebec Diligente, which was captured by Tunisian pirates off the island of Ustica on 21 June 1796.
He had to wait ten months before being freed for ransom.
He returned to Naples on 1 April 1797.
Paulucci and his commander were tried and acquitted for the loss of the ship.
He was promoted to alfiere di vascello in August 1898, and joined the corvette Fortuna.Austrian service
On 2 July 1814 Paulucci was admitted to the Austrian service as major general-major in charge of the brigade in Brno.
The emperor Francis I of Austria formally appointed him a Major General in the Austrian army on 18 July 1814.
In July 1818 he was assigned to the royal council of war as adviser for the navy.
In April 1819 he was charged with thoroughly inspecting all branches of the navy.
He was then put in charge of reorganizing the Venice arsenal, the penal colonies and the naval college.
He improved the signaling service.
In February 1821 he commanded a naval squadron that supported the Austrian expedition to Naples to prevent Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies from adopting a constitution.
His squadron was then charged with defending Austrian merchant ships against Greek pirates during the Greek War of Independence.In March 1823 Paulucci returned to Venice, and on 10 February 1824 was appointed commander in chief of the navy.Otto von Pirch  (1765–1824) wrote of Paulucci, "Among the older men, the most important is the marquis Paulucci, the admiral, it seemed to me. His exterior is that of a courtier, but in conversation he is soon in the sphere of his profession. He asked me if I had seen the arsenal, if I knew the origin of the name. I think it is not very well known. Arsanarsi means in old Venetian to wrap yourself around, to insulate yourself."
Paulucci had the engineer Giovanni Casoni make a 1:10 scale model of the 1727 Bucentaur, the floating palace of the Doge of Venice, before it was destroyed in 1824.
The model is currently kept at the Naval History Museum in Venice.
On 4 March 1826 Francis I appointed Paulucci commander of a naval unit.
He was already a major general and commander in chief of the Austrian navy.Paulucci was promoted to rear admiral in 1829 and vice admiral in 1830.
He headed the royal navy until 1844, based in Venice.
Almost all the officers were Venetian or Dalmatian, and the service language was Italian.
The unit operated effectively against Moroccan privateers in 1829–1830 and during the Syrian expedition of 1840.
However, Paulucci resisted introduction of steam-powered vessels and became less effective as a commander as he grew old.
He was not aware of the growing support for independence from Austria among the younger officers.
When the Bandiera brothers and Domenico Moro deserted early in 1844 he woke up to the problem but acted weakly, and on 21 August 1844 was removed from command and had to retire.
Amilcare Paulucci died in Padua on 25 March 1845.
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