Carlo Lodovico, Duke of Caserta

Carlo Lodovico in 1935

**Carlo Lodovico, Duke of Caserta** (Carlo Lodovico Giuseppe Antonio Napoleone Bonaparte; born 8 July 1892) is the son of Eugenio I and the younger brother of King Luigi IV of Naples.

Born in 1893 as the younger brother of King Luigi IV, Carlo Lodovico Bonaparte was raised in a conservative environment, a striking departure from his brother's liberal upbringing. He leaned toward autocratic tendencies, making him a political antithesis to Luigi.

Throughout his life, Carlo Lodovico fostered close ties with various autocratic figures within the military, which significantly boosted his popularity among radical loyalists. His approach to foreign policy was notably more nationalistic than that of his brother, often straining relations with the French government. A subject of both criticism and praise, he stands out as one of the most polarizing figures in Naples, often garnering more media attention than his brother.

## Life

From his formative years, Carlo Lodovico's life was shaped by stark differences in his family's ideological inclinations. While his elder brother, Luigi, was exposed to liberal ideals and received a comprehensive education that inclined him toward progressive views, Carlo Lodovico was raised by his conservative maternal family. There were even speculations of him replacing his brother as heir. This environment nurtured a partially introverted and autocratic personality in the young prince, traits that would become defining features of his character.

In 1916, during the Second Napoleonic War, Carlo Lodovico volunteered as a captain in a cavalry brigade. Despite not seeing any action, he considered it an honor and later regretted not having the opportunity. After the war, he embarked on numerous trips around Naples, visiting military barracks and forts, which helped bolster his support within the armed forces. He also cultivated strong ties within high-ranking military circles, serving as a liaison between the royal family and the army. He is made Duke of Caserta one year before his father’s death.

After Luigi’s coronation, Carlo Lodovico's relationship with the royal family deteriorated significantly due to persistent rumors of conflicts with the king, leading to a strained atmosphere within the royal court. Additionally, he faced accusations from several left-leaning figures of displaying an authoritarian attitude towards the legislature, further contributing to his divisive reputation.

### Foreign Policy

On the foreign policy front, Carlo Lodovico's nationalist fervor marked a significant departure from the diplomatic stance adopted by his brother. His unwavering commitment to nationalistic ideals strained the kingdom's relationship with France, a divergence that held implications for the broader European political landscape.

In 1934, Carlo Lodovico reportedly engaged in a heated argument with his brother over foreign policy matters. Allegedly, the disagreement escalated to the point where he was asked to leave the palace and subsequently barred from reentering it for a duration of one year.

## Controversy

The Duke wrote numerous articles, some of which stirred considerable controversy.

### Attacks against Giovanni Amendola

In 1928, Carlo Lodovico strongly criticized the voting reforms proposed by Giovanni Amendola. Some of his attacks were of a personal nature, which deeply offended the Prime Minister. In response, Amendola publicly referred to the Duke of Caserta as a royal outcast. Enraged by this insult, Carlo Lodovico demanded that his brother, King Luigi, have Amendola removed from office in light of his disrespectful comments. However, Luigi chose to disregard his brother's request.

### False Allegations of Murder

*This is about the Pirozzi Scandal*

During 1932, after an underwhelming purchase of a tableware product, the Duke released a newspaper article criticizing the Neapolitan Ceramics Trade Union for the result. This led to Arturo Lori, a spokesperson for the syndicate, making a shocking accusation.

Lori claimed that Carlo Lodovico had ordered the kidnapping and execution of a 19-year-old Socialist protester named Giovanni Pirozzi, who had heckled the Duke during a speech. According to the allegations, the young man was taken to a private field and hanged to death under the Duke's orders. Carlo Lodovico vehemently denied these allegations, dismissing them as a complete fabrication and attributing them to a supposed Marchist conspiracy aimed at tarnishing his reputation.

However, official records indicated that Giovanni Pirozzi did exist and had indeed passed away. Contrary to the allegations, these records showed that he had died of natural causes, dispelling the rumors of murder as baseless. Despite this clarification, the controversy surrounding Carlo Lodovico and his public image persisted.

### Call to Arrest Politicians

The polarizing figure regularly call for the arrest of famous living and deceased politicians including: Giovanni Amendola, Pietro Rosano (the Duke refused to attend his funeral), Arturo Labriola, Benedetto Croce and many others.

## Personal Life

### Marriage and Children

Carlo Lodovico married Countess Anne-Marie of Spain in 1914, they produced one daughter.

* Duchess Isabella of Naples (8 November 1926-)

If the Duke dies and does not have a male heir, his title for Duke of Caserta will be transferred to his younger brother Luis, Duke of Eboli.