It is loosely based on the life of the Itrani guerrilla leader Michele Pezza, active in southern Italy in the period 1800-1806, who went under the name of Fra Diavolo ("Brother Devil").
Karya tersebut berdasarkan pada kehidupan pemimpin gerilya Itrani Michele Pezza, yang aktif di selatan Italia pada periode 1800-1806, yang mengambil nama Fra Diavolo ("Saudara Iblis").