Ascanio Filomarino

Filomarino is of particular interest in the history of Naples since he was cardinal during two especially turbulent periods: Masaniello's revolt in 1645 and the severe plague epidemic of 1656.

Filomarino's role in the revolt of 1647 was one of mediation between the rebels and the government. He was outspoken in his opposition to increasing taxation in the Spanish vice-realm of Naples, monies that the Spanish needed to pay for their part in the Thirty Years War. He was a focal point for the people against the overbearing Spanish throne and was trusted by the rebel Masaniello as well as by Giulio Genoino, the apparent real political strategist behind the revolt. As cardinal, however, he was part of the establishment and could approach the government; thus, he was in an ideal position to mediate.

Filomarino certainly was aware of popular discontent in Naples and warned the Pope that the masses were "boiling".^[4]

Some sources ^[5] claim that Filomarino was primarily interested in reducing the power of the large landed Spanish noble class in favor of the growing, but overtaxed, merchant middle class in Naples. Further — so they claim — when Filomarino had used Masaniello to that end, he arranged to have the rebel delivered into the hands of captors, where he was murdered. Such a claim is impossible to substantiate.

There are a number of anecdotes about Filomarino. One is that during the plague of 1656, he ordered the churches to care for the stricken, yet apparently was among the first to seek refuge in the monastery of San Martino.^[6] Another was that he had to be reminded by Rome that the sacred relics of San Gennaro (Saint Januarius), patron saint of the city, were not his own personal property and that he was not authorized to claim, as he had, that "...the relics are mine...", nor authorized to remove them from the premises of the Cathedral of Naples for the purpose of soliciting miraculous cures in private homes.^[7]

Cardinal Filomarino died on 3 November 1666 and is buried in the cathedral of Naples.

• Burke, Peter (May 1983). "The Virgin of the Carmine and the Revolt of Masaniello". Past and Present. 99: 3–21. doi:10.1093/past/99.1.3.
• di Rose, Aurelio (2001). I Palazzi di Napoli. Rome: Newton & Compton editori. ISBN 978-88-8289-637-9.
• Renzi, Salvatore (1968). Napoli nell'anno 1656. Rome.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
• Villari, Rosario (August 1985). "Masaniello: Contemporary and Recent Interpretations". Past and Present. 108: 117–132. doi:10.1093/past/108.1.117.
• Bray, Massimo (1997). "FILOMARINO, Ascanio". Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani (in Italian). Vol. 47: Ferrero–Filonardi. Rome: Istituto dell'Enciclopedia Italiana. ISBN 978-88-12-00032-6.