3. The Structure
The hierarchy and structure of the Camorra were quite complex and difficult to understand, even to those with a rudimentary understanding of the Sicilian or American Mafia who make the mistake of viewing it through that lens. While the Mafia and Camorra share some similarities, it is a very different type of organization. Like the Mafia, the Camorra was organized into localized groups further divided into smaller groups or factions but that is where the similarities mostly end. The hierarchy needs to be understood because it was documented on multiple accounts on American soil:
Each society had a matching hierarchy containing a caposocietà (“society head”) or capintrito (“district head”), a contaiuolo (“Accountant/secretary”), and a camorrista di giornata (“camorrista of the day”) followed by members divided into three grades of membership: camorristi, picciotti (“boys”) and giovinotti onorati (“honorable youths”).
Aside from each group being referred to as its own society, the three grades of membership within each group were divided into two classes (also referred to as societies): the società maggiore (“major society”) containing the camorristi grade and the società minore (“minor society”) which contained the picciotti and giovinotti onorati grades.
In prison, at least by the 1850s, these Societies were organized by regional origins, with Neapolitans, Salernitans, Calabrese, Abruzzese, and even Sicilians divided along these lines. Despite evidence of hostility among these factions, there remained a mutually shared recognition of being part of the same society. A camorrista could be transferred from a Cosenza prison in Calabria to the Castel Capuano Prison in Naples and, after coded question and answer confirming his affiliation, would be accepted and recognized as a society member. In the streets, these societies were divided locally into districts or territories. Like in prison, these societies maintained a shared recognition, both locally and in other cities.
It was said that elections were held yearly to appoint a caposocietà to the position of capintesta (“headmaster”), selected from one of the capisocietà. Within each society, the capisocietà and contaiuoli (“secretaries”) were also voted upon.
Offices
(i) Capintesta (“Head Master”):
The Capo-Camorrista (“Head Camorrista”) of a city or prison, this position was selected from one of the capisocietà who would then be entrusted with the autocratic ramifications that extended beyond his position as caposocietà. If there were two candidates up for the position, the runner-up would, in theory, become vice-capintesta. These elections were open to those who belonged to the major society but only the capisocietà could cast votes for the position.
(ii) Caposocietà/Capintrito (“Society/District Head”):
The Capo-Camorrista over a designated faction (prison) or territory (street), this position was selected from the camorristi and was voted to serve as the elected leader of a società/’ntrito. Allegedly, the set protocol was for the capisocietà to meet every eight days with the capintesta for updates on the ongoings within their jurisdiction. Even so, these individual Societies carried a great degree of autonomy within their respective territories.
(iii) Contaiuolo (“Accountant/Secretary”):
The second-in-command of the society, this position was also elected by the camorristi belonging to the major society, however the caposocietà was excluded from voting. The functions and duties were akin to a general secretary or under-secretary of state. During tribunals of its members, the secretaries functioned like a public prosecutor where they were seen as the true arbitrators. The frieno (“regulations”) stated that yearly elections were to be held for this position but it became quite common for contaiuoli to hold onto this office for several years. Each society had a contaiuolo, however, the contaiuolo for the capintesta had more responsibilities due to his proximity with the capintesta. Despite this, no individual contaiuolo had authority beyond his district.
(iv) Camorrista di Giornata (“Camorrista of the Day”):
The caposocietà’s messenger who functioned as an aide and direct lieutenant. Originally this position’s focus was acting as a courier when collecting the baratto (“tribute”) intended for the caposocietà. The role of the capintesta’s camorrista di giornata, like that of his contaiuolo, took on a larger importance in the society overall and both positions would coordinate together.
Society Caste System
Aside from the offices of capintesta and contaiuolo, the presence of the major and minor society components remain key identifiers of the Camorra system. Unlike the Sicilian Mafia which has a singular class of membership, the Camorra society maintained three distinct grades, distributed between two separate Societies or classes of membership. This multiple-level System allowed for the Camorra system to absorb the masses and promote the few. This allowed for each society to function as an underworld union, subverting and/or influencing all activity in their sphere of influence and receiving a percentage.
The società maggiore contained the camorrista grade of membership composed of the office positions listed above as well as the camorristi or highest graded members. Holding the title of camorrista placed someone at the criminal apex of underworld Naples and was seen as a financially sound position. Each camorrista received a percentage of the barattolo (“jar”) or criminal proceeds generated weekly. The image and prestige of a camorrista was very much a 19th-century precursor to the 20th-century quintessential dapper made man in New York City, it came with prestige, underworld respect, and the ability to impose oneself on lower criminal operators. Everyone who joined the society sought to obtain this position, which could only be achieved through winning in a staged tarato (knife duel ceremony) and followed by the victor sucking the spilled blood of his camorrista opponent.
The società minore, the lower but larger of the two, was composed of two grades of membership: the picciotti and the giovinotti onorati. The picciotti acted as novices and their role was to act on orders from camorristi without question; the giovinotti onorati were very young children often recruited as guaglione (sons of thieves and prostitutes.) and would be utilized as spies, throwaways, and accomplishes. This lower society, while always subservient to the major one, had its own offices such as picciotto da giornata.
Within the two classes of camorristi and picciotti, doti (“dowry”) or merits which further elevated a member’s status and potential for moving up within the society. These doti were numerous but the main ones included di sgarro or a member who carried on vengeance on behalf of the organization and di sangue which indicated a member was good at fencing in a knife duel.
This system would be replicated and spread throughout the Bourbon prison system until it eventually spilled out onto the streets in various cities throughout the Kingdom where it adopted its own idiosyncrasies. In Reggio Calabria, for instance, the Camorra there would find symbolism in trees and compare their hierarchy to it. In confiscated Calabrian camorristi documents from Olean, New York, in 1927, Il Tre Cavalieri di Spagna, it stated:
“From this day on, it will be baptized the Tree of Knowledge. Behold the stem which must represent the leader of the Honorable Society. Behold the branches that must represent the arm of the Society. Behold the smaller branches of this tree which represent the Picciotti di Sgarro. Behold the flowers which represent the Giovani d'Honore. And all those leaves that you see on the ground are leaves that, not having the strength to keep their place upon the plant, fell, and they represent our comrades who have fallen into disgrace. If this tree is uprooted by a storm or by the police, this tree will revive more strongly and vigorous than before.”
Additionally, the Calabrese would take on local vernacular, capintesta was instead called capobastone (“head stick”) and contaiuolo became contabile. Despite these minor altercations, the camorristi of Calabria and Campania regarded each other as different branches of the same society.
Author Abele Be Blasio, was a Lombroso-minded anthropologist who covered the Camorra extensively, included a classical walkthrough on how a member advanced from giovinotto onorata to picciotto to camorrista in his book, Usi e costumi di camorristi (1893). Given the usage of the term bella società rifurmata (“beautiful reformed society”), it would indicate this information was obtained at some point between the 1860s and the 1890s when that term was popularly used.
Despite the modernity of the example De Blasio provided, it does offer a more romanticized version of membership, showcasing the society’s formalities and ideals, which were further emphasized in confiscated Camorra documents.
(i) Giovinotti Onorati:
In his work, De Blasio explained that the class of giovinotti onorati, aside from accommodating the “lazy ne'er-dowels, the rowdies, and the swashbucklers of the city,” also accommodated Naples’ burgeoning class of guagliune (street youths whose parents were convicts and prostitutes.) They sought “to have an air of vice, brutality and cynicism. Quick and intelligent, they look and speak with the confidence and audacity of older criminals.” Their only education is to become more astute and formidable in order to gain the attention of the local camorristi. (Blasio 1897)
In the traditional classical method, one’s first entry into the Camorra required one to spend one full year as a giovinotto onorata before being eligible for higher grades of membership. Unlike the mafia system that involved an unspoken understanding that rising associates would be invited by the mafia to join, the Camorra operated the other way around with people seeking to join. It was said that aspiring giovinotti onorati were forced to undergo an admission ceremony that involved a prospect attempting to grab a $5 coin while camorristi, armed with daggers, would flip the coin into the air. The prospect if successful, would emerge bloody but victorious with the $5 coin having won the title of giovinotto onorato.
An aspiring member would seek to gain the attention of society members, specifically Picciotti who, if impressed would refer the individual’s name to their contaiuolo who would then confer with the caposocietà. If he agreed, then the contaiuolo would send word requesting this individual appear at an arranged location which was usually a camorrista house.
At the meeting, the caposocietà would sit between six members; two senior camorristi and the major society contaiuolo to the right and two regular camorristi and the minor society contaiuolo to the left. The door of the room would be left ajar and the aspirant would remove his hat and ask properly and formally: “May I enter?”
Caposocietà: “Come in.”
Guaglione: “I want to know who the leader is.”
Caposocietà: "Your superior (provides his name) is the Head, and just because you approached us directly doesn't give you special treatment."
Guaglione (with a lowered head and crossed arms): I long to know, with grace and humility, if this is the society of the capintesta and caposocietà, and if this is a beautiful meeting with the head superiors.
Caposocietà: “The society is the capintesta, caposocietà, and united here are six other superiors, two contaiuoli and four camorristi.”
Guaglione: “Then I revere you, the contaiuoli, the four superiors as well as the whole society.
Caposocietà: “Cover up.” (The aspirant places his hat back on.)
Guaglione: I do not have enough expressions to thank the caposocietà, the contaiuoli, and the four superiors who give me the honor of speaking with my head covered."
Caposocietà: “Tell me, why did you allow yourself to come? What is it that you crave?”
Guaglione: “Capo, my heart pushed me to come to this house and ask you if there is a place for me inside the bella società riformata that I can occupy, as long as it’s no disturbance to you or any of my superiors.
Caposocietà: “With the permission of the four camorristi and contaiuoli, I would like to point out that while you believe yourself qualified to be part of our society not everyone believes that, instead we believe you to be incapacitated.”
Guaglione: “Capo, I believe that the Società can believe me because it will ignore what I think; but if you, the contaiuoli, and four superiors grant me the high honor of belonging to the bella società riformata, I will give you proof that I alone can defeat an entire team of questura!”
Caposocietà: “With the permission of the contaiuoli and four superiors, I would like to point out to you that I have challenged you twice and you have defended yourself thrice. What else do you want from this società? “
Guaglione: “I long to give a kiss on the right side of your head, and another from the left side of your head, (which means to kiss the right hand of the capo and other superiors, who are on the same side, then the left of the head and the right of the others, which are to the left of the head).”
Caposocietà: “With the permission of the contaiuoli and four camorristi, I would like to know why you gave me two kisses? Have you mistaken me for a woman?
Guaglione: “I gave you two kisses because you carry two votes: one from the top right and another from the left; and you are a man of great honor, chosen by the society to justify what is right and wrong to those who deserve it.”
Caposocietà: “What else do you want from this society?”
Guaglione: “I long to know, with humility and grace, how many members of the minore we are, and if among them there is someone out for a walk (hiding from authorities) or sotto-chiave (under key – in prison).”
Caposocietà: “In this quarter the number of giovinotto onorati are (provides number): there is no one under-key, but there are two out for a walk."
Guaglione: “Capo, since today the society has met me by grace and not for justice, so I pray you, the contaiuoli, and my other superiors to call on those who are out for a walk."
Caposocietà: “Very well: The society thanks you, and the contaiuolo will recall those who are out for a walk.”
Guaglione: “With all of my heart, I thank you, the contaiuoli and other superiors, for the grace you have granted to my companions. Now, with humility and grace, place informs me of the frieno (regulations) of the minor society.”
Caposocietà: “From this moment on, you belong to the class of giovinotto onorati, and you will be incorporated into the minor society. Our beautiful reformed society imposes on you and the other young members:
1: To love one another;
2: To be humble and respectful to the elders and superiors;
3: To act as a peacemaker in the fights that can occur among your companions;
4: To demand, without stealing the profits, the camorra (“tax”) for the camorristi;
5: Not to reveal the inner workings of the society.
Whoever breaks the frieno can not only be expelled from the society but can, depending on the severity, be sentenced to death. Do you want anything else?”
Giovinotti Onorati: “I thank the società for having incorporated me into it and I declare myself a subject to it and any cumanno (orders) from the superiors.”
Caposocietà: “Do as I ask. Greet the chiorma (meeting of minor members) and introduce yourself.”
(ii) Picciotti:
The grade of picciotti was the next step in the hierarchy where membership was indefinite. One could remain a picciotti for two years or ten, it all depended on the individual's zeal, astuteness, criminality, and personal connections to higher affiliates. Even so, the grade of picciotto was seen as an important class in the society and was originally set to high standards. The conditions for admission were strict and also denoted a kind of morality of the association. The minor society of picciotti contained their own ranks such as capo piccotti and picciotto di giornata but this class was heavily emphasized to earn doti. If a picciotto bested another picciotto in a fair knife duel he would receive the grade of picciotto di sangue. If he disfigured an enemy of the society, he would receive the grade of picciotto di sgarro. (Stamer 1878) (Monnier 1862)
The grade of picciotti was allowance based, usually a trifle was given by the camorrista grade. Unlike the mafia where money is set up by percentages and set amounts, the society would collect the entire amount which would be distributed by percentage to the camorrista grade while the picciotto received a low salary.
To reach the grade of picciotto, the next step was for the giovinotto onorato to approach the picciotto di giornata; who, after collecting the information on the candidate, would speak to the contaiuolo because it is up to the latter to the designate the place for the election to be held.
The first part of the admission ceremony was similar to that of the giovinotti onorati, except that from the beginning the candidate is allowed to speak with his head covered. The formalities began when the caposocietà asked the giovinotto onorato: “What do you want?”
Giovinotto Onorato: “I want to become a picciotto.”
Caposocietà: “And what is the picciotto’s significance?”
Giovinotto Onorato: “Picciotto means a man of cold blood, a servant of the camorristi, one who carries honey in his mouth and a razor in his heart!”
Caposocietà: “Why do you carry honey in your mouth and a razor in your heart?”
Giovinotto Onorato: "Honey is used to soften the questions and the razor wards off infamy."
Caposocietà: “And what is the significance of caposocietà?”
Giovinotto Onorato: “It signifies a man of great honor, chosen by the society, to give reason to those who are responsible and to wrong those deserving of it, and who carries two votes, one from the top right and another from the left to the head.”
Caposocietà: “With the permission of these superiors, I would like to know what else you want from this società?”
Giovinotto Onorato: “I long to do my duty, first from the top right and then from the left of the head” (he kisses his hands with the same order held by the guaglione.)
Caposocietà: “Do you have anything else to add?
Giovinotto Onorato: “Capo, it is true that we picciotti do not decide what we get from the camorra; however, with humility and grace, by bringing the larger society together, I propose to your superiors to release some ‘flowers’ for our benefit.”
Caposocietà: “Alright: as soon as the entire society is reunited, I will communicate your desires to my superiors and I am sure that some small flowers will be found for you from the tangents. And now, if you have nothing else to add, and if the comrades present here have no observations to the contrary, I declare you, in the name of the società d’umiltà (“society of silence”), picciotto and declare you detached from the giovinotti onorata.
Giovinotto Onorato: “I thank the società d’onore (“society of honor”) for granting this to me and I declare myself a legitimate servant. Even the picciotti, like the giovinotti onorata, receive amnesty for their companions. The picciotti are subdivided into the onorati and the sgarro: the first are those who deliver the camorra proceeds to the camorristi and the latter (the sgarro), those most astute, give only a part of it. Both the picciotti and camorristi, in turn, become giornata. Their obligations are almost always the same; that is, if they are free, they are in charge of:
1: Assist and give clarification to members leaving prison;
2: To report to the contaiuolo the current ongoings in the district.
If on the contrary, they are under-key, must:
1: Distribute posts in the dormitory.
2: Monitor whether or not incoming inmates are part of the società d’umiltà.
(iii) Camorristi:
Becoming a camorrista was the final grade that members and underworld criminals strived to achieve, the highest class in the system. It was in this class that members received a financial percentage of the society’s proceeds. Once a camorrista, excessive criminal enthusiasm was no longer necessary, to the contrary it could be dangerous, leading to altercations with other camorristi of the same rank. To remain in good standing the camorrista had to be loyal to the society, defend it, and generate income, nothing else was required. Unlike that of the picciotti whose role was to sacrifice himself for the society, being a camorrista was an exalted position. Compared to the mafia, becoming a camorrista is the equivalent to “being made.”
The original ceremony was said to involve a dimly lit room where the novice would sit at a table with a group of camorristi including the caposocietà. On the table was a dagger, a loaded pistol, and a glass of poisoned wine. The caposocietà would then introduce the novice to the table and proceed to take the dagger and cut the novice's hand. With his hand dipped in blood, the novice swore an oath to obey the orders of the caposocietà and not to disclose any of the society’s secrets. The novice grabbed the gun and pointed it to his right temple and with his left hand brought the poisoned wine to his lips, symbolically confirming that he was ready to die on command on orders from the society. The caposocietà would then disarm the candidate and force him to kneel, he then rested his hand on the novice’s head and handed him the dagger and turned towards the others in attendance, and stated: “Recognize the man.” Immediately the camorristi embraced the novice as a newly minted camorrista.
Like the entry ceremony for the giovinotti onorati, the entry for camorrista was later changed as well, to be replaced with the ceremony called tirato and involved a zumpata or sword duel. The ceremonial admission becomes almost similar to that of the picciotti, except the caposocietà asks the picciotto who aspires to become a camorrista:
Caposocietà: “Who are you searching for?”
Piccioto: “I am searching for my companions.”
Caposocietà: “And who are your companions?”
Picciotto: “They are the camorristi”
Caposocietà: “And what is the significance of cammorista?”
Picciotto: “A bold man who commands the minor society and who stands with one food on the ground and another in the pit.”
Following the interrogation, the caposocietà, after hearing the contaiuolo’s opinion, would state: “I believe that the tests for (name) to enter the major society of silence are sufficient, and therefore from today you will be incorporated into it and be considered a provisional camorrista, leaving you, dear companion, 15 days to reflect and raise concerns, if you have any, and at the same time, if there are no obstacles, to perform your duty.”
Then turning to the novice, he had him repeat aloud: “I swear before God and my companions to be faithful to all the laws of the society of Silence, and to submit to all the orders given to me by my superiors.”
1)Tirato of the Zumpata (“Tirade of the Knife-Duel”)
Zumpata was a semi-formal knife duel between two individuals used as a means of settling disputes. From an ordinance issued in 1540 by viceroy Don Pedro of Toledo, he noted "the duelists challenged each other either by themselves or in numbers, and most of the time set for the same day or following day, and almost always without armor, and what is worse, without garments, and like beasts, fight to make the first blow. Other ordinances against the zumpata bear the date of 1558. In 1662, an order issued by the viceroy count of Penaranda instituting the death penalty for violators, it appears that knife duels occurred in quiet places like S. Aniello, Capo Napoli, Porta Medina, Ventagleri, and Pertuso. These areas contained evidence of zumpata going into the 19th century. (Cavina)
To stem the spread of this custom, an ordinance was issued on September 30th, 1729: "The natural death penalty and both the principal and the contractor of the crime of cutting and any scarring of the face, provided that it is committed deliberately, which for justice, considering the case, the persons and circumstances, may be required to look very atrocious, depriving them of the crime of the same manner as they do in the business or in the assassination, and expressly wishing that the inquisitive dictals be wronged or visited neither graceful nor transacted. We want and order that in the event that the judges will be in a death vow against the offenders of this crime, they should suspend the execution and report to us and to R. Coll. Cons. where with the mature reflection of everything can take the rigorous resolution of justice corresponding to the crime." (Monnier) (Blasio)
Ferdinando Russo, the Neapolitan journalist once stated: “The Neapolitan people are enthusiastic about all that is bold, daring, astounding and guappo; they have an adoration and fetishism” for the fictional Rinaldo and paladins of the Round Tables, as they were popular in poems and theatre at the time. “After all, aren't the young dreams of the mala vita inspired by the extraordinary talents of the heroes they love in the puppet theaters?” (Ferdinando Russo)
The tirato was the ceremonial zumpata or duel that a novice had three attempts to win. The novice would be invited to a designated location prearranged by the caposocietà, contaiuolo, and several camorristi. The location was usually near a tavern reserved for the celebration afterward. The novice would be ordered by the capintesta to stand in a circle of camorristi where he is handed a knife from the caposocietà he is under while a camorrista is handed another knife.
The two men would prepare, waiting in preparation for the capintesta to nod at the contaiuolo who would then command: “A buje… jammo! (Let’s go!)” and the tirato commences.
The aim for the novice was to inflict blood from the arm of the more seasoned camorrista within three attempts. Once it became clear that the novice was a formidable opponent the more seasoned camorrista would silently concede by allowing himself to be cut by the notice. Following that the capintesta would raise his hand and announce: “Stateve!” or “Enough.” The novice would then be instructed to suck the blood from the camorrista’s arm. Following the ceremony, the newly minted camorrista would kiss the capintesta and other affiliates in attendance. They would then attend a local tavern to enjoy a prearranged layout of fine foods including pasta, fish, and several liters of wine. In return, it was customary for the newly minted camorrista to distribute traditional Neapolitan cigars to his peers and superiors.
What De Blasio described would be considered the classical rise of an aspiring member but it can be misleading. Despite the ornate structure of the Camorra, Author Marc Monnier observed in the 1860s that the three degrees of membership existed but weren't always followed based on his interviews with then-members. The ideal or romanticized advancement involved a giovinotto onorati becoming a picciotto only after having served one year of confidential, assiduous, dangerous, and painful work. Monnier consulted known camorristi, who confided in him that upon entry into the society, they had immediately become picciotto di sgarro. (Monnier 1862)
In practice, some societies were more formal than others when it came to practices. There came a time, for instance, when the ceremony of the tirato which involved a zumpata or knife duel, fell out of practice in Campania while still being practiced in prison as well as in Calabria.
Additionally, the society often forced people to join under the threat of death. One political prisoner, Gianbattista Baiocchi, who served time in San Elmo and later Nisida, later recounted being forced to join and sworn in as secretary due to his education and connections. And once the society found its way into Calabria, Bari, and North America, there’s further evidence indicating that forcing people to join was a built-in component.
Mammasantissima
One important earlier aspect of the Camorra was its own internal judicial system that was divided between high and lower courts to air grievances, settle disputes, and punish members in bad standing. First identified in the 1890’s, by author Luigi Capuana, these courts were said to convene every Friday to judge and decide matters. On Saturdays, they met to divide the barattolo among its divisions, which was 2/3’s going to the major society of camorristi and the latter going to the minor society of picciotti. When a camorrista was charged with violations against the society or his superiors, the case would go to the major court which would be preceded either by the capinesta, capisocietà or a senior camorrista who would assume the role of judge referred to as gran mamma (“great mother.”) The contaiuolo would function as the public prosecutor and the accused with additional Camorrists acting as side judges and defense attorneys. The court was convened in formal settings and had u source (“ushers”) watching to avoid police detection. If a member of the grade of picciotto or camorrista was being judged, he would appear before the major society court called paranza (“little boat”) to defend himself whereas a giovinotti onorati was not afforded this privilege and was constrained to the minor society court called chiorma (“chorum). (D'addosio 1893)
From Camorra to ‘Ndrangheta
The history of the Camorra in Calabria, whether one called it picciotteria, fibbia, sacro circolo, famiglia Mandalbano, etc. will be explored later. But now, for organizational purposes, one can view the current ‘ndrangheta’s hierarchy and notice, at the bottom, the ranks of giovane di onore, picciotto, and camorrista. The ‘ndrangheta of Reggio Calabria is an outgrowth and an evolution of the 19th century Camorra while what passes for Camorra in Naples today are akin to gangster syndicates and cartels with no lineage to the Camorra of yesteryear. This will be explored later, but arguably the Camorra in Reggio Calabria evolved when the grade of camorrista ceased to be the society’s top tier. But again, the society never referred to itself as Camorra, that was a name coined by outsiders.
Contrast with the Sicilian Mafia
For those who find the Camorra hierarchy confusing, they can take comfort in the fact that Sicilian pentiti Antonino Calderone shared similar sentiments. When discussing the ‘ndrangheta, he explained: “They had endless rules. Whenever a man of honor spoke with one of them he’d become bewildered, he’d develop a headache. No one wanted to end up in the same jail cell as as ‘ndranghetisti. It was the same tune from morning to night. It was tedious, wearisome, and obsessed. They would never stop talking, going on and on about the same things: "If someone acts like this, is he a sbirro or not?” And so forth. Or they’d start up with their nursery rhymes like kids in elementary school. The subject? The ‘ndrangheta with its rules and customs.” (Calderone 1992)
The most obvious distinction between the Camorra and the Mafia are the office positions and membership classes. For instance, while the Camorra had three grades of membership, the Mafia only had one. The Mafia viewed itself as an elite and exclusive society that, in theory, admitted only the best of the best. The Camorra, on the other hand, sought to recruit the masses into its lower levels and elevate the most promising into its higher levels. If the Mafia was an exclusive men’s club, the Camorra was a corrupt union. Calderone stated as much when he said, “They admitted a huge amount of people and so they were legion, but they weren’t organized as well as the Cosa Nostra. We would choose carefully, and our people were more reliable.” (Calderone 1992)
This draws back to the society's forced memberships on the civilian population. It allowed the society to extort and take advantage of the local population by keeping them at a lower grade while elevating the aspirants into the higher ones. This is an operando in which the mafia never practiced on a large scale. Occasionally there have been stories of people being forced, but the mafia, unlike the Camorra, had only one grade of membership. In his book, Calderone even stated the general idea within the mafia is that anyone good enough to be a member is also good enough to be boss.
The Camorra’s hierarchy shares more similarities with other societies of the 19th century, as many included presidents, vice presidents, and secretaries. Meanwhile, the Mafia maintained a much simpler system, best described as a secret government. Its internal positions and divisions were meant to serve as a system of representation among its members, it was not a structure set up to maintain a particular criminal racket or enterprise.
This is what makes the Mafia the more mysterious of the sects. The Camorra’s history is out in the open for anyone who is looking, meanwhile, the components that made the Mafia what it is, are lost to history and can only be speculated upon. The Camorra was born in prison and made its way into the cities of the Kingdom in Southern Italy, but in Sicily, the Mafia was born seemingly on its home turf.
Works Cited
Blasio, Abele De. 1897. Usi e costumi dei camorristi. Luigi Pierro.
Calderone, Antonino, and Arlacchi, Pino. 1992. Men of dishonor : inside the Sicilian Mafia : an account of Antonino Calderone. . New York: Morrow.
D'addosio, Carlo. 1893. Il Duello dei Camorristi. Naples: Luigi Pierro.
Monnier, Marc. 1862. La Camorra. G. Barbera.
Stamer, W. J. A. 1878. Dolce Napoli. London: Charing Cross Publishing Company.
Well done as always, I’m looking forward to whatever you have coming next.
Excellent breakdown. I'm quite like Calderone on this subject. I've been actively interested in the 'ndrangheta (and therefore in the Camorra) for 3 or 4 years, I still have a lot of trouble with ranks, initiations and that kind of thing.
The article is very academic