Alessandro Romagnoli
Category: Patriots
Born in Petriolo on March 9th, 1828 – Died in Petriolo on August 19th, 1906
Son of Modesto Romagnoli and Concetta Bolognesi, Alessandro belonged to a large family of day laborers and tenants. He used to live in the countryside, in the area of the Grazie.
In 1848, just turned 20, Alessandro joined the army voluntarily, and he was sent to the 2nd Legione Romana, under the direction of the commander Rinaldo Rondini, from the city of Filottrano.
On June 1st, 1848, after the disbandment of the 2nd legion, he was transferred to the 3rd Legione Romana, 2nd battalion, 4th company. On June 10th of the same year he took part with virtue to the battle of Vicenza.
For the virtue showed in the battle, the Municipality of Rome offered him the Medal of Honor. On the reverse side of the medal, this caption in Latin: “PUGNA STRENUE AD VICENTIAM IV EIDUS IUNIAS MDCCCXLVIII”.
One year later, on June 9th, 1849 Alessandro Romagnoli took part with Garibaldi to the 4th Reggimento di Linea Romano, 2nd battalion, 3rd company, under the direction of general Rosselli. On June 3rd of the same year Alessandro was wounded by a splinter of a machine gun during the valorous defence of Porta San Pancrazio. Those days, the defenders of Rome accomplished amazing actions of civil and moral value. Indeed, they did four assaults, more than ten bayonet charges, and for more than eight times they regained the lost positions against the French troops (which were considered the most powerful in Europe).
Alessandro Romagnoli, together with other 350 wounded combatants, was brought to the Roman Hospital of Trinità dei Pellegrini. He was dismissed 15 days later. After the surrender of Rome, Alessandro came back to Petriolo, where he married Virginia Menchini, mother and widow. They had no children.
He spent the rest of his life as a day laborer. Only in his old age the government assigned him a small pension for his services to the nation.
Affected by pellagra and mostly blind, Alessandro Romagnoli died in Petriolo on August 19th, 1906 at the age of 78.
