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All historians agree in saying that the heroic behaviour
of Francis II during the siege of Gaeta redeemed him
from all his real or presumed political weakness.
We could quote many moving historical opinions in
his favour; but we prefer to quote, for all, the objective
and more aseptic opinion of an unquestionable and
certainly not pro-Bourbon historian. Giuseppe Coniglio
wrote: «However, in the
eyes of history he was able to redeem his failures
during the siege of Gaeta, in which he audaciously
took part, and showed Europe that he knew how to act
and fully succeeded in this, although supported by
his wife’s model and encouragement. The royal
couple could have easily succeeded in escaping. (…)
But Francis II did not want to bend to this humiliation
and preferred to fight for a long time, thus obtaining
military honour - even in the opinion of his enemies
- for him and for all the defenders of Gaeta»
 .
We want to close this page by rendering honour to
HRH Maria Sofia Queen of the Two Sicilies ,
real leading spirit of the siege of Gaeta, rescuer
of the honour of the Kingdom and the Bourbon Army:
she spent every single day by helping her soldiers
under the cannon shots, healing their wounds, sharing
their fears and difficulties, encouraging them, feeding
them, supporting them as she was supporting and encouraging
her husband in the most difficult moments.
In Gaeta, the royal couple gave the best of themselves,
the best of their love, dignity, devotion, self-denial,
and honour, sense of duty towards their country, but
also serenity and love for their soldiers.
Maria
Sofia of Bourbon Two Sicilies |
Gaeta
will remain forever in the history of the Bourbon
Two Sicilies and in the history of the Kingdom
of Naples, in the history of the Italians and
in whole history as a page full of glory dignity
and honour. Thousands of volunteers signed this
page, ideally joined by the other volunteers
who in the same time were fighting in Messina
and Civitella del Tronto – the other two
bulwarks of the Bourbon resistance that were
taken only by fierce storm - even without the
presence of their sovereigns. These people put
their signature with their blood and honour
after the signatures of the young royal couple,
Francis II and Maria Sofia of Bourbon Two Sicilies.
The Neapolitan poet Ferdinando Russo sang the
Queen’s heroism in his lyric O' surdato
'e Gaeta (The Soldier of Gaeta): |
"E
' a Riggina! Signò! … Quant'era bella!
E che core teneva! E che maniere!
Mo na bona parola 'a sentinella,
mo na strignuta 'e mana a l'artigliere…
Steva sempre cu nui! … Muntava nsella
Currenno e ncuraggianno, juorne e sere,
mo ccà, mo llà … V''o ggiuro
nnanz' 'e sante!
Nn'èramo nnammurate tuttequante!
Cu chillo cappellino 'a cacciatora,
vui qua' Riggina! Chella era na Fata!
E t'era buonaùrio e t'era sora,
quanno cchiù scassiava 'a cannunata!…
Era capace 'e se fermà pe n'ora,
e dispenzava buglie 'e ciucculata…
Ire ferito? E t'asciuttava 'a faccia…
Cadiva muorto? Te teneva 'mbraccia…".
(It’s
the Queen! Lo!……How beautiful she was/
and how kind-hearted! And how good-mannered!/ She
had a good word for the sentry/ she shook hands
with the artillery man/ she was always with us!…
She mounted her horse/ and rode and gave us courage
day and night/ here and there…I swear before
the Saints!/ we had all fallen for her!/ With her
hunting hat/ she wasn’t just a Queen, she
was a Fairy!/ and she was your good omen and your
sister/ when cannon shots fell more violent!…/
she could remain there even for a whole hour/ and
gave everybody chocolates…/ If you were wounded
she would weep your face/ If you were wound to dead,
she would hold you in her arms…/)
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