Beatrice Cenci: story of a heroine

In 1599, a terrible story shocked Romans.
All eyes were on the young and beautiful noblewoman Beatrice Cenci, accused – and then executed – of parricide. 

The backstory

Beatrice’s family was quite problematic. Her mother died when she was 7, her father Count Francesco was a violent and dissolute man. Jailed for several horrible crimes, everyone in Rome knew how evil he was.
Even though Beatrice always refused to admit it, Francesco even abused of her many times. She wrote many letters to her brothers asking for help: unfortunately Francesco read them and it ended up he beat her. 

The murder of Francesco Cenci

The family owned a castle, La Rocca, in a small village in Abruzzi mountains. There, Francesco confined Beatrice and her stepmother, Lucrezia: far enough from the City to act freely and perversely.
Beatrice and Lucrezia decided to solve the problem once and for all with Beatrice’s brothers, Giacomo and Bernardo, the blacksmith and the castellan. They attacked Francesco when asleep and, once killed, they faked an accidental death.
They were all finally free, but happiness didn’t last. 

The trial

Rumors and doubts started spreading in Rome, so Pope Clement VIII authorized an investigation.
The castellan and the blacksmith confessed under torture – and ended up killed mysteriously. Then, also Giacomo and Bernardo confessed.
I would like to say the trial was fair and correct, but this is not the case. Cardinals immediately asked mercy, knowing how bad Francesco treated the family: Clement VIII was unmoving.
The sentence was death penalty. 

The execution

On September 11^th, 1599, all Romans gathered at Piazza Castel S. Angelo.
The sentence for Beatrice Cenci and Lucrezia was decapitation while quartering for Giacomo.
For what concerns Bernardo, the youngest brother, Pope Clement VIII commuted its sentence – and he got the news only at the very last moment. However, Bernardo had to witness to all the executions tied on a chair.
After the sentence, Beatrice was buried at San Pietro in Montorio with a nameless gravestone. All the family properties were seized and sold at auction.

The legend of Beatrice Cenci

Beatrice became the symbol of resistance against arrogance, inspiring many artists. Those who witnessed the execution, like Caravaggio, where influenced by the event for many years.
In 1819 Percy Bysshe Shelley wrote a verse drama in five acts, I Cenci. Stendhal includes the story of Beatrice in his work Italian Chroniques.
Romans say every year, on the night before the anniversary of her death, you can see her ghost around Castel S. Angelo