Gaetano Filangieri

Gaetano Filangieri, 5th Prince of Satriano (22 August 1753 – 21 July 1788) was an Italian jurist and philosopher. Highly polemical in regard to the political and legal system of the *ancien régime*, and opposed to the privilege of the aristocracy and the extreme power of the magistracy, Filangieri fought in favor of a constitutional system based on the rights of man. Born in Cercola, Kingdom of Naples, he was the third son of the noble Filangieri family. Though initially intended for a military career, he abandoned it for the study of law. His legal knowledge and eloquence led to success at the bar. His defense of a royal decree reforming judicial administration earned him favor at court, leading to appointments as *maggiordomo di settimana* and *gentleman of the chamber* for Ferdinand IV of Naples, and an officer in the Royal Guard. In 1782, inheriting a sizable fortune, he gained more time for study and writing. Filangieri's first printed work, *Riflessioni politiche su l’ultima legge del sovrano*, published in 1774, supported judicial reforms. His magnum opus, *La Scienza della Legislazione* (The Science of Legislation), began publication in 1780. The first two volumes advocated for unlimited free trade and the abolition of institutions hindering production and national well-being, earning immediate success throughout Europe and translated into numerous languages. The work is considered a classic of the European Enlightenment. In 1783, he married Charlotte Frendel, resigned his court appointments, and retired to Cava to complete his work. The third book, on criminal jurisprudence, led to censure from the Church. In 1785, he published three more volumes on education and morals. In 1787, he was appointed to the supreme treasury council but withdrew due to declining health. He died of tuberculosis in 1788, having completed the first part of the fifth book of his *Scienza*, which was intended to be six books. His house was later sacked during the Neapolitan revolution, and his family exiled.