FORTINI, MARCO. - Priest and patriot, born at Fratta Polesine on 26 April 1784, died there on 28 May 1848. A humble chaplain at Fratta, he became involved in the trial of the Polesine Carbonari because he had allowed himself to be affiliated with Carbonarism without even knowing its statutes. Sentenced to death by the tribunal sitting in Venice, his capital punishment was commuted to fifteen years of hard imprisonment.
He spent five years at Spielberg, until the sovereign pardon granted to him at the end of 1827. In prison he was an example of Christian virtues and a gentle comforter to his fellow captives: Oroboni and Villa expired in his arms, having been brought back by him to the practices of the faith. After his release he returned to live humbly in his native village, devoting himself to elementary teaching.
Pellico speaks of him with moved sympathy in his Mie prigioni, as does Andryane in his Mémories d'un prisonnier d'Etat.
ROZZO U. Montini