Sparagana, Ludovico - Catholic Encyclopedia, Vol. XI, p. 656

Machine translation of the 1948–1954 Italian original. The original text is authoritative.

SPARAGANA, LUDOVICO. - Papal officer, b. at Monte S. Giovanni (Frosinone) on 30 March 1813, d. at Roma on 21 Aug. 1885.

A volunteer in the papal infantry on 25 Apr. 1831, he took part in the military actions of that year and the following one, later distinguishing himself, with the rank of lieutenant, during the campaign of 1848. In 1859, when the Austrians left the Legations prey to revolution, Major

S. acted as a faithful soldier, reaching Pesaro with his entire battalion amid great difficulties and helping to restore order in several centres of the Marche.

Between May and Sept. 1860 he was part of the de Pimodan column (v.), which routed Zambianchi’s Garibaldian troops (v.) at Grotte di Castro, and he fought valiantly with the native troops at Castelfidardo. Subsequently placed in command of the line infantry regiment, he contributed actively to the defence and recovery of the Viterbo area in the autumn of 1867. As lieutenant colonel commanding the Cacciatori battalion, on 20 Sept. 1870 he directed, with vigour and skill, the defence of the walls of Roma between Porta Portese and Porta S. Pancrazio, thereafter retiring to private life.

BIBL.: A. M. Bonetti, Venticinque anni di Roma capitale d'Italia e suoi precedenti (1873-95), Roma 1896. V. indici; A. Vigevano, La fine dell'esercito pontif., ivi 1920; id., La campagna delle Marche e dell'Umbria, ivi 1922; P. Dalla Torre, L'anno di Montana, Torino 1938; id., Materiali per una stor. dell'esercito pontif., in Rass. stor. del Risorg., 18 (1941), p. 47 of the offprint.

Paolo Dalla Torre