Calogero "Don Calò" Vizzini (Italian:[kaˈlɔːdʒerovitˈtsiːni]; 24 July 1877 – 10 July 1954) was a Sicilian Mafia boss of Villalba in the province of Caltanissetta, Sicily. He was considered to be one of the most influential and legendary Mafia bosses of Sicily after World War II until his death in 1954. In the media, he was often depicted as the "boss of bosses" – although such a position does not exist in the loose structure of Cosa Nostra.
Vizzini was the archetype of the paternalistic "man of honour" of a rural Mafia that disappeared in the 1960s and 1970s. In those days, a mafioso was seen by some as a social intermediary and a man standing for order and peace. During the first stage of his career, he used violence to establish his position; the second stage of his career saw him limit his use of violence, turn to principally legal sources of income, and exercise his power in an open and legitimate manner.
Vizzini is the central character in the history of direct Mafia support for the Allied Forces during the invasion of Sicily in 1943. After World War II, he became the personification of the re-instatement of Cosa Nostra during the Allied occupation and the subsequent restoration of democracy after the repression under Fascist rule. Initially, he supported the separatist movement, but changed allegiance to the Christian Democrat party, when it became clear that Sicilian independence was unfeasible.
When Vizzini died in 1954, thousands of peasants dressed in black and his funeral was attended by high-ranking mafiosi, politicians, and priests. The funeral epitaph stated, "His 'mafia' was not criminal, but stood for respect of the law, defense of all rights, greatness of character. It was love." His rise to power and persistence in power was nevertheless tied to extortion, violence, and murder. His stature as an all-powerful Mafia boss rose to mythical proportions, but historians from the 1990s onwards would assert that his magnitude was exaggerated.
Calogero "Don Calò" Vizzini (Italian: [kaˈlɔːdʒero vitˈtsiːni]; 24 July 1877 – 10 July 1954) was a Sicilian Mafia boss of Villalba in the province of...
the arbiter of Mafia politics, and was regarded as the successor of CalogeroVizzini, who had died in 1954. Although by then a wealthy landowner and politician...
Calogero "Don Calò" Vizzini (1877–1954), historical Mafia boss of Villalba in the Italian province of Caltanissetta, Sicily Fiorenza Calogero (born 1978), Italian...
the position does not exist. For instance, the old-style Mafia boss CalogeroVizzini was often portrayed in the media as the "boss of bosses" – although...
traditions opposed the power of Mafia boss CalogeroVizzini, who was a staunch catholic as well. (Vizzini’s brothers, Giovanni and Giuseppe, both became...
authorities made Don CalogeroVizzini mayor of Villalba, as well as an Honorary Colonel of the US Army. Because of his excellent connections, Vizzini also became...
simply appointed replacements. Many turned out to be mafiosi, such as CalogeroVizzini and Giuseppe Genco Russo. They could easily present themselves as political...
Several politicians with strong ties with the Mafia, such as CalogeroVizzini and Calogero Volpe, joined the MIS; however, all of them soon later left...
cover for heroin trafficking. July 10 – CalogeroVizzini the Mafia boss of Villalba in Sicily, dies. Vizzini was considered to be one of the most influential...
operations in southern Italy, together with the Italian gangster CalogeroVizzini. Vizzini sent truck caravans loaded with all the basic food commodities...
character is believed to be based on real life Sicilian Mafia boss CalogeroVizzini. Hector Adonis – Professor of literature and history in the University...
replacements. Many turned out to be former Mafia members, such as CalogeroVizzini and Giuseppe Genco Russo. They easily presented themselves as fascist...
mafiosi on the island and a pallbearer at the funeral of Mafia boss CalogeroVizzini – one of the most influential Mafia bosses of Sicily after World War...
Sicilian underworld. He was erroneously believed by some to have replaced CalogeroVizzini as the head of the Sicilian Mafia. During the 1960s, Gentile provided...
Mussolini toppled. Luciano directed CalogeroVizzini to assist the Allies in the invasion of Italy.[citation needed] Vizzini became the central character in...
back to their everyday occupations. The future Sicilian Mafia boss, CalogeroVizzini, enrolled in the band when he was still a young and aspiring criminal...
1874 – Oswald Chambers, Scottish minister and author (d. 1917) 1877 – CalogeroVizzini, Italian mob boss (d. 1954) 1878 – Edward Plunkett, 18th Baron of Dunsany...
boss CalogeroVizzini, who had supported separatism but was now prepared for a change in the island's political situation. Together with Vizzini, he approached...
their willingness to cooperate with the Allies, noted Mafiosi, such as CalogeroVizzini and Giuseppe Genco Russo, were appointed to head local administrations...
(1893–1976) Giuseppe Di Cristina (1923–1978) Leonardo Messina (born 1955) CalogeroVizzini (1887–1954) Angelo Bruno (1910–1980) Antonio Calderone (1935–2013)...
1952 – Rued Langgaard, Danish organist and composer (b. 1893) 1954 – CalogeroVizzini, Italian mob boss (b. 1877) 1956 – Joe Giard, American baseball player...
supporter was CalogeroVizzini, one of the most influential and legendary Mafia bosses of Sicily after World War II until his death in 1954, but Vizzini later...
with the Christian Democrats in the mid-1940s through figures such as CalogeroVizzini, who was also an operative for the US military. The politicized Mafia...
them as an instrument of power." He was accused of having approached CalogeroVizzini, supposedly the most influential Mafia boss at the time to abandon...
in black-market activities with other Sicilian Mafiosi, including CalogeroVizzini. Another Mafia boss, Lucky Luciano, is also alleged to have once described...
respectful behaviour.” He was a pallbearer at the funeral of Mafia boss CalogeroVizzini – one of the most influential Mafia bosses of Sicily after World War...
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