Encyclopedia of Southern Italy – Ba to Be

Bominaco (AQ): A commune in the province of L’Aquila.

Bompensiere (CL): A commune in the province of Caltanissetta. Population: 647 (2006e).

Bompietro (Sic. Bompietru)(PA): A commune in the province of Palermo.

Bonaparte, Maria Annunciata Caroline: (b. 1782, in Ajaccio, Corsica; d. 1839). Queen of Naples (1808-1815). The youngest surviving sister of Napoleon Bonaparte, she married Joachim Murat in 1800. She was crowned as Queen of Naples after her husband assumed the throne of Naples in 1808. During the years of her reign, the court of Naples became one of the most brilliant in Europe, highly contrasting the dour Bourbon court. After the overthrow and execution of her husband in 1815, she was allowed to settle at Frohsdorf, Austria, remaining there until 1824. She resided at Trieste from 1824 to 1831, before moving to Florence where she remained for the rest of her life.

Bonapartist (-Muratist) Dynasty of Naples: A French dynasty which ruled Naples from 1806 to 1815.

Boncompagni, Francesco: (b. Jan. 21, 1592, at Sora; d. Dec. 9, 1641, at Naples). Ecclesiastic. Elevated to a cardinal in 1621, he served as bishop of Fano (1622-1626) and archbishop of Naples (1626-1641).

Bonea (BN): A commune in the province of Benevento. Population: 1,497 (2007e); 1,479 (2006e).

Bonefro (CB): A commune in the province of Campobasso. Population: 1,770 (2006e).

Bonello, Matteo: Grand Chancellor under King William II of Sicily.

Boniface I, St.: Pope. (rAD Dec. 28/29, 418-Sept. 4, 422).

Boniface II: Pope. (r Sept 22, 530-Oct 17, 532).

Boniface III: Pope. (rFeb 19-Nov 12, 607).

Boniface IV: Pope. (rAug 25, 608-May 8, 615).

Boniface V: (d. AD 625). Pope (rDec 23, AD 619-Oct 25/Dec. 25, AD 625). A native of Naples, he succeeded Deusdedit on the papal throne. There is little recorded about his tenure although it occurred during the revolt of Eleutherius, Exarch of Ravenna. From his few extant letters, Boniface seems to have been concerned with the state of the early English church. He appointed Justus to the see of Canterbury and gave him the right to ordain other bishops. According to some sources, this letter was actually a forgery, designed to confirm Canterbury’s primacy in England. He sent a letter to Edwin, the pagan king of Northumbria, encouraging him to convert to Christianity. Another letter was sent to Edwin’s wife, Ethelberga, encouraging her to affect the desired conversion. Boniface was succeeded by Honorius I.

Boniface VI: Pope. (rApr. 4-19, 896).

Boniface VII: Antipope (r974; 984-985).

Boniface VIII (Benedetto Gaetani or Guatani): (b. c1217 at Anagri; d. Oct. 11, 1303, at Rome). Pope. (rDec 24, 1294-Oct 11, 1303). Elected at Naples in succession to Celestine V, he was later crowned at Rome on Jan 23, 1295.

Boniface IX: Pope. (rNov 2, 1389-Oct 1, 1404).

Bonifati (CS): A commune in the province of Cosenza. Population: 3,313 (2006e).

Bonito (AV): A commune in the province of Avellino. Population: 2,544 (2007e); 2,240 (2006e).

borage: A common wild plant found in Sicily noted for its large blue blossoms.

borgata (pl. borgate): originally a term for the suburban towns and villages around a large city. It was adopted by the American mafia to mean “Family.”

Borgetto (Sic. Burgettu)(PA): A commune in the province of Palermo.

Borgia (CZ): A commune in the province of Catanzaro. Population: 7,293 (2006e).

Borrello (CH): A commune in the province of Chieti. Population: 409 (2006e).

bosco: Italian term for “woods” or “forest.”

Bosco di Caronia: A deciduous woodland located near the town of Caronia [ME]. As late as the early 20th century, it was the largest forest in Sicily. Today, although much reduced in area (c12 hectares/30 acres), it is still an impressive collection of various species of trees including oak, beech, elm, and ash.

Boscoreale (NA): A commune in the province of Napoli.

Boscotrecase (NA): A commune in the province of Napoli.

Botricello (CZ): A commune in the province of Catanzaro. Population: 4,742 (2006e).

Botrugno (LE): A commune in the province of Lecce. Population: 2,995 (2006e).