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'zu mantua in banden': news 20 february 2010 Farm holidays news
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20 February 2010 - "Zu Mantua in Banden"
| Cittadella, Porta Giulia (MN) |
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Andreas Hofer, the “braveheart” from Tyrol
The struggle for independence of Tyrol from Bavaria witnessed a humble but brave innkeeper to become the leader of the Anti-Bavarian movement, who, after defeating the Franco-Bavarian troops in 1809, was proclaimed Commander-in-Chief of Tyrol: his name was Andreas Hofer, he was born in St. Leonhard in Passiria on 22nd November 1767.
He was capable of rousing his people in the name of freedom but he had not taken into consideration the disloyalty of some of his men; after being defeated at Bergisel he was forced to escape, he was betrayed by a farmer and seized by the Napoleonic troops, who took him to Mantova.
Here, the Tyrolean hero was tried in Palazzo D’Arco and sentenced to death by shooting; the execution took place on 20th February 1810 in Cittadella, near Porta Giulia. Rumours say that the brave commander refused to be blindfolded, himself giving the order to shoot.
Hofer’s vicissitude deeply struck the people of Mantova, who raised about 5.000 scudos trying to save his life. The Mantuan women did their utmost to preserve the body of the patriot, that for 13 years remained hidden in the garden of the parish church of Cittadella. Today, Andreas Hofer is buried in the Hofkirche in Innsbruck.
The event regarding the brave rebel from Passiria developed a historical friendship link between Mantova and Tyrol, so much that every year, on 20th February, Mantova hosts a commemoration dedicated to Hofer that involves all the places that witnessed the last days of the commander, Palazzo d’Arco and Porta Giulia.
On such occasion Schützen delegations from all over Tyrol meet here to celebrate their national hero.
In 1984 in Cittadella the Andreas Hofer Park was established; this place shows that the people from Mantova do not want to forget this great patriot.
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