Enrico Guicciardi

Enrico Guicciardi comes from a family that has been in Ponte in Valtellina since the 12th century and held important offices such as that of Valtellina Talcanzler and others. The family was linked to the most important noble families in the valley through clever marriage policies. Representatives of the family included lawyers, church people and politicians.[1] Enrico was the legitimate son of Diego Guicciardi (1756–1837) and Teresa Guicciardi.[2][3]

After graduating at law from the University of Pavia, he was a notary in Sondrio from 1846–1848. He participated in the Risorgimento by sharing Giuseppe Mazzini's ideals for a united Italy. He then participated with his cousin Torelli in the Five Days of Milan. On March 22, 1848, the Municipal Deputation of Ponte in Valtellina decided to form the Civic Guard and gave the command to Enrico Guicciardi who led 150 men to defend the Tonale Pass. With the fall of the Stelvio-Tonale Republic, he fled to Piedmont where he was in command of the Bersaglieri Valtellinesi battalion which distinguished itself in the Battle of Novara and was decorated with a medal for valor. A lover of the mountains and a good mountaineer, in 1853 he became the first Italian to reach the summit of Mont Blanc.[2]

Meanwhile, the Austrians seized his assets at Ponte in Valtellina and placed a bounty on him. Having freed the commune, in 1859 he was placed at the head of the Province of Sondrio by the Count of Cavour with the task of establishing the new political-administrative systems. After the proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy, he was deputy to the first Italian parliament. He distinguished himself as Prefect of Cosenza from 1862 in the fight against banditry for the proposals that went towards involving citizens in the fight against brigands. It was he who insisted on raising funds for the establishment of an anti-brigandage fund to compensate for the damage caused by the brigands. An Advisor and ally of him was the priest Vincenzo Padula while his firm opponent was the deputy Francesco Martire for several years mayor of Cosenza, deputy and supporter of the Sila Law which recognized ancient agrarian usurpations, but also the civic uses of the presilani and cosentini peasants. He supported prevention, social promotion of populations and dialogue more than military repression. He resigned due to conflicts with the military commander who didn't respect his promise of a saved life in exchange for the surrender of a famous band of brigands. He was then sent as prefect to Palermo, where he had already committed himself against the mafia but then resigned bitterly.[2]

In 1866, during the Third Italian War of Independence, with the rank of colonel he commanded the 44th Battalion of the "Mobile National Guard", organizing the defense of the valley at the Sondalo squeeze, repelling the Austrians under Alexander von Metz and Ulysses von Albertini during the Operations in Valtellina.[2] For this, he was decorated with the Military Order of Savoy on December 6, 1866.[4]

After being a deputy for three legislatures for the colleges of Sondrio and Tirano, in 1868 he was appointed Senator of the Kingdom of Italy.[5] In 1872, he was appointed national president of the Red Cross, in 1873, he promoted the constitution of the Valtellinese section of the CAI. In 1872, he was one of the primary founders behind the Italian Alpine Club.[2] After returning to Ponte in Valtellina, he devoted himself entirely to his administration as from 1873 until his death, he was mayor of the commune. He died in his house at Ponte in Valtellina from a sudden fever on July 1, 1895.[6][2]

• Military Order of Savoy, Officer (December 6, 1866)
• Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus, Knight
• Commemorative Medal of the Unity of Italy (awarded 2 times)