Florence, 22 April 2023 – Organized yesterday evening Armando Rossi’s Le Seine Lions Club from Le Pavoniere Golf and Prato’s Connoisseurship.
The protagonist is a professor John Cipriani, who delighted those present with a report dedicated to the relations between the original reality of America and Tuscany by Pietro Leopoldo: “There are deep ties between the original reality of America and Tuscany – the professor explained -. In 1756. A terrible war destroyed Europe and North America. We are talking about the Seven Years’ War, from which France emerged as a great defeat, Canada lost, and from that moment became English. Today Charles III is actually the sovereign of the Kingdom of Canada. For France, it was a terrible grief: England could not bear the conquest of the land and tried to resist it from the beginning. Meanwhile, the policy adopted by George III was short-sighted: he gave Canada and the North American colonies. tried to squeeze in. with unbearable taxes. But by then northern colonists, armed and trained by war experience, were leading increasingly important struggles against the much-hated taxes. Riots and protests ensued, the most famous episode of which was the Boston Tea Party of 1773: ships laden with tea were attacked by North American colonists disguised as Indians and the cargo thrown overboard. At this point a real armed organization was created under the leadership of George Washington. The war became very violent and saw the direct intervention of France, which played a decisive role by sending General Lafayette (Washington’s close friend) specifically to America, as well as a battle fleet and an expeditionary force. French initiative enabled the North American colonists to succeed.
In 1776, we see the birth of the American Declaration of Independence, which would be the first step towards the effective independence of the United States. Meanwhile, Peter Leopold, Grand Duke of Lorraine, was so interested in these events that he sent Filippo Massi to the North American colonies, who became George Washington’s personal friend and informant. Massey was familiar with the great protagonists of history of this period, including Madison and Jefferson. Victory followed shortly after: in 1783 the American colonists, led by Washington, won and peace with England – recognizing its independence – was finally signed. It was a triumph of Enlightenment ideals and liberty against a closed, almost absolute government like George III.
A parallel evolution occurred in Tuscany: American colonists elaborated their own constitution, which was ratified in 1789, not coincidentally the year of the French Revolution. Indeed, even the government of Louis XVI was now considered completely obsolete. With the storming of the Bastille on July 14, 1789, the French Revolution also looks to the American Revolution as a model. However, Peter Leopold was a great statesman and mediator. Mazzei is one of his men, but he works in the shadows towards England, with whom he certainly does not want to sever ties. Indeed, another character linked to Leopoldo was Lorenzo Pignotti, who spoke English and was a physician to the English communities of Florence and Livorno. Pignotti was therefore charged with maintaining relations with England and the English aristocracy. A perfect double play. Pietro Leopoldo published a poem by Pignotti dedicated to the son of Lord Rutland, who died during the American War of Independence, with a highly political and diplomatic purpose in English. The example of high politics that Tuscany once possessed, today, unfortunately, we do not see used with the same ability”.
A large number of guests attended the evening including Former Governor of District 108 LA Toscana Roberto Bianucci As well as some club members Scandicci Lions and Empoli Lions.
Catherine Seccuti
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