Reporting of Federici Studies Center
Il 6 January 1888 the general died. Hermann Chancellor, supreme commander of the papal army from 1865 al 1870. We remember the 130th anniversary of the general's death with the voice ofCatholic Encyclopedia dedicated to Kanzler, edited by Paolo Dalla Torre (1910 – 1993), son of Joseph (director of the Osservatore Romano since 1920 al 1960) and author of “The year of Mentana. Contribution to a history of the Papal State in 1867", published in 1938 and seized by the government of the time because it was in contrast with the holographic historiography of the Risorgimento.
The text of the Catholic Encyclopedia highlights the profound admiration and gratitude that every Catholic should have for the general, who was very faithful to Pope King Pius IX and who consecrated his life to the defense and service of papal Rome. In particular, Dalla Torre defends Kanzler's actions in the excited hours of 20 September 1870, responding to criticism from detractors (of yesterday and today). The text is integrated with some information taken from "The Kanzler-Vannutelli papers of the Vatican Archives" (Vatican City, Vatican Secret Archive, 2013), which we have inserted in brackets.
Chancellor Hermann (Karl Leopold) – Papal general and pro-minister of arms, nato a Weingarten presso Bruchsal (Baden) il 28 March 1822 (there Markus Kanzler and Magdalena Krehmer), died in Rome on 6 January 1888. Exemplary Christian and excellent soldier, intelligent and cultured, he was one of the most noble and chivalrous figures of old papal Rome. High school graduates in Mannheim, he entered the military college in Karlsruhe revealing his aptitude and love for the profession. Flag bearer and lieutenant (25 maggio 1814), to avoid fighting in a duel he gave up his career and devoted himself to studying languages and travelling, showing on several occasions a rare contempt for danger. Il 1 September 1845 he was finally able to be admitted to Bologna to the service of the S. Seat as a cadet. Highly trained in military sciences and a capable organizer, he became a second lieutenant in the foreign infantry, fought at Monte Berico (Vicenza) il 24 maggio 1848, and only surviving officer, although wounded, he commanded his company to the end, deserving from the gen. Lasting a special mention.
(Il 12 March 1847 he married Letizia Pepoli, of the noble Bolognese family. After two years Kanzler was widowed and childless). Promoted to lieutenant 15 April 1849 and captain the 21 June, acted as aide to the general. Zucchi, amidst fortunate events, she rushed to the exile Pius IX in Gaeta and completed delicate secret assignments in the provinces of the Papal State in turmoil. Il 26 July 1850 was chosen by the general. Kalbermatten as law enforcement officer, and soon reached the rank of colonel (1 maggio 1859) of native infantry. (Il 2 maggio 1860 Chancellor, that he had 38 years, he married Laura of the Vannutelli counts, Of 24 years).
Initially left aside by the general. De Lamoricière, which De Pimodan put before him, he also endured this trial with modesty and serenity. During the campaign of 1860 in the Marche and Umbria he clearly stood out among all his colleagues: at S. Angelo (13 September) managing to open a passage with a thin column through an entire opposing division, earning the appointment as brigadier general (22 September); he appeared experienced in the defense of Ancona, of valor and fearless cold blood, and he was an active partisan of the resistance to the bitter end. (He gen. de Lamoricière changed his opinion on Kanzler after the war events: “he knows his job, he knows the moves of the troops, knows how to recognize a card well, he knows the maneuvers and administration of the troops; he showed himself much more firm than the others in the difficult circumstances that preceded the capitulation of Ancona").
(Il 7 May of 1864, after the premature death of their first child in June of 1863 a few months after birth, nacque Rodolfo Chancellor, destined to remain the only child of the couple). Returning from prison in Genoa, he had command of a brigade, to then become, very young, lieutenant general and pro-minister (27 October 1865) in place of Msgr. De Merode. Very attached to Pius IX and deeply loved, esteemed by the very opponents of the papal government, generous, calm and thoughtful, he enjoyed the full confidence of his Italian and foreign subordinates, also for his military temperament and his mentality aimed at the cold and tenacious offensive. Era, Therefore, the most suitable for proceeding with those radical reforms of the army and study of those defense problems that, imposed by the dictates of the September Convention, they made the Catholic volunteers a respectable and efficient war team.
And it was seen in the facts: the definitive repression of brigandage in southern Lazio (1864-66), it was followed by the valid resistance opposed to Garibaldi's gangs in the autumn 1867, as well as by the victorious action of Mentana (3 November). Then came the final crisis of 1870: it represented for Kanzler and his, rightly said by Vigevano, a true “military psychology drama”, between spontaneous spirit of combativeness to the point of supreme sacrifice and disciplined compliance with sovereign provisions, aimed at reducing the conflict to the minimum necessary to demonstrate the use of force. Even on that extreme occasion, the pontifical militias led by Kanzler were able to command the respect of the honest by fighting and obeying like a "good army", so much so as to obtain the honors of arms from the besiegers. The painful and arduous capitulation negotiations are over, and greet the troops leaving for captivity, Kanzler did not want to depart from Pius IX's side, who had the good fortune to witness until his final agony. (In the years following 1870 and until death, although no Ministry of Arms no longer existed, he continued to have the title of pro minister and in this capacity he took care of the former soldiers of the dissolved Papal Army. The only memory of his past as a general was the speech that he addressed to the pontiff every year on behalf of the disbanded Papal Army, which on this occasion tried to have at least its major representatives present in Rome, he general of Courten, General Zappi, the lieutenant. Col. De Charette).
(Upon the death of Pius IX, Kanzler with his family moved outside the Vatican walls to a stable site at number 3 in via San Luigi dei Francesi occupying a small apartment on the first floor. The economic conditions of the former pro minister - he had refused the pension offered to him by the Italian State - were not such as to allow him many luxuries). Created baron by Leo XIII, he spent the rest of his life talking to and benefiting his former soldiers, and successfully dedicating himself to military and astronomy studies. You owe it to him, among other things, an objective “Report to the Holiness of N. S. Pope Pius IX on the invasion of the Papal States in the autumn of 1867" (Roma 1868), as well as an important collection of personal and government documents secured to the Vatican Archives by Msgr. A. Merchants in 1932.
(Il 22 December 1887, despite the difficulties caused by the reopening of the sore on his foot, he gave the usual greeting speech to the pontiff. Returned home, he went to bed in the hope of being able to get up soon. The night between 5 and the 6 January 1888, without ever losing consciousness, died. I had 65 years. January 8th 1888 took place, according to his will, a sober funeral at the parish of S. Mary Magdalene. The function was attended by relatives, amici, officials, politicians. The body was buried in the family tomb at the Verano Cemetery, where it still is).
Paolo Dalla Torre
Source: Catholic Encyclopedia, Vol. VII, col. 653, voce Chancellor
