Gabriele Pepe

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Gabriele Pepe (December 7, 1779 - July 26, 1849) was an Italian soldier who fought in defence of the Neapolitan Republic in 1799. He was cousin to Guglielmo and Florestano Pepe.

Born in Civitacampomarano (current Molise), he entered the Neapolitan Army at early age. In the events of the Neapolitan Republic, he was captured by the loyal troops led by Fabrizio Ruffo and exiled to France. Here he fought for the Napoleonic armies both under Joseph Bonaparte and Joachim Murat. He took part to Neapolitan revolution of 1820, and was again sent to exile, this time to Florence.

He duelled with poet Alphonse de Lamartine, who had defined Italy as "A land of dead". In 1836 he returned to Naples where, although aged, he participated to the 1848 riots.