Antonio Filanghieri

Antonio Filangieri (27 June 1752 – 24 June 1808) was an Italian-born military commander who saw active service under the Spanish Crown, eventually being appointed captain-general of Galicia. Filangieri was one of the three captains-general slain by mobs following the Madrid Uprising (2 May 1808), the other two being Francisco Solano, 2nd Marquis de Socorro in Cádiz, and Count Torre del Fresno, in Estremadura.

Family Antonio Filangieri was the brother of Gaetano Filangieri, and uncle of Carlo Filangieri.

Career In 1796, following his service during the War of the Pyrenees, Filangieri was promoted to lieutenant general and appointed military commander of Catalonia.

Peninsular War Following the Dos de Mayo Uprising, on 29 May 1808, Filangieri was named Captain-general of Galicia in substitution of Francisco de Biedma y Zayas who had only held the post since 11 May, having been appointed upon the death of Francisco Taranco y Llano and who had been in favour of allowing the French troops to occupy Galicia.

Army of Galicia Towards the end of June 1808, Filangieri, as commander in chief of the Army of Galicia, entered Benavente. The Army, then numbering 60,000 troops, including militiamen, plus 20 companies of Grenadiers. Second in command was the Marquis of Castrojal with Brigadier Joaquin Blake as the Quartel Maestre general. The aides-de-camp were the Marquis of Almeyra and Baron Alcaly (Alcahalí). The divisions were as follows: 1st Division: Field Marshal Geronimo Verdes 2nd Division: Felipe Jado Cagigal 3rd Division: Rafael Marinego 4th Division: Ignacio Riquelmi 5th Division: Militia Brigadier José Meneses

Given his frail health, Filangieri was substituted in the command by Blake on 20 June, just days before being killed by an angry mob of soldiers.