The Sicilian Vespers

Music & History

March 30, 1282—Easter—the Sicilian Vespers—Sicilians slaughtered the French rulers, more than 10,000 people, who had invaded & conquered a generation back—this was after an earlier Norman conquest which was not quite French, since those were Vikings… So, a perfect memory for national sentiment, & the subject of a Verdi opera!

But first another word on th…