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| Bernardo Provenzano, who has died aged 83 in a secure hospital ward, was the former boss of the Corleone clan, once the most vicious and voracious of the Sicilian mafia families. He had been imprisoned in solitary confinement since 2006, serving a number of life sentences for murder. | |
| Provenzano was credited with rescuing Cosa Nostra after its disastrous war against the state, in which the mafia murdered lawyers, journalists, police, judges and politicians, incurring a backlash of mass arrests and huge financial losses. His predecessor at the head of the organisation, Totò Riina, had waged a bombing campaign from 1989 to 1993 in an attempt to force the government to repeal anti-mafia laws, dragging Cosa Nostra to the brink of annihilation. Provenzano’s strategy of halting the killing, which he considered bad for business, was key to the organisation’s survival. | Provenzano was credited with rescuing Cosa Nostra after its disastrous war against the state, in which the mafia murdered lawyers, journalists, police, judges and politicians, incurring a backlash of mass arrests and huge financial losses. His predecessor at the head of the organisation, Totò Riina, had waged a bombing campaign from 1989 to 1993 in an attempt to force the government to repeal anti-mafia laws, dragging Cosa Nostra to the brink of annihilation. Provenzano’s strategy of halting the killing, which he considered bad for business, was key to the organisation’s survival. |
| Provenzano and Riina got their start as small-time gangsters in the agricultural town of Corleone, in the mountains in central Sicily. Bernardo was the third of seven children of farm workers, Angelo Provenzano and Giovanna Rigoglioso, and left school early to contribute to the household income. In the early 1950s, a challenger for control of the Corleone clan, Luciano Liggio, spotted his potential as a cattle rustler and a crack shot (this was when young Provenzano got his nickname, “the tractor”), and he and Riina rode shotgun for Liggio on his clandestine meat-trading runs into Palermo. His first arrest was for stealing cheese. Liggio’s upstart faction took on the established Corleone boss Michele Navarra and won. They then went to war against the Palermo families for control of the illegal economy in western Sicily, leaving scorched earth behind them, and by 1963 Provenzano was in hiding. | Provenzano and Riina got their start as small-time gangsters in the agricultural town of Corleone, in the mountains in central Sicily. Bernardo was the third of seven children of farm workers, Angelo Provenzano and Giovanna Rigoglioso, and left school early to contribute to the household income. In the early 1950s, a challenger for control of the Corleone clan, Luciano Liggio, spotted his potential as a cattle rustler and a crack shot (this was when young Provenzano got his nickname, “the tractor”), and he and Riina rode shotgun for Liggio on his clandestine meat-trading runs into Palermo. His first arrest was for stealing cheese. Liggio’s upstart faction took on the established Corleone boss Michele Navarra and won. They then went to war against the Palermo families for control of the illegal economy in western Sicily, leaving scorched earth behind them, and by 1963 Provenzano was in hiding. |
| During the maxi trial in the mid-1980s, the biggest case against Cosa Nostra in history, both Riina and Provenzano were tried for murder in absentia while their boss and mentor, Liggio, smoked cigars and regarded the proceedings through the bars of his cell with contempt. When, in a shocking reverse of the status quo, 338 (not including Liggio) were convicted of mafia crimes and, five years later, the convictions were upheld on appeal, the Corleonesi made their fateful decision. The judges Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino, who had built the case against the mafia by tracking laundered drug money, and persuading disillusioned mafiosi to give evidence, had to die. | During the maxi trial in the mid-1980s, the biggest case against Cosa Nostra in history, both Riina and Provenzano were tried for murder in absentia while their boss and mentor, Liggio, smoked cigars and regarded the proceedings through the bars of his cell with contempt. When, in a shocking reverse of the status quo, 338 (not including Liggio) were convicted of mafia crimes and, five years later, the convictions were upheld on appeal, the Corleonesi made their fateful decision. The judges Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino, who had built the case against the mafia by tracking laundered drug money, and persuading disillusioned mafiosi to give evidence, had to die. |
| In May 1992, as his motorcade sped from the airport towards Palermo, a bomb killed Falcone, his wife and three police officers. Two months later, as Borsellino pressed the bell of his elderly mother’s apartment, a car bomb exploded, killing him and five bodyguards. Provenzano later distanced himself from these outrages, but magistrates are convinced he was in full support of Riina’s war. | In May 1992, as his motorcade sped from the airport towards Palermo, a bomb killed Falcone, his wife and three police officers. Two months later, as Borsellino pressed the bell of his elderly mother’s apartment, a car bomb exploded, killing him and five bodyguards. Provenzano later distanced himself from these outrages, but magistrates are convinced he was in full support of Riina’s war. |
| In early 1992, just before the assassinations, Provenzano’s common-law wife, Saveria Palazzolo, had suddenly taken up residence in Corleone with their two young sons. Mafia seismologists were in a frenzy, trying to work out what this meant. It was said that Provenzano was dead, or gravely ill. Later, it was thought he was preparing for war, and wanted his family out of danger. Provenzano always insisted that his boys, Angelo and Francesco Paolo, should have no part in organised crime, which they – alienated from both criminal and civil society – have at times found difficult. | In early 1992, just before the assassinations, Provenzano’s common-law wife, Saveria Palazzolo, had suddenly taken up residence in Corleone with their two young sons. Mafia seismologists were in a frenzy, trying to work out what this meant. It was said that Provenzano was dead, or gravely ill. Later, it was thought he was preparing for war, and wanted his family out of danger. Provenzano always insisted that his boys, Angelo and Francesco Paolo, should have no part in organised crime, which they – alienated from both criminal and civil society – have at times found difficult. |
| After Riina was arrested the following February, Provenzano called a meeting of his generals. Without Riina’s dictatorship to keep the factions in check, tensions were high. The men, including two serial murderers, waited to see what kind of leader “the tractor” would prove to be. In a small office inside a warehouse on the outskirts of Palermo, Provenzano told them: “Everything that Uncle Totò set in motion goes ahead: we’re not stopping.” | After Riina was arrested the following February, Provenzano called a meeting of his generals. Without Riina’s dictatorship to keep the factions in check, tensions were high. The men, including two serial murderers, waited to see what kind of leader “the tractor” would prove to be. In a small office inside a warehouse on the outskirts of Palermo, Provenzano told them: “Everything that Uncle Totò set in motion goes ahead: we’re not stopping.” |
| It was a feint. What he lacked in muscle, “Uncle Bernie” made up for in cunning. While the others were intent on pushing on with the bombing campaign, he worked on a new strategy. Gradually, Riina’s allies got arrested, and Provenzano stayed out of sight. | It was a feint. What he lacked in muscle, “Uncle Bernie” made up for in cunning. While the others were intent on pushing on with the bombing campaign, he worked on a new strategy. Gradually, Riina’s allies got arrested, and Provenzano stayed out of sight. |
| From the mid-1990s onwards, Provenzano’s “submersion” strategy turned Cosa Nostra’s fortunes around, by taking mafia operations below the radar. There was to be no more killing, for now. It attracted too much attention. The proceeds of crime were to be invested in legitimate businesses: tourism, property, private health companies. The tractor was no more: he was now known as u ragioniere, “the accountant”. So smart were Provenzano’s investments, the authorities have yet to find out where most of his illegal earnings are hidden. | From the mid-1990s onwards, Provenzano’s “submersion” strategy turned Cosa Nostra’s fortunes around, by taking mafia operations below the radar. There was to be no more killing, for now. It attracted too much attention. The proceeds of crime were to be invested in legitimate businesses: tourism, property, private health companies. The tractor was no more: he was now known as u ragioniere, “the accountant”. So smart were Provenzano’s investments, the authorities have yet to find out where most of his illegal earnings are hidden. |
| To restore Sicilians’ confidence in Cosa Nostra, Provenzano played the role of the old-fashioned mafia boss: solving problems, making connections, resolving differences. He adopted an increasingly priestly manner (he once turned up for a meeting in bishop’s robes, which made Riina furious), his letters to associates became preachy and clerical in tone. After his arrest, detectives found his annotated bible, and spent weeks studying the notes for hidden clues, convinced he had used it to send coded messages. But, as with so many of Provenzano’s mysteries, nobody could ever prove the notes were more than pious scribblings. | To restore Sicilians’ confidence in Cosa Nostra, Provenzano played the role of the old-fashioned mafia boss: solving problems, making connections, resolving differences. He adopted an increasingly priestly manner (he once turned up for a meeting in bishop’s robes, which made Riina furious), his letters to associates became preachy and clerical in tone. After his arrest, detectives found his annotated bible, and spent weeks studying the notes for hidden clues, convinced he had used it to send coded messages. But, as with so many of Provenzano’s mysteries, nobody could ever prove the notes were more than pious scribblings. |
| Through his years in hiding, only one photo existed – a 1959 mugshot showing a broad, square face, light brown hair and a vacant stare. In 2005 police issued a photofit of how he would look 45 years on, but he remained untraceable. | Through his years in hiding, only one photo existed – a 1959 mugshot showing a broad, square face, light brown hair and a vacant stare. In 2005 police issued a photofit of how he would look 45 years on, but he remained untraceable. |
| For all his power, the so-called boss of bosses led, latterly, an ascetic’s life. He passed unnoticed through a checkpoint more than once, driving a battered old car and dressed like a peasant farmer. His final hiding place was a shepherd’s hut in the hills outside Corleone, where he composed his pizzini, typed letters of instruction, exhortation and strategic thinking, folded them into tiny squares, and passed them to his messengers – he did not trust computers or phones. His wife made sure food and clean clothes were delivered to him, and he once chided a boy who wanted to throw away a bag of greens that was beginning to rot. | For all his power, the so-called boss of bosses led, latterly, an ascetic’s life. He passed unnoticed through a checkpoint more than once, driving a battered old car and dressed like a peasant farmer. His final hiding place was a shepherd’s hut in the hills outside Corleone, where he composed his pizzini, typed letters of instruction, exhortation and strategic thinking, folded them into tiny squares, and passed them to his messengers – he did not trust computers or phones. His wife made sure food and clean clothes were delivered to him, and he once chided a boy who wanted to throw away a bag of greens that was beginning to rot. |
| When the taskforce finally moved in to arrest him, on 11 April 2006, there were angry and emotional scenes on the streets of Palermo. Provenzano, who looked older and markedly less macho than his identikit image, was jostled as officers in ski masks escorted him into police headquarters. But the powerful crime boss who had been found living in a shed remained an enigma. As the public caught sight of him for the first time in decades, he smiled. | When the taskforce finally moved in to arrest him, on 11 April 2006, there were angry and emotional scenes on the streets of Palermo. Provenzano, who looked older and markedly less macho than his identikit image, was jostled as officers in ski masks escorted him into police headquarters. But the powerful crime boss who had been found living in a shed remained an enigma. As the public caught sight of him for the first time in decades, he smiled. |
| Provenzano is survived by Saveria and his sons. | Provenzano is survived by Saveria and his sons. |
| • Bernardo Provenzano, gangster, born 31 January 1933; died 13 July 2016 | • Bernardo Provenzano, gangster, born 31 January 1933; died 13 July 2016 |
| • This article was amended on 15 July 2016. Earlier versions said Provenzano had died in a “secure prison” or in a “secure hospital”. In fact he died at the San Paolo hospital in Milan, which has a secure ward used for prisoners. |