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The true name of Masaniello is Tommaso Aniello d'Amalfi; he was born in Naples in 1620.
His origins are very humble: his family was poor, he was illiterate and he earned his daily bread working as boy of a fishmonger in the Mercato quarter. It has been told he was really sharp and smart and that he had sometimes violent reactions. Because of this behaviour, he was often put in the Ammiragliato prisons.
In prison he met doctor Marco Vitale, a G. Genoino follower who let Masaniello contact with the middle-class supporters of the coming riot. Masaniello met there also Genoino, one of the main protagonists of the uprisings against the nobles occured in 1620. Genoino was a supporter of a reform for the city government; he suggested a delegation of lower classes could vote as the nobles did. Vitale and Genoino acknowledged Masaniello as the one who had the character and the ambition to foster and sway the crowd in order to revolt.
The excuse of the riot occured in 1647 was the restoration of the fruit tax.
In june 1647 some incidents between people and the leading classes happened.
On 7th july 1647 Masaniello led a popular protest demonstration against the fruit tax; this demonstration led to a riot that involved also the quarters near the Mercato one. Masaniello suggested the shopkeepers to refuse paying the fruit tax. The revolt forced the viceroy Duke of Arcos to escape. Masaniello and common people controlled therefore the city. Also the "civil" people led by Genoino took part to this first riot phase; Genoino and some other agitators gave indeed orders from the Carmine church. After the viceroy escape, some reforms in the administrative, military and economic fields (new price-lists were passed) were made. Cardinal Filomarino, archbishop of Naples, was the mediator with the Spanish government; the two parts came to a series of agreements, according to which invaders did not lose their power and the common people demands were accepted.
On 13th july taxes were officially abolished.
It was not the glory time for Masaniello because he had to defend himself from hie enemies.
On 10th july the duke of Maddaloni organized an attempt on Masaniello's life, who was able to foil it. Thanks to this event, the viceroy tried first to corrupt him and then he was forced to designate him "very faithful general capitain of Naples people". Masaniello had great prestige among common people and he was able to keep them united against the Spanish. This support let him have many enemies among the craftmen and the dealers, who were afraid for their activities. The sudden fame and success, being abandoned by his supporters made him upset. In a couple of dayd he got crazy. On 16th july Masaniello was murdered according to someone by his fellows; others think he was killed by viceroy hired assassins who found him in the Carmine church, where he was hidden. His funerals were the first step of the Antispanish riot that from Naples spread in the reign provinces.
Masaniello has often been reproached for having not an historical awareness, but this idea did not prevent from creating his myth as a popular hero. Much was written on Masaniello, who inspired many theatre works.