Ghino di Tacco
Late 13th century An Italian who made banditry a family business
Given that Ghinotto di Tacco spent his formative years joining his father, uncle and little brother on bandit raids, it’s hardly surprising that he continued his criminal career into adulthood. Motivated by dissatisfaction at the greed of their rulers, who imposed crippling taxes on the people of La Fratta, where the family lived, the bandits became notorious. When the elder di Taccos were captured and executed, it was left for Ghinotto and his brother to carry on the family business.
Ghinotto seized control of a castle and made it his base of operations, venturing out to rob travellers on the road. Considering himself to be a gentleman thief, he sometimes left his victims with enough to survive their journey and made sure to treat them to a feast before they went on their way. He was also known to only prey on the rich, and he never robbed from the poor.
However, he was not above killing his enemies and parading around with their heads on spikes to prove his fearsome reputation.
When Ghinotto finally decided that the time had come to retire, he kidnapped an influential abbot and held him prisoner until he agreed to secure a pardon from Pope Boniface VIII, which allowed Ghinotto to live out his final years in peace.