In 1806 , much of Calabria was a rough place . The 1783 Calabrian earthquakes had killed 50,000 people . Much of Reggio was still in ruins as late as 1813 and many churches were not been rebuilt by 1806 . The Calabrians were a hardy breed with an independent streak . They sometimes indulged in vendettas against neighboring families and villages . Plundering Imperial troops and grasping French civil authorities quickly set off a rebellion by the proud Calabrians . On the other hand , the residents of the major towns despised the Neapolitan royal government and often favored the French . The revolt flared up after certain incidents . At Scigliano the French left a detachment of 50 soldiers . A woman was raped and the villagers massacred most of the Frenchmen . The French commanders had only one response to such events , to assault , sack , and burn down the offending village . This led directly to an ugly cycle of atrocity and counter-atrocity . The newly anointed King Joseph tried to be fair . He ordered French soldiers to be shot for criminal offenses and French officials to be put on trial for corruption . Nevertheless , the Calabrian insurrection soon ran out of control . The Siege of Gaeta would occupy the French from 26 February to 18 July . Meanwhile , the Battle of Maida on 4 July would seriously threaten French control of Calabria
1783 Calabrian earthquakes
1783 Calabrian earthquakes
Battle of Campo Tenese