In 1789, Ferdinand IV promulgated the “Law Code” which ruled in an innovative way the life and work of the community. An example of socialism ‘ante litteram’.
Equal rights for peasants, no more differentiation between men and women in inheritance successions, earnings proportional to merit (only differentiation). For the rest, all equal, even for clothes.
Everybody has a right to go to school, it is compulsory from the age of six. Abolition of last wills, possessions are given to family members or to the Bank of Orphans.
Part of the remunerations is destined to the Bank of Charity for disabled, old and sick people. The dowries of brides are abolished and parents are strictly forbidden to interfere in their children love affairs. The only limitation: only those who can work silk can get married, there’s an art to defend and hand down. The citizen actively participates to the community of equals and, at the same time, is the essential protagonist of silk manufacture in harmony with the environment.
With San Leucio Statute, King Ferdinand IV wished to become famous as an illuminist reformer. That is why the Code’s writer’s identity was kept secret, the freemason Antonio Pianelli.
The Code was printed secretly and translated into several languages with the declared intention of promoting the King.