Alberto di Miteli

Alberto di Miteli was born the first son of a small merchant and his wife in a coastal village some 50 miles southeast of Roma. His father wasn't a very good business man, but, owing to the fact that there was no competition, managed to become prosperous by the standards of the village. At a young age, Alberto was forced (and that was the operative word) to help out his father in the tiny shop on the first floor of their modest home.

While the young Alberto was an eager student of many things, running a clothing shop in a dead-end village wasn't one of them. He made mistakes in sums that he could easily have calculated had he put his mind to it. He was indifferent to the qualities of different yarns. On the other hand, his younger brother, Lorenzo di Miteli, born a year after Alberto, soaked up everything and more that their father had to teach. The younger boy had a flair for selling clothing and could keep the books in his sleep.

Finally, Alberto decided that he couldn't take it any more.

"Father, I don't want to inherit the business. You know that I'm no better than the next person at it. Let Lorenzo have it."

"Now, Alberto, ..."

"No, Father. I've done my best these past several years to make this work, but I just can't do it. You know that."

"Very well, Alberto. You're right, I know. I will let you go to Rome, and will see what Lorenzo can do."

"Thank you, Father!"

To Rome! He'd visited the city once and had almost been overwhelmed by its magnificence. Now, he was going to go and make his fortune there!

Upon his arrival in Roma, Alberto chose to join the Swiss Guards, although he had always enjoyed being at Mass and the good Father who shepherded the village folk through life had often tried to convince him to take the cloth.

Other Biographies    The Greasy Pole    Faction Members    Swiss Guards Members    Home