Career
The name means "Roger the Seventh", from a family name originating in Pisa (Tuscany). He was counter-admiral of Sicilian Fleet, He fights alongside the British fleet in the Mediterranean Sea against the French under Napoleon Bonaparte. In 1811 he had to retire from the military to health problems.
His family was in legacy for marriage with the last heir of the family Calvello (about 1468), so became proprietary of one of the largest estates in Sicily.
With his father Trajan Settim Aversa the feud (fief) was given the title of the Principality of Fitalia. The fief was formed in 1130 after the investiture of King Roger II King of Sicily.
Ruggero Settimo was born in Palermo. He was one of the most important protagonists of the Sicilian revolution of independence of 1848, after which he was effective head of state of an independent Sicily that replaced the Bourbon Two Sicilies for 16 months.
Once the rebellion was put down by King Ferdinand II"s army, he escaped to Malta, where he lived out the rest of his life in exile.
Following the success of the Risorgimento movement during 1860 and 1861, he was the President of the Senate of the newly created Parliament of the Kingdom of Italy until his death.