Raimondo di Sangro

Raimondo di Sangro, Prince of Sansevero VII ( born January 30, 1710 in Torre Maggiore, † March 22, 1771 in Naples) was an Italian aristocrat, inventor, soldier, writer and scholar, who was responsible for the restoration of the Cappella Sansevero in Naples.

The father of the prince was Antonio, Duke of Torre Maggiore, and his mother was Cecilia Gaetani of Aragon. His mother died shortly after his birth. He was sent with ten years in the Jesuit College in Rome, where he received the best education possible.

After completing his education he became a soldier of King Charles III. of bourbon. For the King Raimondo had to make several waterproof coats. Other inventions of the Prince were: artificial gems, artificial wax, a kind of eternal light, rayon, an iron alloy for lighter guns and multi-color printing with only one printing.

Raimondo was a Freemason and obvious member of the international secret society of the Rosicrucians.

In the so-called crypt of the Cappella Sansevero two skeletons are kept behind glass, allegedly prepared by Raimondo, whose veins and venous plexus has remained intact since the 18th century.

Raimondo died 1771 in Naples.