The Leopard: Are Concetta Corbera and Tancredi Falconeri Based on a Real People?

‘The Leopard‘ is a political show set in 19th century Sicily, Italy, where the Risorgimento movement becomes the backdrop to the tumultuous lives of an aristocratic family. Don Fabrizio Corbera, the Prince of Salina, would like to believe Garibaldi’s and his army’s attempts at socio-political revolution are futile. Nevertheless, as the new age arrives on the shores of his Sicilian land, he has no choice but to play the intricate game of securing his family’s future while holding on to a bygone era. In the midst of this transformation, an internal conflict brews in his family, incited by the budding romance between two of his favorite wards: daughter Concetta Corbera and nephew Tancredi Falconeri. The two cousins and their strenuous romance become a crucial aspect of the show, inviting intrigue about the characters and their relevance to the story’s historical setting.

Concetta Corbera is a Fictional Character With Literary Origins

‘The Leopard’ is an adaptation of the eponymous novel by Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa, the 11th Prince of Lampedusa and the 12th Duke of Palma. The author penned the novel, which was published posthumously in 1958, with inspiration taken from the life of his great-grandfather, Don Giulio Fabrizio Tomasi, the 8the Prince of Lampedusa. Furthermore, he also modeled some characterizations of Fabrizio Corbera after his own self, adding partial autobiographical elements to the story. Still, while these connections solidify the real-life connections of some characters, many others remain works of fiction confined within the bounds of the novel. It seems Concetta Corbera, Fabrizio’s beloved daughter, is one of the former.

There are no records of a Concetta Corbera in the history of Sicilian royalty. However, reports suggest that Giulio Fabrizio Tomasi—the real-life inspiration behind Fabrizio Corbera—did have several daughters. Therefore, it is possible that, much like the relationship between Fabrizio and his wife, the novel also takes inspiration from the Prince and his favored daughter’s dynamic from Giulio Fabrizio Tomasi’s life. Nonetheless, without any firm evidence, the same remains a speculation with no concrete proof. Consequently, Tomasi’s work largely remains the central source material for Concetta’s character.

While the show maintains authenticity to the novel in its depiction of Concetta, ‘The Leopard’ also equips some notable creative liberty in the adaptation of the character. The Prince’s daughter has always been a crucial addition to the narrative, significantly affecting the central plot. Still, Benedetta Porcaroli’s on-screen portrayal expands upon the character, introducing enhanced focus to her narrative. The gravity of social practices like marriages and covenant training in Concetta’s life highlights their real-life historical relevance. As a result, the story gains the added perspective of a woman’s reality in the 19th century aristocratic Sicily.

The Real-Life Inspirations Behind Tancredi Falconeri

Unlike Concetta, her cousin, Tancredi Falconeri—the young man with Fabrizio Corbera’s favor— retains many notable counterparts in reality. Author Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa’s old letters confirm that his own cousin, Gioacchino Lanza Tomasi, served as a prime influence in the creation of Tancredi’s character. Tomasi and Lanza developed a close relationship sometime after 1946 when the author undertook the hobby of English lectureship. During this time, he and his nephew were said to have become intellectual partners before Tomasi and his wife, Alexandra von Wolff-Stomersee, legally adopted Lanza as their son.

Some sources suggest the adoption came on the heels of Tomasi’s worries about the continuation of his lineage in the absence of his own biological children. Either way, it remains evident that Lanza must have sported a close relationship with his cousins-turned-adoptive-father. This was likely reminiscent of the dynamic between Fabrizio and Tancredi. Similarly, another reported inspiration behind the latter emerges in Corrado Valguarnera, Giulio Fabrizio’s real-life nephew. He and his friends have also been historically credited with influencing some of Tancredi’s characterizations and storylines. Thus, through these real-life inspirations, the latter occupies a grounded presence in his connection to the Sicilian nobility.

Alternatively, Tancredi’s more fictionalized storylines—revolving around ambition and romance further enhance his sense of realism. His involvement with Giuseppe Garibaldi and his Unification of Italy movement presents an authentic depiction of the support the General and his Red Shirt army found in the Italian youth. Moreover, when contrasted against Fabrizio and his affinity for the social order of the past, Tancredi’s philosophies and morals add to the themes of intergenerational friction. On the other hand, his pursued romance with Concetta highlights the era-appropriate commonality and acceptance of relations between first cousins. Statistically, 50 percent of all marriages in 1900s Sicily were between first cousins. Thus, even outside of real-life influences, his character informs the show’s authenticity and realism in various ways.