Corleone family

The Corleone family are a group of fictional characters in the novels and the films of The Godfather series, created by Mario Puzo and first appearing in his 1969 novel The Godfather. They are an organized crime family originating from the Sicilian town of Corleone, and who are based in New York City.

For the real life family, see Corleonesi Mafia clan.

The Corleone family has drawn comparisons with the real-life Genovese and Bonanno crime families.[1][2][3]

Fictional history

The Corleone crime family traces its roots to 1920, when Vito Corleone assassinated Little Italy's padrone, Don Fanucci, and took over Fanucci's territory along with fellow criminals Genco Abbandando, Peter Clemenza and Salvatore Tessio. Shortly afterward, he founded the Genco Pura Olive Oil Company as a front for his criminal activities. Around 1925, Vito formally organized the family, with Genco as his consigliere and Clemenza and Tessio as caporegimes. They became the most powerful crime family in New York City after defeating Salvatore Maranzano during the Olive Oil War in the early 1930s. It was during this time that Vito's eldest son, Santino "Sonny" Corleone, made his reputation and eventually became a caporegime himself. Upon becoming successful, the family moved to a compound on Long Island.

Killing the Turk

In 1945, Don Vito Corleone declines drug baron Virgil "The Turk" Sollozzo's narcotics business proposal, and this nearly destroys the family. Sollozzo believed Vito's eldest son Sonny wanted to accept the deal, and he had his men gun down Don Vito outside his office. However, Vito survives and is hospitalized. Sonny takes over as acting Don of the Corleone family. After a second assassination attempt on Don Vito, Sonny has Bruno Tattaglia, son of Don Tattaglia, assassinated. The situation escalates further when Don Vito's youngest son Michael murders both Sollozzo and corrupt police officer Captain McCluskey during a meeting in the Bronx, which forces Michael to flee to Sicily. This triggers the Five Families War, during which Sonny is assassinated. After Sonny's death, the still-recuperating Don Vito makes peace with the other families, realizing that his true enemy is Emilio Barzini, who wanted to crush the Corleones to become the most powerful mafia don in New York City.

Las Vegas

After Don Vito's semi-retirement, followed by his fatal heart attack, Michael succeeds his father as the Don. Michael carries out Sonny's plan to murder the other New York City Mafia bosses along with Moe Greene, who stood in the way of the family's business interests in Las Vegas, Salvatore Tessio, who betrayed Michael for Barzini, and Carlo Rizzi, who was involved in the murder of Sonny. Following this, Michael moves the family to Lake Tahoe. Michael attempts to legitimize the Corleone business, but is pulled back into crime after a failed attempt on his life by Miami gangster and Corleone business partner, Hyman Roth, attempting to halt the takeover of Las Vegas. Roth is eventually murdered on Michael's orders. Michael's older brother, Fredo Corleone, was ensnared by Roth to conspire against the Corleones. At their mother's funeral, Michael sanctions the assassination of his surviving older brother.

Legitimization

In The Godfather Part III, by 1979, the activities of the Corleone family were nearly completely legitimate. Michael Corleone sold their interests in all casinos and hotels and invested only in businesses unconnected to Mafia activities. The underboss of the Corleone's criminal enterprise, Joey Zasa, resentful of the reforms, aligned with aging kingpin Don Altobello, and together orchestrated an assassination attempt on Michael Corleone during a meeting in Atlantic City.

Vincent Corleone

In 1980, Michael appointed his nephew and Sonny's illegitimate son, Vincent Mancini, to be his successor as Don of the Corleone family, he allowed him to change his name to Vincent Corleone. In return for this, Michael ordered him to end his relationship with Michael's daughter (and Vincent's cousin) Mary Corleone. Vincent assured him that he would.

Under Michael's mentoring, Vincent is remade into a new man - wiser, patient, and aware of his status as the new Don. However, he retained a violent streak, as evidenced in his first act as Don. With Michael's tacit blessing, he ordered the deaths of Gilday, Keinszig, and Lucchesi in one mass slaughter. However, Mary was killed in a failed assassination attempt on Michael. Vincent quickly and ruthlessly killed Mosca, the assassin responsible. Despite this, Michael still dies alone and despondent after an unknown period of time.

Historical leadership

Boss (official and acting)

Underboss

Consigliere

Capos

The Bronx/Long Island faction

Brooklyn faction

Manhattan faction

Las Vegas faction

Miami faction
  • 194?–1958 – John "Johnny" Ola (informal, close associate of Hyman Roth) (murdered)

Known soldiers
  • ????–1958 – Frank "Frankie Five Angels" Pentangeli (became capo)
  • ????-1959 - Richard Anthony "Ritchie" Nobilio, Jr (became capo)
  • 1934–1945 – Luca Brasi (murdered)
  • 1934–1959 – Tony Rosato (begins own family)
  • 1934–1959 – Carmine Rosato (begins own family)
  • ????–1946 – Paulie Gatto (murdered)
  • 1946–1959 – Willi Cicci (became informant)
  • 1946–1955 – Rocco Lampone (became capo)
  • 195?–1955 – Al Neri (became capo)
  • 195?–197? – Joseph "Joey" Zasa (became capo)

References
  1. Welkos, Robert W. (January 7, 2005). "Death threats? No. Risk? Yes". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California: Tribune Publishing. Retrieved June 23, 2012.
  2. Bruno, Anthony. "The Bonanno Family". TruTV. Tribune Publishing. Archived from the original on 2012-06-04. Retrieved June 23, 2012.
  3. Bruno, Anthony. "Fact and Fiction in The Godfather". TruTV. Retrieved 2012-06-23.
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