Talk:Capo di tutti capi

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

All this talk about "capo di tutti capi" is a lot of nonsense. No pentito ever mentioned it. The Mafia is not a hierarchical organisation with a "boss of bosses" at the top. It is more like a federation of independent families. Mafia Expert 22:37, 11 May 2006 (UTC)

Also, what self respecting mafia don would use Italian words to describe these titles? They would use Sicilian. Big credibility gap. ρ¡ρρµ δ→θ∑ - (waarom? jus'b'coz!) 03:31, 31 May 2006 (UTC)

I agree, and it's not even good Italian; you'd expect "capo di tutti i capi"--Zeisseng 21:59, 1 November 2006 (UTC)

Capo di tutti Capi means literally "Head of all Heads". It references generally a Don (ex. Big Paulie Castellano, John Gotti, or Carmine Lupertazzi from "The Sopranos"). It is indeed a term used by wiseguys to indicate a boss of a family. It is not meant to identify a boss of the "mafia" worldwide, as there exists no such person.

The way I believe it is, is that the Boss of Bosses is either 1. A godfather or 2. A supreme head over all families and Godfathers. It makes sense that, for example in a large country, several families may operate. As these expand and more crews get created, more Don's rise and therefore the need to control them is present, so a Godfather is promoted. Of course, different cities having different Godfathers can also lead to problems,so a figure who would reside over the heads of families in that country (prehaps to larger scale) or main area is promoted. This was more used in Italy and Siciliy. Truth be told, most people in a position like that are going to bed tagged by the FBI, etc probably. As for the different spelling and the unique title, seeing it is hardly ever used elsewhere, it would have been modified for us english folk.

Very interesting. But the point is that it is not very important what you think, but what your sources are to back your claim. -- Mafia Expert 22:26, 16 November 2006 (UTC)

I Have to agree. The whole article is nonsense, even the title. It should be called "capo di tutti i capi"...

Interesting that there is no equivalent article in the Italian Wiki, which nevertheless has good mafia coverage...Zeisseng 17:03, 10 December 2006 (UTC)

>You have a good point, in the US it is the media who usually is off looking for a boss of bosses. In reality, no one has held the title since Maranzano. The times when someone has tried to take the title (Galante for example), the result has been the death of the person wanting the title. --Amcalabrese 00:51, 14 February 2007 (UTC)

The term "Capo di tutti capi," while somewhat of a misnomer, is generally used by the law enforcement community to identify the head of the most powerful crime family (usually the head of the Commission). While you are arguing semantics - inserting an extra "i" - the article is a factual statement of what the law enforcement community understands the term to mean. Paul Castellano, the former head of the Gambino family, was made the head of the Commission by the other bosses and was therefore the "capo de tutti capi" according to the FBI and Mafia informants.

For a similar misnomer, take the name "La Cosa Nostra." This term was picked up on very early (and very illegal) FBI wiretaps. However, it was misunderstood by those transcribing the tapes. The term is "A Cosa Nostra" (this thing of ours) but was intead named "La Cosa Nostra." The name stuck - at least among law enforcement.