Gambino Structure Explained
Graalians, you're about to witness the most complex mafia structure ever.
i've gotten many questions.. What is this rank? What is that rank? Well our gang names based of an sicilian mafia although.. I based the structure of off the calabrian mafia.
Here we go
'Ndrangheta, the Calabrian mob. Long considered a "horizontal Mafia," or a simple confederation of clans, the 'Ndrangheta was shown to have a secret hierarchical structure with a central leader, exactly like the better-known Cosa Nostra.
The governing body of the 'Ndrangheta is the Crimine (Crime), supervised by the capo crimine (head crime). His spokesperson, the mastro di giornata (master of the day), passes along his orders. Underneath them are the colonels: the mastro generale (general master), the capo società (head of the society), and the contabile (accountant).
At the base of the 'Ndrangheta are the 'ndrine, clans made up of members of the same family (often enlarged through arranged marriages). Each 'ndrina is in charge of a distinct territory called a locale (local), which does not always coincide with a geographic zone: It is possible to have numerous locals in the same city, or multiple cities in the same local. The Crimine controls every local in the world, and everyone there must obey its every command.
Each local has at least 49 members and answers to a capo locale (head local), also called a capo bastone (head crook) after the staff used by shepherds to round up sheep. He directs the criminal activity in his territory, calls meetings, decides on memberships and promotions, and resolves conflicts. Just like the capo crimine in the central organization of the 'Ndrangheta, every capo locale is flanked by a capo società, his chief manager; a mastro di giornata, who delivers his instructions to the underlings (in slang, "he passes the news"); and a contabile, who oversees the funds coming from illicit activities, the so-called valigetta (briefcase).
The locals have a double structure: the Società Minore (Minor Society), comprising the lowest-level members, and the Società Maggiore (Major Society), also called the Società Santa (Holy Society), composed of their superiors. There are many ranks (known as doti) in the 'Ndrangheta, and a member's position determines his tasks, responsibilities, and salary.
In the Società Minore, the lowest tier is occupied by the giovane d'onore (youth of honor), a descendant of a boss and an honorary member by blood right. Above him is the picciotto d'onore (boy of honor), the first role given to those who join the 'Ndrangheta. He'll carry out menial tasks, mostly manual labor, until he graduates to the position of camorrista (literally "someone who collects extortion money") and takes on more complicated jobs. The top brass in the Società Minore is known as the sgarrista (soldier).
One enters the upper house of the local, the Società Maggiore, as a santista (the name refers to his being part of the Società Santa). A rung above him is the vangelo (gospel), so called because he swore loyalty to the 'Ndrangheta with one hand on the Bible (a tattooed cross marks his left shoulder). Next is the trequartino (three quarters), who has privileged access to three quarters of the organization (he has a cross on his right shoulder and an emerald rose under his foot). The ranks continue ever upward: quartino (one quarter), padrino (godfather), crociata (crusade), stella (star), bartolo (the origins of this title are unknown), Mammasantissima (Most Holy Mother), and infinito (infinity). The Società Maggiore culminates in the figure of the Conte Agadino. The name is probably a reference to Count Ugolino, whom Dante depicts as eating his own children in the Inferno. The boss of the 'Ndrangheta may eat his children, sell them, sacrifice them without facing a vendetta. Arriving at the top of the 'Ndrangheta means acquiring the power to kill and betray one's own blood.
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Up to a certain point in the 'Ndrangheta's hierarchy, each rank has a religious reference and is identified with a saint. (The picciotto is associated with St. Liberata, the camorrista with St. Nunzia, and the sgarrista with St. Elizabeth.)
It's important to keep in mind that the 'Ndrangheta's initiation ritual is known as a "baptism." The members position themselves in the shape of a horseshoe and receive the baptismal candidate from a "guarantor," a kind of godparent who vouches for the prospective member and the authenticity of his intentions to enter into the clan. A capo società officiates the rite, asking the initiate questions and reading him the honor codes that he will be required to maintain at the cost of his life. The Mafia baptism is a "blood baptism": The new member's finger is cut by a sharp knife so that a drop of his blood falls on the prayer-card image of St. Michael the Archangel-considered the patron saint of the 'Ndrangheta-which is then slightly burned on one corner. At the end of this ceremony, a new "man of honor" is created. (Every promotion to a higher rank requires its own ritual.)
I hope this explained enough about La Famiglia Gambino it's complex structure and ranks.. The Head boss is still called the Don (Godfather) though, thats all we have left from the sicilian hierarchy.
Here's a pic showing the hierarchy.
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Originally Posted by Distorted
