In my research will reconstruct the figure of Giacomo Racioppi, a patriot and an historian born in Moliterno (Basilicata, Italy). In 1849 he was imprisoned in the jail of Santa Maria Apparente because suspected of liberal ideas. He took part in the insurrection of Basilicata in 1860, when Garibaldi was still in Sicily, to realize the Unity of Italy. After that, the Prodittatoriale Government was set up. It was so called because it exercised the power in the name of Garibaldi and Vittorio Emanuele II. The events of the insurrection of 1860 in Basilicata will be reconstructed through Racioppi’s wide historiographic production. I will examine the role, significant for the problem of the repression of brigandage, he played in the Prodittatoriale Government of Basilicata and in the provincial administration of Potenza by comparing his private papers and other documents, held at the State archive of Potenza. I will highlight his political views about Italy before and after the unity, thanks to articles and pamphlets which have been published.