Bernardo Provenzano, Notorious Mafia Boss, Dies at 83

A Life of Crime and Imprisonment

Bernardo Provenzano, one of Italy's most notorious Mafia bosses, has died in prison at the age of 83. Provenzano was known as the "Tractor" for his ability to blend into the background and evade capture by authorities. He was a key figure in the Cosa Nostra, a Mafia organization based in Sicily.

A Remote Ruler

Known as the "Boss of Bosses," Provenzano spent the majority of his life on the run, hiding in isolated farmhouses and issuing orders to his underlings through handwritten "pizzini" (notes). He never wielded the same direct power as his predecessors, such as Totò Riina, but maintained a strong influence over the Cosa Nostra.