Spada Treasure

the Spada treasure · Cardinal Spada's treasure · the treasure of Monte Cristo

A vast Renaissance fortune in gold and jewels hidden on Monte Cristo by Cardinal Spada, its secret willed to Faria and now to Dantès.

Story so far

The treasure is the fabled fortune of Cardinal Cæsar Spada, who, foreseeing that Pope Alexander VI and Cæsar Borgia meant to poison him for his wealth, secretly buried his ingots, gold, jewels, and gems in the caves of the deserted Monte Cristo Island in 1498. A half-burnt parchment marker, hidden in a family breviary and revealed by fire, records the hiding place; Faria, the last Count of Spada's secretary and heir, reconstructed it over years in his cell. Amounting to nearly two million Roman crowns—some thirteen million francs—the treasure has lain untouched for three centuries.

Dying, Faria bequeaths it to Edmond Dantès and makes him swear to reach it.

Appearance

Described as ingots, gold, coined money, jewels, diamonds, and gems, hidden in the farthest angle of the second cave; known only through a rust-red-inked, half-burnt parchment.

Role

The hidden fortune that will make Dantès's vengeance and rebirth possible.

Relationships

Faria — The abbé who decoded its secret and willed it to Dantès.

Edmond Dantès — The heir charged with recovering it on Monte Cristo.

Monte Cristo Island — The deserted island in whose caves it lies buried.

Sources — 1 recorded facts, by chapter

Chapter 18

A vast Renaissance fortune in gold and jewels hidden on Monte Cristo by Cardinal Spada, its secret willed to Faria and now to Dantès.