Ethics in entrepreneurship: the lesson taught in the Leucian Code promulgated by King Ferdinand IV of Bourbon in 1789

Purpose Scholars continually propose new models, conceptual frameworks and approaches to advance research on ethics in entrepreneurship. As a result, a heterogeneous set of proposals has emerged that, rather than fostering research on this topic, risks delaying or hindering it. Starting from this unsatisfying dynamic, this study aims to revisit one of the most successful experiences of ethics in entrepreneurship ever implemented in Italy: The Leucian Code (Codice Leuciano). Design/methodology/approach This study focuses on the Leucian Code, a set of laws promulgated in 1789 by King Ferdinand IV of Bourbon for the Royal Colony of San Leucio in the municipality of Caserta (in the Campania Region, South of Italy). Management historians consider the Leucian Code an intriguing case study. In fact, King Ferdinand IV of Bourbon promulgated it to promote equality, meritocracy, communal life and social welfare. These premises justify the choice to conduct a single-case analysis. Findings Although it never fully materialised, because of the Napoleon’s invasion of Italy (in particular, the birth of the Parthenopean Republic in 1799), the Congress of Vienna (1814–1815) and the Restoration and of the Unification of Italy (1861), the Leucian Code can be considered a unique social experiment that can give birth to research propositions relevant to current issues. Originality/value This study reveals a high level of originality, as it reconstructs and analyses the principles and ideas contained within the Leucian Code. These are then decoded to share some key aspects and fundamental principles to always keep in mind when considering ethics in entrepreneurship.