Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies

• 1. A Boy King's Neglected Education

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  Ferdinand was born in Naples on the 12th of January 1751. He grew up amidst monuments erected by his father, including the Palaces of Portici, Caserta and Capodimonte. His parents were King Charles VII and Queen Maria Amalia. In August 1759, Charles succeeded his half-brother Ferdinand VI of Spain as King Charles III. Treaty provisions made him ineligible to hold all three crowns. On the 6th of October, he abdicated his Neapolitan and Sicilian titles in favour of his third son. Ferdinand became king at age eight because his eldest son Philip had been excluded from succession due to intellectual disability. A regency council presided over by the Tuscan Bernardo Tanucci was set up. Tanucci was an able, ambitious man who wished to keep the government in his own hands. He purposely neglected the young king's education. Tanucci encouraged Ferdinand in his love of pleasure, idleness and excessive devotion to outdoor sports. The boy king spent his childhood playing while ministers ruled.

• 2. The Queen And Her Spy Network

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  Ferdinand's minority ended in 1767. His first act was the expulsion of the Jesuits. The following year he married Archduchess Maria Carolina, daughter of Empress Maria Theresa. By the marriage contract, the queen was to have a voice in the council of state after the birth of her first son. She was not slow to avail herself of this means of political influence. Tanucci attempted to thwart her but was dismissed in 1777. The Englishman Sir John Acton won Maria Carolina's favour by supporting her scheme to free Naples from Spanish influence. Acton secured rapprochement with the Archduchy of Austria and the Kingdom of Great Britain. He became practically and afterward actually prime minister. Although not a mere grasping adventurer, he was largely responsible for reducing internal administration to a system of espionage, corruption and cruelty. The kingdom operated under a web of secret informants and fear.

• 3. Flight To Palermo In Stormy Seas

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  Although peace was made with France in 1796, demands of the French Directory alarmed Ferdinand once more. At his wife's instigation, he took advantage of Napoleon's absence in Egypt and Syria. Horatio Nelson's victories encouraged him to go to war. Ferdinand marched with his army against the French and entered Rome on the 29th of November. On defeat of some columns, Ferdinand hurried back to Naples. On approach of the French, Ferdinand fled on the 23rd of December 1798 aboard Nelson's ship to Palermo. The weather was extremely stormy during the voyage. The king's six-year-old younger son Prince Alberto died of exhaustion during the voyage. He died in the arms of Emma, Lady Hamilton, Nelson's mistress. The capital was left in a state of anarchy while the royal family escaped across rough waters.

• 4. The Republic And Its Violent End

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  The French entered the city despite fierce resistance of the lazzaroni. With aid of nobles and bourgeoisie, they established the Parthenopean Republic in January 1799. A few weeks later, when French troops were recalled to northern Italy, Ferdinand sent a hastily assembled force under Fabrizio Cardinal Ruffo. Ruffo succeeded in reaching Naples in May 1799 with support of British artillery, the Church and pro-Bourbon aristocracy. The Parthenopean Republic collapsed after months of fighting. King Ferdinand returned to the throne. The king and queen were anxious that no mercy should be shown to rebels. Maria Carolina made use of Lady Hamilton to induce Nelson to carry out her vengeance. Several hundred French collaborators faced execution orders from the restored monarchy.

• 5. Napoleon's Invasion And Second Exile

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  When War of Third Coalition broke out between France and Austrian Empire in 1805, Ferdinand signed treaty of neutrality. A few days later he allied himself with Austria and allowed Anglo-Russian force to land at Naples. French victory at Battle of Austerlitz on the 2nd of December enabled Napoleon to launch invasion. Ferdinand fled to Palermo on the 23rd of January 1806. His wife and son followed soon after. On the 14th of February 1806 French again entered Naples. Napoleon declared Bourbon dynasty had forfeited crown. He proclaimed his brother Joseph King of Naples and Sicily. Ferdinand continued to reign over latter kingdom under British protection. He became first King of Sicily in centuries to actually reside there. Lord William Bentinck insisted on reform of constitution on English and French lines.

• 6. Restoration Under Austrian Control

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  After fall of Napoleon, Joachim Murat was dethroned in Neapolitan War in 1815. Ferdinand returned to Naples. By secret treaty he bound himself not to advance further in constitutional direction than Austria should approve. Though acting in accordance with Metternich's policy, he maintained Murat's laws with slight change. Ferdinand took advantage to abolish Sicilian constitution in violation of oath. He proclaimed union of two states into Kingdom of Two Sicilies on the 12th of December 1816. Ferdinand was now completely subservient to Austria. An Austrian, Count Nugent, became commander-in-chief of army. For next four years, Ferdinand reigned as absolute monarch within domain. He granted no constitutional reforms during this period of foreign domination.