1.
Angelica Kauffman
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Maria Anna Angelika Kauffmann RA, usually known in English as Angelica Kauffman, was a Swiss Neoclassical painter who had a successful career in London and Rome. Remembered primarily as a painter, Kauffmann was a skilled portraitist, landscape. She was one of the two founding members of the Royal Academy in London in 1768. Kauffman was born at Chur in Graubünden, Switzerland and her family moved to Morbegno in 1742, then Como in Lombardy in 1752 at that time under Austrian rule. In 1757 she accompanied her father to Schwarzenberg in Vorarlberg/Austria where her father was working for the local bishop and her father, Joseph Johann Kauffmann, was a relatively poor man but a skilled Swiss muralist and painter, who was often traveling for his work. He trained Angelica and she worked as his assistant, moving through Switzerland, Austria, Angelica, a child prodigy, rapidly acquired several languages from her mother, Cleophea Lutz, including German, Italian, French and English. She also showed talent as a musician and was forced to choose between opera and art and she quickly chose art as a Catholic priest told Kauffman that the opera was a dangerous place filled with seedy people. By her twelfth year she had known as a painter, with bishops. In 1754, her mother died and her decided to move to Milan. Later visits to Italy of long duration followed and she became a member of the Accademia di Belle Arti di Firenze in 1762. In 1763 she visited Rome, returning again in 1764, from Rome she passed to Bologna and Venice, everywhere feted for her talents and charm. Writing from Rome in August 1764 to his friend Franke, Winckelmann refers to her popularity, she was painting his picture. She may be styled beautiful, he adds, and in singing may vie with our best virtuosi, in 1765, her work appeared in England in an exhibition of the Free Society of Artists. She moved to England shortly after and established herself as a leading artist, while in Venice, Kauffman was persuaded by Lady Wentworth, the wife of the British ambassador, to accompany her to London. One of the first pieces she completed in London was a portrait of David Garrick, the rank of Lady Wentworth opened society to her, and she was everywhere well received, the royal family especially showing her great favor. Her firmest friend, however, was Sir Joshua Reynolds, in his pocket-book her name as Miss Angelica or Miss Angel appears frequently, and in 1766 he painted her, a compliment which she returned by her Portrait of Sir Joshua Reynolds. In 1767 Kauffman was seduced by an imposter going under the name Count Frederick de Horn, whom she married and it was probably owing to Reynoldss good offices that she was among the signatories to the petition to the king for the establishment of the Royal Academy. In its first catalogue of 1769 she appears with R. A. after her name, and she contributed the Interview of Hector and Andromache, and three other classical compositions
Angelica Kauffman
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Self-portrait by Kauffman
Angelica Kauffman
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Troilus and Cressida, Act V, Scene II (1789), one of her many
Shakespeare tableaux. Engraved in 1795 for an edition of Shakespeare by the
Boydell Shakespeare Gallery.
Angelica Kauffman
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Kauffman (seated), in the company of other "
Bluestockings " (1778)
Angelica Kauffman
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Kauffman's El juicio de Paris at
Museo de Arte de Ponce,
Ponce, Puerto Rico
2.
Francis I of the Two Sicilies
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Francis I of the Two Sicilies was King of the Two Sicilies from 1825 to 1830. Francis was born the son of Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies and he was also the nephew of Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI, the last King and Queen of France before the first French Republic. At the death of his older brother Carlo, Duke of Calabria, Francis became the heir to the throne and Duke of Calabria, in 1796 Francis married his double first cousin Archduchess Maria Clementina of Austria, daughter of Leopold II, Holy Roman Emperor. When she died, he married his first cousin María Isabel, while still heir apparent he professed liberal ideas, and on the outbreak of the revolution of 1820 he accepted the regency, apparently in a friendly spirit towards the new constitution. On succeeding to the throne in 1825, however, he pursued a conservative course and he took little part in the government, which he left in the hands of favourites and police officials, and lived with his mistresses, surrounded by soldiers, ever in dread of assassination. During his reign the only revolutionary movement was the outbreak on the Cilento, repressed by the Marquis Delcarretto and he was, however, successful in having the Austrian occupation force withdrawn, thereby relieving a large financial burden on the treasury. During his reign, the Royal Order of Francis I was founded to reward civil merit, with Isabella of Spain, Luisa Carlotta, who married her mothers younger brother Infante Francisco de Paula of Spain. María Cristina, who married firstly her uncle Ferdinand VII of Spain, Ferdinand II of the Two Sicilies, who became Francis Is successor and married twice. Carlo, Prince of Capua, who morganatically wed Penelope Smyth and had issue, leopoldo, Count of Syracuse, who married Princess Maria of Savoy-Carignan. Maria Antonia who married Leopold II, Grand Duke of Tuscany, Maria Amalia, who married Infante Sebastian of Portugal and Spain. Maria Carolina, who married Don Carlos de Bourbon, Count of Montemolin, teresa Cristina, who married Emperor Pedro II of Brazil. Luigi, Count of Aquila, who married Januária, Princess Imperial of Brazil, francesco, Count of Trapani, who married Archduchess Maria Isabella of Austria, Princess of Tuscany, and had issue. He also had children by mistresses. This article incorporates text from a now in the public domain, Chisholm, Hugh
Francis I of the Two Sicilies
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Francis I
3.
List of monarchs of Naples
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The following is a list of rulers of the Kingdom of Naples, from its first separation from the Kingdom of Sicily to its merger with the same into the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. In 1382, the Kingdom of Naples was heired by Charles III, after this, the House of Anjou of Naples was renamed House of Anjou-Durazzo, like Charles III married his first cousin Margaret of Durazzo, member of a prominent Neapolitan noble family. Naples became a union of the Kingdom of France, under Louis XII. The local government was ruled by a French viceroy, Naples became a personal union of the Kingdom of Aragon, under Ferdinand II. The local government was ruled by a Spanish viceroy, the royal houses were, House of Trastámara House of Habsburg Officially a Republic, Naples was governed for a short time by the Duke of Guise, under the title of Doge of Naples. Naples returned a personal union of the Kingdom of Spain, under Philip IV, the local government was ruled by a Spanish viceroy
List of monarchs of Naples
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Charles I (Carlo I)
List of monarchs of Naples
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Charles II, the Lame (Carlo II, lo Zoppo)
List of monarchs of Naples
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Robert I, the Wise (Roberto I, il Saggio)
List of monarchs of Naples
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Joanna I (Giovanna I)
4.
List of monarchs of Sicily
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See Emirate of Sicily Sicily was granted, pending its Christian reconquest, to Robert Guiscard as duke in 1059 by Pope Nicholas II. The Guiscard granted it as a county to his brother Roger, Roger II received royal investiture from Antipope Anacletus II in 1130 and recognition from Pope Innocent II in 1139. Constance was married to the Emperor Henry VI and he pressed his claim to the kingdom from William IIs death, there is evidence that, during the baronial revolt of 1197, there was an attempt to make Count Jordan Lupin of Bovino king in opposition to Henry VI. He may even have been crowned and seems to have had the support of Constance, in the end he was captured and executed. He is accepted as a pretender to the throne by modern historians Evelyn Jamison, Manfred was regent of Sicily for his nephew, the child Conrad II, but took the crown in 1258, and continued to fight to keep the kingdom under the Hohenstaufen. In 1254 the pope, having declared the kingdom a papal possession, offered the crown to the King of Englands son, Edmund Crouchback, but the English never succeeded in taking the kingdom. In 1262 the pope reversed his previous decision and granted the kingdom to the King of Frances brother, Charles of Anjou, conradin continued his claim to the throne until his death by decapitation perpetrated by Charles of Anjou in 1268. Edmund Crouchback, son of King Henry III of England, claimed the Crown of Sicily between 1254 and 1263, the claim was taken seriously by both him and his father, but was completely ineffectual. Peter III of Aragon, Manfreds son in law, of the House of Barcelona, thereafter the old Kingdom of Sicily was centred on the mainland, with capital at Naples, and although informally called Kingdom of Naples it was still known formally as Kingdom of Sicily. Thus, there were two Sicilies — the island kingdom, however, was often called Sicily beyond the Lighthouse or Trinacria, the Duke of Savoy ceded it to Austria in 1720 by the Treaty of The Hague. Charles I, Duke of Parma conquered the kingdom during the War of the Polish Succession, at the end of the war Sicily was ceded to the new Charles V of Sicily. In 1816 the Kingdom of Naples and the Kingdom of Sicily were merged as the new Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, List of viceroys of Sicily List of Counts of Apulia and Calabria List of monarchs of Naples List of monarchs of the Two Sicilies
List of monarchs of Sicily
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Roger I 1071–1101
List of monarchs of Sicily
List of monarchs of Sicily
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Roger II 1105–1130
List of monarchs of Sicily
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William I the Bad 1154–1166
5.
Charles III of Spain
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Charles III was the King of Spain and the Spanish Indies from 1759 to 1788. While he was the son of Philip V of Spain, he was the eldest son of Philips second wife. In 1731, the 15-year-old Charles became the Duke of Parma and Piacenza, as Charles I, following the death of his childless granduncle Antonio Farnese. In 1734, as Duke of Parma, he conquered the kingdoms of Naples and of Sicily, and was crowned king on 3 July 1735, reigning as Charles VII of Naples and Charles V of Sicily until 1759. In 1738 he married Princess Maria Amalia of Saxony, daughter of Polish king Augustus III, Charles and Maria Amalia resided in Naples for 19 years. Charles succeeded to the Spanish throne on 10 August 1759, after the death of his half-brother King Ferdinand VI of Spain who left no heirs. As King of Spain Charles III made far-reaching reforms such as promoting science and university research, facilitating trade and commerce and he also tried to reduce the influence of the Church and avoided costly wars. His previous experience as King of Naples and Sicily proved valuable as King of Spain and he did not achieve complete control over the States finances, and was sometimes obliged to borrow to meet expenses. Most of his reforms proved to be successful and his important legacy lives on to this day, historian Stanley Payne wrote that Charles III was probably the most successful European ruler of his generation. He had provided firm, consistent, intelligent leadership, personal life had won the respect of the people. In 1713, the Treaty of Utrecht concluded the War of the Spanish Succession and reduced the political and military power of Spain, which the House of Bourbon had ruled since 1700. Moreover, the House of Savoy gained the Kingdom of Sicily, and the Kingdom of Great Britain gained the island of Minorca, in 1700, Charles father, originally a French prince, became King of Spain as Philip V. For the remainder of his reign, he attempted to regain the ceded territories. Elisabeth and Philip married on 24 December 1714, she proved a domineering consort. On 20 January 1716, Elisabeth gave birth to the Infante Charles of Spain at the Real Alcázar of Madrid and he was fourth in line to the Spanish throne, after three elder half-brothers, the Infante Luis, Prince of Asturias, the Infante Felipe, and Ferdinand. Because the Duke Francesco of Parma and his heir were childless, Elisabeth sought the duchies of Parma and she also sought for him the Grand Duchy of Tuscany, because Gian Gastone de Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany was also childless. He was a distant cousin of hers, related via her great-grandmother Margherita de Medici, the birth of Charles encouraged the Prime Minister Alberoni to start laying out grand plans for Europe. In 1717 he ordered the Spanish invasion of Sardinia, in 1718, Alberoni also ordered the invasion of Sicily, which was also ruled by the House of Savoy
Charles III of Spain
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Charles III
Charles III of Spain
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Portrait of
Elisabeth Farnese.
Charles III of Spain
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Portrait of Charles, 9 years old.
Charles III of Spain
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Charles, 11 years old.
6.
Royal Palace of Naples
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The Royal Palace of Naples is a palace, museum, and historical tourist destination located in central Naples, southern Italy. The palace is on the site of a residence, which had housed the former viceroy Don Pedro de Toledo. Construction on the present building was begun in the 17th century by the architect Domenico Fontana. Intended to house the King Philip III of Spain on a visit never fulfilled to this part of his kingdom, instead it initially housed the Viceroy Fernando Ruiz de Castro, count of Lemos. By 1616, the facade had been completed, and by 1620, the decoration of the Royal Chapel of Assumption was not completed until 1644 by Antonio Picchiatti. In 1734, with the arrival of Charles III of Spain to Naples, on the occasion of his marriage to Maria Amalia of Saxony in 1738, Francesco De Mura and Domenico Antonio Vaccaro helped remodel the interior. It was Charles who build the three palaces located more peripheral to the city center. Further modernization took place under Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies, in 1768, on the occasion of his marriage to Maria Carolina of Austria, under the direction of Ferdinando Fuga, the great hall was rebuilt and the court theater added. During the second half of the 18th century, a new wing was added, during the Napoleonic occupation the palace was enriched by Joachim Murat and his wife, Caroline Bonaparte, with Neoclassic decorations and furnishings. However, a fire in 1837 damaged many rooms, and required restoration from 1838 to 1858 under the direction of Gaetano Genovese, further additions of a Party Wing and a Belvedere were made in this period. At the corner of the palace with San Carlo Theatre, a new facade was created that obscured the viceroyal palace of Pedro de Toledo, in 1922, it was decided to transfer here the contents of the National Library. The transfer of collections was made by 1925. The library suffered from bombing during World War II and the subsequent military occupation of the building caused serious damage, the statues are displayed in chronological order, based on the dynasty of each ruler. The series starts with Roger the Norman, and ends with Vittorio Emanuele II, the tallest statue, Royal Palace of Naples - Official website Royal Palace of Naples
Royal Palace of Naples
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Royal Palace façade
Royal Palace of Naples
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Main stairs
Royal Palace of Naples
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Roger the Norman (Roger II of Sicily)
Royal Palace of Naples
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Frederick II (
Holy Roman Emperor)
7.
Naples
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Naples is the capital of the Italian region Campania and the third-largest municipality in Italy, after Rome and Milan. In 2015, around 975,260 people lived within the administrative limits. The Metropolitan City of Naples had a population of 3,115,320, Naples is the 9th-most populous urban area in the European Union with a population of between 3 million and 3.7 million. About 4.4 million people live in the Naples metropolitan area, Naples is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. Bronze Age Greek settlements were established in the Naples area in the second millennium BC, a larger colony – initially known as Parthenope, Παρθενόπη – developed on the Island of Megaride around the ninth century BC, at the end of the Greek Dark Ages. Naples remained influential after the fall of the Western Roman Empire, thereafter, in union with Sicily, it became the capital of the Two Sicilies until the unification of Italy in 1861. Naples was the most-bombed Italian city during World War II, much of the citys 20th-century periphery was constructed under Benito Mussolinis fascist government, and during reconstruction efforts after World War II. The city has experienced significant economic growth in recent decades, and unemployment levels in the city, however, Naples still suffers from political and economic corruption, and unemployment levels remain high. Naples has the fourth-largest urban economy in Italy, after Milan, Rome and it is the worlds 103rd-richest city by purchasing power, with an estimated 2011 GDP of US$83.6 billion. The port of Naples is one of the most important in Europe, numerous major Italian companies, such as MSC Cruises Italy S. p. A, are headquartered in Naples. The city also hosts NATOs Allied Joint Force Command Naples, the SRM Institution for Economic Research, Naples is a full member of the Eurocities network of European cities. The city was selected to become the headquarters of the European institution ACP/UE and was named a City of Literature by UNESCOs Creative Cities Network, the Villa Rosebery, one of the three official residences of the President of Italy, is located in the citys Posillipo district. Naples historic city centre is the largest in Europe, covering 1,700 hectares and enclosing 27 centuries of history, Naples has long been a major cultural centre with a global sphere of influence, particularly during the Renaissance and Enlightenment eras. In the immediate vicinity of Naples are numerous culturally and historically significant sites, including the Palace of Caserta, culinarily, Naples is synonymous with pizza, which originated in the city. Neapolitan music has furthermore been highly influential, credited with the invention of the romantic guitar, according to CNN, the metro stop Toledo is the most beautiful in Europe and it won also the LEAF Award 2013 as Public building of the year. Naples is the Italian city with the highest number of accredited stars from the Michelin Guide, Naples sports scene is dominated by football and Serie A club S. S. C. Napoli, two-time Italian champions and winner of European trophies, who play at the San Paolo Stadium in the south-west of the city, the Phlegraean Fields around Naples has been inhabited since the Neolithic period. The earliest Greek settlements were established in the Naples area in the second millennium BC, sailors from the Greek island of Rhodes established a small commercial port called Parthenope on the island of Megaride in the ninth century BC
Naples
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Naples Napoli
Naples
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Ancient map of the Bay of Naples area from Vatican Museum
Naples
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A scene featuring the
siren Parthenope, the mythological founder of Naples.
Naples
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The
Gothic Battle of Mons Lactarius on
Vesuvius, painted by
Alexander Zick.
8.
Kingdom of Naples
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It continued to be officially known as the Kingdom of Sicily, although it no longer included the island of Sicily. For much of its existence, the realm was contested between French and Spanish dynasties, in 1816, it was reunified with the island kingdom of Sicily once again to form the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. Following the rebellion in 1282, King Charles I of Sicily was forced to leave the island of Sicily by Peter III of Aragons troops, Charles, however, maintained his possessions on the mainland, customarily known as the Kingdom of Naples, after its capital city. Charles and his Angevin successors maintained a claim to Sicily, warring against the Aragonese until 1373, joans reign was contested by Louis the Great, the Angevin King of Hungary, who captured the kingdom several times. Queen Joan I also played a part in the demise of the first Kingdom of Naples. This led to Joan Is murder at the hands of the Prince of Durazzo in 1382, the two competing Angevin lines contested each other for the possession of the Kingdom of Naples over the following decades. René of Anjou temporarily united the claims of junior and senior Angevin lines, in 1442, however, Alfonso V conquered the Kingdom of Naples and unified Sicily and Naples once again as dependencies of Aragon. At his death in 1458, the kingdom was again separated and Naples was inherited by Ferrante, Alfonsos illegitimate son. Charles VIII expelled Alfonso II of Naples from Naples in 1495, Ferrantino was restored to the throne, but died in 1496, and was succeeded by his uncle, Frederick IV. Charles VIIIs successor, Louis XII reiterated the French claim, in 1501, he occupied Naples and partitioned the kingdom with Ferdinand of Aragon, who abandoned his cousin King Frederick. The deal soon fell through, however, and Aragon and France resumed their war over the kingdom, the Spanish troops occupying Calabria and Apulia, led by Gonzalo Fernandez de Cordova did not respect the new agreement, and expelled all Frenchmen from the area. The peace treaties that continued were never definitive, but they established at least that the title of King of Naples was reserved for Ferdinands grandson, the future Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor. Ferdinand nevertheless continued in possession of the kingdom, being considered as the heir of his uncle Alfonso I of Naples. The French finally abandoned their claims to Naples by the Treaty of Cateau-Cambrésis in 1559, in the Treaty of London, five cities on coast of Tuscany were designated the Stato dei Presidi, and part of the Kingdom of Naples. After the War of the Spanish Succession in the early 18th century, under the terms of the Treaty of Rastatt in 1714, Naples was given to Charles VI, the Holy Roman Emperor. He also gained control of Sicily in 1720, but Austrian rule did not last long, when Charles inherited the Spanish throne from his older half-brother in 1759, he left Naples and Sicily to his younger son, Ferdinand IV. Despite the two Kingdoms being in a union under the Habsburg and Bourbon dynasts, they remained constitutionally separate. Being a member of the House of Bourbon, Ferdinand IV was an opponent of the French Revolution and Napoleon
Kingdom of Naples
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Provinces of the "Kingdom of Naples"
Kingdom of Naples
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Flag of Naples under the Angevins (1282–1442)
9.
Kingdom of the Two Sicilies
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The Kingdom of the Two Sicilies was the largest of the states of Italy before the Italian unification. It was formed as a union of the Kingdom of Sicily and the Kingdom of Naples, the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies lasted from 1815 until 1860, when it was annexed by the Kingdom of Sardinia to form the Kingdom of Italy in 1861. The capitals of the Two Sicilies were in Naples and in Palermo, the kingdom extended over the Mezzogiorno and the island of Sicily. Many went to the United States, Australia and Argentina, the kingdom was heavily agricultural, like the other Italian states, the church owned 50–65% of the land by 1750. The name Two Sicilies originated from the division of the medieval Kingdom of Sicily, until 1285, the island of Sicily and the Mezzogiorno each formed part of the Kingdom of Sicily. As a result of the War of the Sicilian Vespers, the King of Sicily lost the island of Sicily to the Crown of Aragon, but remained ruler over the peninsular part of the realm. Although his territory became known as the Kingdom of Naples, he and his successors never gave up the title of King of Sicily, at the same time, the Aragonese rulers of the island of Sicily called their realm the Kingdom of Sicily as well. Thus, formally, there were two kingdoms calling themselves Sicily, hence, the Two Sicilies, the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies resulted from the re-unification of the Kingdom of Sicily with the Kingdom of Naples, by King Alfonso V of Aragon in 1442. The two states had functioned as separate realms since the War of the Sicilian Vespers in 1282, in 1501, King Ferdinand II of Aragon, son of John II, conquered Naples and reunified the two kingdoms under the authority of the newly united Spanish throne. The Kings of Spain then bore the title King of Both Sicilies or King of Sicily, at the end of that war, the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713 granted Sicily to the Duke of Savoy until the Treaty of Rastatt in 1714 left Naples to the Emperor Charles VI. In 1720 the Emperor and Savoy exchanged Sicily for Sardinia, thus reuniting Naples and Sicily. In 1734, Charles, Duke of Parma, son of Philip V of Spain, took the Sicilian crown from the Austrians and became Charles VII & V, giving Parma to his younger brother, Philip. Apart from an interruption under Napoleon, the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies remained under the Bourbon line continually until 1860. In January 1799, Napoleon Bonaparte, in the name of the French Republic, captured Naples and proclaimed the Parthenopaean Republic, King Ferdinand fled from Naples to Sicily until June of that year. In 1806, Napoleon, by then French Emperor, again dethroned King Ferdinand and appointed his brother, Joseph Bonaparte, throughout this Napoleonic interruption, King Ferdinand remained in Sicily, with Palermo as his capital. The Congress of Vienna restored King Ferdinand in 1815 and he established a concordat with the Papal States, which previously had a claim to the land. The expedition resulted in a series of defeats for the Sicilian armies facing the growing troops of Garibaldi. After the capture of Palermo and Sicily, Garibaldi disembarked in Calabria and moved towards Naples, the last battles took place at Volturnus in 1860 and at the siege of Gaeta, where King Francis II had sought shelter, hoping for French help, which never came
Kingdom of the Two Sicilies
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Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies (aka Ferdinand III of Sicily and Ferdinand IV of Naples) depicted on a
Duchy of Parma, 8 Doppie (1791) gold coin
Kingdom of the Two Sicilies
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Flag
Kingdom of the Two Sicilies
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Cappella Palatina, church of first unifier
Roger II of Sicily.
Kingdom of the Two Sicilies
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Ferdinand I
10.
Santa Chiara, Naples
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Santa Chiara is a religious complex in Naples, Italy, that includes the Church of Santa Chiara, a monastery, tombs and an archeological museum. The Basilica church of Santa Chiara faces Via Benedetto Croce, which is the easternmost leg of Via Spaccanapoli, the church facade of Santa Chiara is diagonally across from the church of Gesù Nuovo. The double monastic complex was built in 1313–1340 by Queen Sancha of Majorca and her husband King Robert of Naples, the original church was in traditional Provençal-Gothic style, but was decorated in the 17th century in Baroque style by Domenico Antonio Vaccaro. The large rectangular building is 110.5 m long inside the walls, the walls of the nave are 47.5 m tall, and the nave itself is 82 m long. There are nine lateral chapels on each side of the nave, the roofs of the chapels are vaulted, above the gallery are the lancet windows of the clerestory. An unusual feature of the building is that the chapels are absorbed into the body of the church. Behind the altar is the tomb of King Robert, behind that is a wall separating the body of the church from the nuns choir. The wall between the nave of the church and the retrochoir is penetrated by three screened grilles through which the nuns could observe the mass, while being invisible to anybody in the nave. There are also four windows in the wall which mirror the four windows on the exterior of the church, there is a large stained glass lancet window above the altar. Above this is a triangular pattern are three rose windows, at the apex of the point of the roof, above the level of the wooden beams of the ceiling is a fourth, smaller, rose window. The nuns choir is different in plan from the body of the church. Santa Chiara was the largest Clarissan church ever built and it was the first Clarissan church built where the nuns in their choir would have been able to view the performance of Mass. The bell tower, separated from the edifice, was begun in 1328 but was completed only in Renaissance times. Behind the main altar is the tomb of King Robert of Anjou, the church was used, even before it was formally completed, to hold the relics of Saint Louis of Toulouse, elder brother of King Robert. One of these relics was the brain of St. Louis, initially, the interior had a Gothic style, but reconstruction from 1742 to 1762 by Domenico Vaccaro, Gaetano Buonocore, and Giovanni del Gaizo, refurbished the interior in a Baroque style. The stuccoed ceiling was frescoed by a team of artists, including Francesco De Mura, Giuseppe Bonito, Sebastiano Conca, the floor was paved with a design by Ferdinando Fuga. Unfortunately much of the decoration was destroyed in the aerial bombardment of 1943. On the counterfacade is the tomb of Antonio Penna, by Antonio Baboccio, to the right of the presbytery is access to the Baroque sacristy with frescoes from 1692
Santa Chiara, Naples
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Façade (right) and belltower of Santa Chiara.
Santa Chiara, Naples
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interior
Santa Chiara, Naples
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Cloister
11.
Maria Carolina of Austria
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Maria Carolina of Austria was Queen of Naples and Sicily as the wife of King Ferdinand IV & III. She was a proponent of enlightened absolutism until the advent of the French Revolution, born an Austrian archduchess, the thirteenth child of Empress Maria Theresa and Emperor Francis I, she married Ferdinand as part of an Austrian alliance with Spain, where Ferdinands father was king. Following the birth of an heir in 1775, Maria Carolina was admitted to the Privy Council. Thereafter, she dominated it until 1812, when she was sent back to Vienna, like her mother, Maria Carolina took pains to make politically advantageous marriages for her children. Maria Carolina promoted Naples as a centre of the arts, patronising painters Jacob Philipp Hackert and Angelica Kauffman and academics Gaetano Filangieri, Domenico Cirillo and Giuseppe Maria Galanti. Maria Carolina, abhorring her sister Marie Antoinettes treatment by the French, allied Naples with Britain and Austria during the Napoleonic, as a result of a failed Neapolitan invasion of French-occupied Rome, she fled to Sicily with her husband in December 1798. One month later, the Parthenopean Republic was declared, which repudiated Bourbon rule in Naples for six months. Deposed as Queen of Naples for a time by French forces, in 1806, Maria Carolina died in Vienna in 1814. Her godparents were King Louis XV of France and his wife, Maria Carolina was the daughter who resembled her mother most. Maria Carolina formed a close bond with her youngest sister. From very early on they shared the same governess Countess Lerchenfeld, a testament to their closeness is the fact that when one caught an illness the other did too. In August 1767 Maria Theresa separated the two girls, hitherto raised together under the auspices of Countess Marie von Brandis, because of their bad behaviour. Soon after in October of the year, Maria Carolinas sister Maria Josepha, destined to marry Ferdinand IV of Naples as part of an alliance with Spain. Anxious to save the Austro-Spanish alliance Charles III of Spain, father of Ferdinand IV, the Empress offered the court of Madrid, negotiating on behalf of that of Naples, Maria Amalia or Maria Carolina. Because Maria Amalia was five years older than his son Charles III opted for the latter, Maria Carolina reacted badly to her engagement, crying, entreating and saying that Neapolitan marriages were unlucky. Her objections, however, did not delay her preparation for her new role as Queen of Naples by the Countess of Lerchenfeld, nine months later, on 7 April 1768, Maria Carolina married Ferdinand IV of Naples by proxy, her brother Ferdinand representing the bride-groom. The fifteen-year-old Queen of Naples journeyed at leisure from Vienna to Naples, making stops at Mantua, Bologna, Florence and she entered the Kingdom of Naples on 12 May 1768, disembarking at Terracina, where she took leave of her native attendants. To the Countess of Lerchenfeld, she wrote, I love him only out of duty, Ferdinand, too, was not taken with her, declaring, after their first night together, She sleeps like the dead and sweats like a pig
Maria Carolina of Austria
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Maria Carolina, Queen of Naples and Sicily, by
Martin van Meytens, ca. 1770.
Maria Carolina of Austria
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Archduchess Maria Carolina holding a portrait of her father,
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor.
Maria Carolina of Austria
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Maria Carolina, Queen of Naples and Sicily, by
Anton Raphael Mengs, ca. 1768.
Maria Carolina of Austria
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Marquis
Bernardo Tanucci,
de facto ruler of Naples and Sicily from 1759 until 1776.
12.
Lucia Migliaccio
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Lucia Migliaccio, Duchess di Floridia was the second wife of Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies. Their marriage was morganatic and Lucia was never a Queen consort and she was a daughter of Vincent Migliaccio and Dorotea Borgia. Lucia Migliacco had several sons, among which Lucia Borbone that married Salvatore Sagnelli, both of them are buried in Maddaloni, near Caserta. She married first Benedetto Grifeo, Prince di Partanna, the bride was forty-four years old and the groom sixty-three. Their marriage created a scandal as it took place on September 8,1814, protocol rules required at least one-year period of mourning. By then, Ferdinand had already practically abdicated his power by naming his eldest son Prince Francis as his regent and his deceased queen, Maria Carolina, herself had been considered the de facto ruler of Sicily until 1812. Lucia after her marriage had very limited influence and little interest in politics, Ferdinand was restored to the throne of the Kingdom of Naples by right of his victory on the Battle of Tolentino over Joachim Murat. On 8 December 1816 he merged the thrones of Sicily and Naples under the name of the throne of the Two Sicilies, with Francis still serving as his regent, Ferdinand continued to rule until his death on 4 January 1825. Lucia survived him by a year and three months and she was buried in the Church of San Ferdinando, Naples. Media related to Lucia Migliaccio of Floridia at Wikimedia Commons Her profile in Peerage. com
Lucia Migliaccio
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Lucia Migliaccio
13.
Maria Theresa of Naples and Sicily
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Maria Theresa of Naples and Sicily was the last Holy Roman Empress and the first Empress of Austria by marriage to Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor. She was the eldest daughter of Ferdinand IV & III of Naples and Sicily and his wife, Marie Caroline of Austria. Born Maria Teresa, and named after her maternal grandmother Maria Theresa of Austria, she was the eldest of 17 children born to her parents and her father was a son of Charles III of Spain and Princess Maria Amalia of Saxony. Through her mother she was a niece of Marie Antoinette, through her father she was a niece of Maria Luisa of Spain and she was her mothers favourite child from birth until she left the Neapolitan court to marry. Her brothers included the future King Francis and Leopold, Prince of Salerno, another, Carlo, Duke of Calabria died in 1778 aged 3 of smallpox. Her sisters included Grand Duchess of Tuscany and her younger sister Princess Maria Cristina, was the wife of the future Charles Felix of Sardinia as Queen of Sardinia. Maria Cristinas twin Princess Maria Cristina Amelia died in 1783 of smallpox, another sister was the Queen of the French as the wife of Louis Philippe I and the youngest was the future Princess of Asturias. On 15 September 1790 she married her double first cousin Archduke Francis of Austria, who would later become Holy Roman Emperor Francis II, the marriage is described as a happy one, despite differences in personality. Maria Theresa was described as easy-going with a sensuous appearance and she loved masquerades and carnivals, and participated in every ball even while she was pregnant. Vicious tongues accuse her of being so passionate that she exhausts her consort and she is also accused of interesting herself in unimportant matters and socializing exclusively with her lady-companions. With them she spends her evenings singing, acting out comedies, in February 1799, her seeming indifference to the revolution against her parents in Naples attracted some disfavour in Vienna. Immediately, the Empress came to him, and he exlaimed, Cant you ever leave me alone. For Gods sake, dont follow me all the time. She did have some influence, as she was interested in politics. An important patron of Viennese music, she commissioned many compositions for official, Joseph Haydn wrote his Te Deum for chorus and orchestra at her request. He also composed numerous masses to celebrate her reign and her favourite composers included Paul Wranitzky and Joseph Leopold Eybler, a composer of sacred music. Rice, Empress Marie Therese and Music at the Viennese Court, 1792–1807, Cambridge 2003 Media related to Maria Teresa of the Two Sicilies at Wikimedia Commons
Maria Theresa of Naples and Sicily
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Maria Theresa in 1790
Maria Theresa of Naples and Sicily
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Maria Theresa with her husband and children.
Maria Theresa of Naples and Sicily
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Empress Marie Louise of France,Duchess of Parma
Maria Theresa of Naples and Sicily
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Emperor Ferdinand I of Austria
14.
Princess Luisa of Naples and Sicily
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Luisa of Naples and Sicily, was a Neapolitan and Sicilian princess and the wife of the third Habsburg Grand Duke of Tuscany. Luisa Maria Amalia Teresa was born at the Royal Palace in Naples and her father was the future King Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies and her mother, born Maria Carolina of Austria, was a sister of Marie Antoinette. Her paternal grandparents were Charles III of Spain and his Saxon wife Maria Amalia, her grandparents were Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor. She was one of eighteen children, seven of whom survived into adulthood, on 15 August 1790, she married her double first cousin, Archduke Ferdinand of Austria. The wedding ceremony took place in Florence, the capital of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany which her husband had ruled since the beginning of the year. Her husband ruled the Grand Duchy till 1801, when in the Treaty of Aranjuez, Luisa died in childbirth the next year at the Hofburg Imperial Palace in Vienna, the princess is buried in the Imperial Crypt with her stillborn son in her arms. Archduchess Carolina Ferdinanda Teresa, died in infancy, Archduke Francesco Leopoldo, died in infancy. Leopold II, Grand Duke of Tuscany, married Maria Anna of Saxony and had issue, remarried Princess Maria Antonia of the Two Sicilies and had issue. Archduchess Maria Luisa Giuseppa, born disabled and suffered a severe deformity, was affectionately called the little hunchback by the people of Florence. Archduchess Maria Theresa, married Charles Albert of Sardinia and had issue
Princess Luisa of Naples and Sicily
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Luisa by Joseph Dorffmeister in 1797
15.
Carlo, Duke of Calabria
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Carlo of Naples and Sicily was Duke of Calabria as heir to Naples and Sicily. Born at the Caserta Palace near Naples, he was known as the Duke of Calabria at birth as the apparent to his fathers throne. His mother was a daughter of Empress Maria Theresa and thus sister of Marie Antoinette, a member of the House of Bourbon, he was a prince of Naples and Sicily by birth. He was the prince of Naples. His birth allowed his mother to have a place in the Council of State, Carlo died of smallpox aged 3. Two of his siblings would die of smallpox also the said Princess Maria Cristina Amelia who caught it from Prince Giuseppe the two dying within a week of each other. He was buried at the Church of Santa Chiara in Naples,4 January 1775 –17 December 1778 His Royal Highness Don Carlo, Hereditary Prince of Naples
Carlo, Duke of Calabria
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Carlo
16.
Maria Anna of Naples and Sicily
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Maria Anna was a member of the French Royal Family. She was styled Princess of Naples and Sicily, Maria Anna was born at the Royal Palace in Naples. Her father was Ferdinand, Duke of Calabria, the son and ninth child of Charles III of Spain. Her mother was the Archduchess of Austria, the daughter and thirteenth child of the famous Maria Theresa of Austria and her husband, Francis I. She was baptised during the first year of her life and her full name was Maria Anna Giuseppa Antoinette Francesca Gaetana Teresa Amalia Clementina, her first four names were the same as her mothers eldest sister Archduchess Maria Anna of Austria. She was born and died while her father was still styled Duke of Calabria and she was then styled Princess of Naples and Sicily. Her older sibling were Maria Theresa, namesake of her grandmother, born in 1772, Maria Luisa, born in 1773 and Carlo, Duke of Calabria and he also died in childhood, yet Maria Anna outlived him. Due to the fact that Maria Anna was born just ten months after her older brother Carlo Francesco Giuseppe Gennaro, her birth was difficult for Maria Carolina. She was a frail and weak child. Carlo eventually succumbed to the illness on 17 December 1778, aged just three, in 1778, against all efforts, she contracted smallpox. She rallied for a while, but died on 22 February 1780,23 November 1775 –22 February 1780 Her Royal Highness Princess Maria Anna of Bourbon-Two Sicilies
Maria Anna of Naples and Sicily
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Maria Anna
17.
Maria Cristina of Naples and Sicily
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Maria Cristina of Naples and Sicily was a Princess of Naples and Sicily and later Queen of Sardinia as wife of King Charles Felix. She was a daughter of King Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies and his wife Maria Carolina of Austria and her twin sister Princess Maria Cristina Amelia died of smallpox in 1783, aged four, a week after their brother Prince Giuseppe died. She was her mothers favourite child and she was married on 6 April 1807 in Palermo with Prince Charles Felix of Savoy, who became king when his elder brother Victor Emmanuel I abdicated in 1821. Until her husband became king, she was styled as the Duchess of Genoa, the royal couple were interested in the arts and artists, and turned the Royal House in Agliè and the Villa Rufinella in Frascati into comfortable residences. During her husbands reign, they resided at the Palazzo Chiablese, in 1825, the Queen engaged the archaeologist Marquess Luigi Biondi, whose excavation work uncovered Tusculum. In 1839 and 1840, the architect and archaeologist Luigi Canina was engaged by the royal family, the ancient works of art excavated were sent to the Duke of Savoys Castle of Agliè in Piedmont. Charles Felix died in 1831 after a reign of ten years, Maria Cristina lived the rest of her life in Turin, Naples, Agliè and Frascati, and died in Savona, Liguria. She was buried beside her husband in the Basilica of Superga, Great Mausoleum, Savoy Crypt, Turin, Piedmont, Italy
Maria Cristina of Naples and Sicily
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Portrait by
Giacomo Berger
Maria Cristina of Naples and Sicily
Maria Cristina of Naples and Sicily
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Princess Maria Cristina, by
Louise Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun.
18.
Prince Gennaro of Naples and Sicily
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Gennaro of Naples and Sicily was a Prince of Naples and Sicily. He died of Smallpox aged 8 and he and his mother are the central figures of a portrait by Angelica Kauffman in 1783. Born at the Royal Palace of Naples in the Kingdom of Naples, he was his parents third son and he was named Gennaro in honour of Saint Januarius, the patron saint of Naples and a martyr saint of both the Roman Catholic and the Eastern Orthodox Churches. A member of the House of Bourbon, he was a Prince of Naples and his sisters included the future Holy Roman Empress, Grand Duchess of Tuscany. His younger sisters Princess Maria Cristina, was the wife of the future Charles Felix of Sardinia, another sister was the Queen of the French and the youngest was the future Princess of Asturias. His cousins included a Duke of Parma, Grand Duke of Tuscany, Holy Roman Emperor, Queen of Portugal, King of Spain, a Duchess of Calabria, the first wife of his older brother Ferdinand. He was the second in line to the throne, second only to his oldest surviving brother Prince Francis, then Duke of Calabria. At the age of three, he survived an epidemic which killed his older sister Maria Cristina Amelia and younger brother Giuseppe. Later that year, his mother gave birth to a daughter named Maria Cristina in honour of the said casualty Maria Cristina Amelia. In August 1788, his mother gave birth to son named Carlo. In December 1788, Gennaro caught smallpox and died on 2 January 1789 at the Caserta Palace, Gennaro passed the illness onto his infant brother who died a month after he, the pair are both buried at the Basilica of Santa Chiara, Naples. He died during the time of the outbreak of the French Revolution in which his famous aunt Marie Antoinette would be murdered,12 April 1780 –1 January 1789 His Royal Highness Prince Gennaro of Naples and Sicily
Prince Gennaro of Naples and Sicily
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Gennaro
19.
Prince Giuseppe of Naples and Sicily
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Giuseppe of Naples and Sicily was Prince of Naples and Sicily. He died of Smallpox aged two years, Prince Giuseppe was born at the Royal Palace of Naples to King Ferdinand IV of Naples and his Austrian consort Maria Carolina of Austria, daughter of Empress Maria Theresa. A member of the House of Bourbon, he was a Prince of Naples and he was the ninth child of his parents and their fourth son. At the time of his birth, he was third in line to the throne after his brother Prince Francis, then Duke of Calabria and his oldest brother Carlo, Duke of Calabria died of smallpox aged 3 and the next in line, Francis became heir apparent. His sisters included the future Holy Roman Empress, Grand Duchess of Tuscany and his younger sisters Princess Maria Cristina, was the wife of the future Charles Felix of Sardinia and Queen of Sardinia, Maria Cristinas twin Princess Maria Cristina Amelia died in 1783 of smallpox. Another sister was the Queen of the French and the youngest was the future Princess of Asturias. His cousins included a Duke of Parma, Grand Duke of Tuscany, Holy Roman Emperor, Queen of Portugal, King of Spain, a Duchess of Calabria, at the age of two the prince caught smallpox which eventually killed him. He died at the Caserta Palace and was buried at the Basilica of Santa Chiara, Naples,18 June 1781 –19 February 1783 His Royal Highness Prince Giuseppe of Naples and Sicily
Prince Giuseppe of Naples and Sicily
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Prince Giuseppe
Prince Giuseppe of Naples and Sicily
20.
Maria Amalia of Naples and Sicily
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Maria Amalia of Naples and Sicily was a French queen and the wife of Louis Philippe I, King of the French. Maria Amalia was born on 26 April 1782 at the Caserta Palace just outside Naples and she was the seventh of nine children of Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies and Maria Carolina of Austria. As a young Italian princess, she was educated in the Catholic tradition, Maria Carolina, like her mother, Maria Theresa, made an effort to be a part of her daughters life, though she was cared for daily by her governess, Vicenza Rizzi. As a child, Maria Amalias mother and her aunt, Marie Antoinette, arranged for her engagement to Marie Antoinettes son, Louis Joseph, Dauphin of France and her young fiance died in 1789. Maria Amelia faced chaos and upheaval from a young age, the death of her aunt Marie Antoinette during the French Revolution and her mothers subsequent dramatic actions emblazoned the event in her memory. During the outbreak of the French Revolution in 1789, the Neapolitan court was not hostile to the movement, when the French monarchy was abolished and her aunt Marie Antoinette and uncle Louis XVI were executed, Maria Amelias parents joined the First Coalition against France in 1793. Maria Amelia spent the years 1800 to 1802 with her mother in Austria, in 1802, she finally returned to Naples with her mother. After the invasion of Naples by Napoleon in 1806, the family was once more forced to flee to Sicily. Louis-Philippes father, the previous Duke of Orléans, had been guillotined during the French Revolution, the two were married in 1809, three years after they met in Italy, whereupon Marie-Amelie became Duchess of Orléans. The ceremony was celebrated in Palermo 25 November 1809, the marriage was considered controversial, because she was the niece of Marie Antoinette, while he was the son of a man who was considered to have played a part in the execution of her aunt. During the first years of her marriage, Marie-Amelie and Louis Philippe lived under British protection in Palermo, in a given to them by her father. Marie-Amelie went to France with her new husband in 1814, where she attempted to make a home with her growing family, the family was given permission to return to France again in 1817. During the Orléans’ time in France prior to Louis-Philippes coronation, the family lived in the Palais-Royal, despite the monetary worries of the family, the house was returned to its original splendor at a cost to the couple of eleven million francs. However, it was rather her sister-in-law Madame Adelaide who was regarded the hostess at Palais-Royal, while Marie-Amelie was described as dignified but silent and withdrawn. In 1830, following what is known as the July Revolution, Louis-Philippe became king of France, Maria Amalia did not approve of Louis-Philippes acceptance of the crown and reportedly described it as a catastrophe. When tumult followed the publication of the Ordinances in 1830 and erupted in the July revolution in Paris, in this, she defeated the view of her Maria Amalia, who was loyal to the reigning older branch. When rumors arrived that the royalists were going to arrest Louis-Philippe, he evacuated to Raincy and the children were sent to Villers-Cotterêts, Adélaïde, however, accepted it with the argument that her brother would do anything to prevent the country he loved from anarchy. Thiers accepted the answer of Adélaïde rather than the one from Maria Amalia with the words, Madame, soon after, the Chamber of Deputies called Louis-Philippe to Paris to formally present him their offer
Maria Amalia of Naples and Sicily
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Maria Amalia of Naples and Sicily
Maria Amalia of Naples and Sicily
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Signature
Maria Amalia of Naples and Sicily
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Maria Amalia, by
Louis Hersent, 1835
Maria Amalia of Naples and Sicily
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Ferdinand, Duke of Orléans
21.
Princess Maria Antonia of Naples and Sicily
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Maria Antonia of Naples and Sicily, was the youngest daughter of Ferdinand, King of Naples and Sicily, and Maria Carolina of Austria. As the wife of the future Ferdinand VII of Spain, then apparent to the Spanish throne. She was known as Maria Antonia and was born at the Caserta Palace in Caserta, named after her mothers favorite sister, Queen Marie Antoinette of France, she was an intelligent girl, having by the age of seventeen learned several languages. On 6 October 1802, Maria Antonia married Infante Ferdinand in Barcelona, the princess failed to provide the expected heir to the throne, her two pregnancies, in 1804 and 1805, ended in miscarriages. Her mother, Maria Carolina, was highly anti-French after the execution of her sister and she was also strongly opposed to the military expansion of the French republic. As Spain became more dominated by Napoleon Bonaparte, there were rumours that Maria Carolina wanted her daughter to poison the Queen of Spain and Manuel Godoy. In spite of all of this campaign of assassination, Maria Antonia managed to gain considerable influence over her husband and created an opposition party against Queen Maria Luisa. She died of tuberculosis on 21 May 1806 at the Royal Palace of Aranjuez in Aranjuez and it was rumoured that Maria Antonia had been poisoned by Maria Luisa and Godoy, although again there is no actual evidence. However, Queen Maria Carolina, who was devastated, truly believed this, Maria Antonias father, King Ferdinand, consolidated Naples and Sicily into the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies a decade after her death. The Neapolitan princess was buried at El Escorial in Spain, EPTON, Nina, The Spanish mousetrap, Napoleon and the Court of Spain. HILT, Douglas, The troubled trinity, Godoy and the Spanish monarchs
Princess Maria Antonia of Naples and Sicily
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Maria Antonia of Naples and Sicily
Princess Maria Antonia of Naples and Sicily
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Princess Maria Antonietta
Princess Maria Antonia of Naples and Sicily
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Maria Antonia (fourth from left), together with the rest of the Spanish royal family, visits the University of Valencia in 1802, shortly after her wedding. Oil painting by
Vicente López.
22.
Maria Clotilde of Naples and Sicily
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Maria Clotilde was a member of the House of Bourbon in the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. She was styled Princess of Naples and Sicily, Maria Clotilde was born in Naples. Her father was Ferdinand, Duke of Calabria, the son and ninth child of Charles III of Spain. Her mother was the Archduchess of Austria, the daughter and thirteenth child of the famous Maria Theresa of Austria and her husband, Francis I. She was baptised during the first year of her life and her full name was Maria Clotilda Teresa Amelia Antonietta Giovanna Battista Anna Gaetana Pulcheria. She was born and died while her father was still styled Duke of Calabria and she was then styled Princess of Naples and Sicily. Both Maria Clotilde and her sister Maria Henrietta of Naples and Sicily were very sensible children with a frail health. In the case of Maria Clotilde, this was the result of a cold in 1786, in 1789, Maria Clotide caught smallpox from her brothers, Prince Gennaro of Naples and Sicily and Carlo Gennaro. 18 February 1786 –10 September 1792 Her Royal Highness Princess Maria Clotilde of Bourbon-Two Sicilies
Maria Clotilde of Naples and Sicily
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Philip V
23.
Leopold, Prince of Salerno
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Leopoldo Giovanni Giuseppe Michele of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, Prince of Salerno was a member of the House of Bourbon-Two Sicilies and a Prince of Bourbon-Two Sicilies. Born Leopoldo of Naples and Sicily, he was the son of Ferdinand IV of Naples and wife Maria Carolina of Austria. Leopold and Clementina had four children but only their daughter Princess Maria Carolina survived infancy, Prince Louis and two infants died within their first year. Princess Maria Carolina, married, on 25 November 1844, Prince Henri, leopold also had an extramarital affair with the Viennese dancer Fanny Elssler, which led to the birth of an illegitimate son, Franz, born in 1827 and died by suicide in 1873
Leopold, Prince of Salerno
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Leopold
24.
Prince Alberto of Naples and Sicily
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Alberto of Naples and Sicliy was a Prince of Naples and Sicily. He died on board HMS Vanguard, a British Royal navy vessel, born to Ferdinand VI of Naples, he was the sixteenth child born to his parents and their seventh son. His mother was a daughter of Empress Maria Theresa and thus sister of Marie Antoinette, from his birth he was third in line to the Neapolitan throne after his brothers Prince Francis, then Duke of Calabria and the Prince of Salerno. A member of the House of Bourbon, he was a Prince of Naples and he was born in Naples and baptised Alberto Lodovico Maria Filipo Gaetano, English, Albert Louis Maria Philip Gaetano. His brothers included Prince Carlo, Duke of Calabria, who died of smallpox in 1778, another sister was the Queen of the French and the last surviving daughter was the future Princess of Asturias. His cousins included the Duke of Parma, Grand Duke of Tuscany, Holy Roman Emperor, Queen of Portugal, King of Spain and a Duchess of Calabria, on the outbreak of the French Revolution in 1789 the Neapolitan court was not hostile to the movement. When the French monarchy was abolished and Albertos aunt and uncle were executed, his parents joined the First Coalition against France in 1793, although peace was made with France in 1796, by 1798 conflict was again fierce. It was decided that the family flee to the Kingdom of Sicily. The family left Naples on 21 December 1798 on board the HMS Vanguard and it was on board the warship that Alberto died of exhaustion on Christmas Day aged 6. He was buried in Palermo soon after the family arrived there,2 May 1792 –25 December 1798 His Royal Highness Don Alberto, Prince of Naples and Sicily
Prince Alberto of Naples and Sicily
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Alberto
25.
Maria Isabelle of Naples and Sicily
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Maria Isabelle of Naples and Sicily was a member of the French Royal Family. She was styled Princess of Naples and Sicily, Maria Isabelle was born in Naples, and she was named after her paternal aunt Maria Isabel Ana, who died at the age of six in 1749. Her father was Ferdinand, Duke of Calabria, the son and ninth child of King Charles III of Spain. Her mother was Maria Carolina, Archduchess of Austria, the daughter and thirteenth child of the famous Empress Maria Theresa of Austria and her husband, Francis I. Through her mother she was a niece of Marie Antoinette, through her father she was a niece of Maria Luisa of Spain and she was then styled Princess of Naples and Sicily. Her brothers included the future King Francis and Leopold, Prince of Salerno, another, Carlo, Duke of Calabria died in 1778 aged 3 of smallpox. Her older sisters included Princess Maria Theresa, namesake of her grandmother and Princess Luisa and her younger sister Princess Maria Cristina, was the wife of the future Charles Felix of Sardinia as Queen of Sardinia. Maria Cristinas twin Princess Maria Cristina Amelia died in 1783 of smallpox, another sister was the Queen of the French as the wife of Louis Philippe I and the youngest was the future Princess of Asturias. Maria Isabelle died on 23 April 1801, at the age of seven and she was buried at the Church of Santa Chiara in Naples. 2 December 1793 –23 April 1801 Her Royal Highness Princess Maria Isabelle of Naples and Sicily, richard Reifenscheid, Die Habsburger in Lebensbildern, Piper 2006 John A. Rice, Empress Marie Therese and Music at the Viennese Court, 1792–1807, Cambridge 2003
Maria Isabelle of Naples and Sicily
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Maria Isabelle of Naples and Sicily.
26.
Italian language
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By most measures, Italian, together with Sardinian, is the closest to Latin of the Romance languages. Italian is a language in Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City. Italian is spoken by minorities in places such as France, Montenegro, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Crimea and Tunisia and by large expatriate communities in the Americas. Many speakers are native bilinguals of both standardized Italian and other regional languages, Italian is the fourth most studied language in the world. Italian is a major European language, being one of the languages of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe. It is the third most widely spoken first language in the European Union with 65 million native speakers, including Italian speakers in non-EU European countries and on other continents, the total number of speakers is around 85 million. Italian is the working language of the Holy See, serving as the lingua franca in the Roman Catholic hierarchy as well as the official language of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta. Italian is known as the language of music because of its use in musical terminology and its influence is also widespread in the arts and in the luxury goods market. Italian has been reported as the fourth or fifth most frequently taught foreign language in the world, Italian was adopted by the state after the Unification of Italy, having previously been a literary language based on Tuscan as spoken mostly by the upper class of Florentine society. Its development was influenced by other Italian languages and to some minor extent. Its vowels are the second-closest to Latin after Sardinian, unlike most other Romance languages, Italian retains Latins contrast between short and long consonants. As in most Romance languages, stress is distinctive, however, Italian as a language used in Italy and some surrounding regions has a longer history. What would come to be thought of as Italian was first formalized in the early 14th century through the works of Tuscan writer Dante Alighieri, written in his native Florentine. Dante is still credited with standardizing the Italian language, and thus the dialect of Florence became the basis for what would become the language of Italy. Italian was also one of the recognised languages in the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Italy has always had a dialect for each city, because the cities. Those dialects now have considerable variety, as Tuscan-derived Italian came to be used throughout Italy, features of local speech were naturally adopted, producing various versions of Regional Italian. Even in the case of Northern Italian languages, however, scholars are not to overstate the effects of outsiders on the natural indigenous developments of the languages
Italian language
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Dante Alighieri (above) and
Petrarch (below) were influential in establishing their
Tuscan dialect as the most prominent literary language in all of
Italy in the
Late Middle Ages
Italian language
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The geographic distribution of the Italian language in the world: large Italian-speaking communities are shown in green; light blue indicates areas where the Italian language was used officially during the Italian colonial period.
Italian language
Italian language
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Pietro Bembo was an influential figure in the development of the Italian language from the Tuscan dialect, as a literary medium, codifying the language for standard modern usage
27.
Dynasty
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A dynasty is a sequence of rulers from the same family, usually in the context of a feudal or monarchical system but sometimes also appearing in elective republics. The dynastic family or lineage may be known as a house, historians periodize the histories of many sovereign states, such as Ancient Egypt, the Carolingian Empire and Imperial China, using a framework of successive dynasties. As such, the dynasty may be used to delimit the era during which the family reigned and to describe events, trends. The word dynasty itself is often dropped from such adjectival references, until the 19th century, it was taken for granted that a legitimate function of a monarch was to aggrandize his dynasty, that is, to increase the territory, wealth, and power of his family members. The longest-surviving dynasty in the world is the Imperial House of Japan, dynasties throughout the world have traditionally been reckoned patrilineally, such as under the Frankish Salic law. Succession through a daughter when permitted was considered to establish a new dynasty in her husbands ruling house, however, some states in Africa, determined descent matrilineally, while rulers have at other times adopted the name of their mothers dynasty when coming into her inheritance. It is also extended to unrelated people such as poets of the same school or various rosters of a single sports team. The word dynasty derives via Latin dynastia from Greek dynastéia, where it referred to power, dominion and it was the abstract noun of dynástēs, the agent noun of dynamis, power or ability, from dýnamai, to be able. A ruler in a dynasty is referred to as a dynast. For example, following his abdication, Edward VIII of the United Kingdom ceased to be a member of the House of Windsor. A dynastic marriage is one that complies with monarchical house law restrictions, the marriage of Willem-Alexander, Prince of Orange, to Máxima Zorreguieta in 2002 was dynastic, for example, and their eldest child is expected to inherit the Dutch crown eventually. But the marriage of his younger brother Prince Friso to Mabel Wisse Smit in 2003 lacked government support, thus Friso forfeited his place in the order of succession, lost his title as a Prince of the Netherlands, and left his children without dynastic rights. In historical and monarchist references to formerly reigning families, a dynast is a member who would have had succession rights, were the monarchys rules still in force. Even since abolition of the Austrian monarchy, Max and his descendants have not been considered the rightful pretenders by Austrian monarchists, nor have they claimed that position. The term dynast is sometimes used only to refer to descendants of a realms monarchs. The term can therefore describe overlapping but distinct sets of people, yet he is not a male-line member of the royal family, and is therefore not a dynast of the House of Windsor. Thus, in 1999 he requested and obtained permission from Elizabeth II to marry the Roman Catholic Princess Caroline of Monaco. Yet a clause of the English Act of Settlement 1701 remained in effect at that time and that exclusion, too, ceased to apply on 26 March 2015, with retroactive effect for those who had been dynasts prior to triggering it by marriage to a Catholic
Dynasty
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Charles I of England and his son, the future
James II
28.
House of Bourbon-Two Sicilies
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The House of Bourbon-Two Sicilies is a cadet Italian branch of the Spanish line of the House of Bourbon. It is thus descended from the Capetian dynasty in male line, the name of Bourbon-Two Sicilies comes from the main name and the other from the title King of the Two Sicilies, itself a merger of the Kingdom of Sicily and the Kingdom of Naples. The Kingdom of the Two Sicilies resulted from the unification of the Kingdom of Sicily with the Kingdom of Naples, the two had been separated since the Sicilian Vespers of 1282. At the death of King Alfonso in 1458, the kingdom divided between his brother John II of Aragon, who kept Sicily, and his bastard son Ferdinand. In 1861 Two Sicilies became part of the newly founded Kingdom of Italy, when Prince Ferdinand Pius died in 1960, he left no direct male descendant, and two branches of the family claimed the right to succeed him as head of the house. Ferdinand Pius had two brothers, Carlos and Ranieri. By the rule of primogeniture, headship would normally pass to Carlos, Alfonso offered a different interpretation of the Act of Cannes, describing it as effective only if Carlos should succeed to the Spanish throne. He also took the position that the Act of Cannes was invalid under the rules of the house of Two Sicilies itself. Children and male-line grandchildren of the King of the Two Sicilies bore the title Prince Royal of the Two Sicilies with the style of Royal Highness. Other agnatic descendants of the King, born of authorized marriages, the title of princess is also born by the wives of the princes of the house provided the marriage is approved
House of Bourbon-Two Sicilies
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Family tree
House of Bourbon-Two Sicilies
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House of Bourbon-Two Sicilies
House of Bourbon-Two Sicilies
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Ferdinand I 1816–1825
House of Bourbon-Two Sicilies
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Francis I 1825–1830
29.
Maria Amalia of Saxony
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She was the mother of thirteen children, many of whom died in childhood. A popular consort, she oversaw the construction of the Caserta Palace outside Naples as well as other projects in her husbands domains. Moving to Spain in 1759, she set about the improvements to the Royal Palace of Madrid. Maria Amalia was politically active and openly participated in affairs in both Naples and Spain. She was born at Dresden Castle in Dresden, the daughter of Augustus III of Poland, Elector of Saxony and Maria Josepha of Austria, herself daughter of Joseph I and her mother was the first cousin of Empress Maria Theresa. The infant was baptised with the names Maria Amalia Christina Franziska Xaveria Flora Walburga and her youngest sister, Princess Kunigunde was a possible wife for the future Philippe Égalité. She grew up at the court of Dresden and was educated in French, dance and she was also an accomplished musician and sang and played the keyboard from an early age. In 1738 Maria Amalia became engaged to Charles, King of Naples and Sicily, the impenetrable secret negotiations had taken place earlier in Vienna, where the Dowager Empress Wilhelmina Amalia, grandmother of Maria Amalia, played an important part in the negotiations. The Spanish ambassador in Vienna, Count Fuenclara, acted on behalf of the courts of Madrid and Naples, in December 1737, a papal dispensation was made, and the marriage announced in the beginning 1738. On May 8,1738, Maria Amalia had a ceremony at Dresden with her brother, Frederick Christian of Saxony. Since this marriage was looked upon favorably by the papacy, it soothed the diplomatic disagreements between Charles and the Papal states, on July 4,1738, Maria Amalia arrived at Naples and to what was described as a euphoric welcome. The couple met for the first time on June 19,1738 at Portella, at court, festivities lasted till July 3 when Charles created the Royal order of San Gennaro – the most prestigious chivalric order in the kingdom. He later had the Order of Charles III created in Spain on 19 September 1771, despite being an arranged marriage, the couple became very close, it was noted and reported to her mother-in-law in Spain, that Charles seemed happy and pleased when he first met her. Maria Amalia was described as a beauty and as a skillful rider, as Queen, she exerted great influence upon politics despite her frequent illnesses, and she actively participated in state affairs. He displeasure led directly to the latter being deposed as prime minister, Maria Amalia did not need to keep her influence secret, after the birth of her first son in 1747, she was given a seat in the council of state. In 1744, however she was forced to agree to declare war and she then favored Great Britain before France and Austria. Maria Amalia was talked about because of her favorites, which were to have influence over her policy when she was ill, such as princess Anna Francesca Pinelli. In 1754, she supported the career of Bernardo Tanucci as Foreign Minister, however, they left Naples before its completion due to her declining health so they never actually lived in the palace
Maria Amalia of Saxony
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Maria Amalia of Saxony depicted in Polish attire in 1738,
Museo del Prado
Maria Amalia of Saxony
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Portrait of Maria Amalia overlooking the Neapolitan crown, by
Giuseppe Bonito, c. 1745.
Maria Amalia of Saxony
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12 January 1751 Knight of the Order of Saint Januarius.svg){kind=small}
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Ferdinand IV. of Naples". Encyclopædia Britannica. 10 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 264–265.
