, image = Francesco II of the Two Sicilies.JPG
, caption = King Francis II
, succession =
King of the Two Sicilies
The following is a list of rulers of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, until the fusion into the Kingdom of Italy in 1861.
History
Joachim Murat was the first king to rule a kingdom called "Two Sicilies" by the Edict of Bayonne, in 1808. Though ...
, reign = 22 May 1859 – 20 March 1861
, predecessor =
Ferdinand II
, successor = ''Kingdom of Italy''
, succession2 =
Head of the House of Bourbon-Two Sicilies
, reign-type2 = Tenure
, reign2 = 20 March 1861 – 27 December 1894
, successor2 =
Prince Alfonso
, spouse =
, issue = Princess Maria Cristina Pia
, house =
House of Bourbon-Two Sicilies
, father =
Ferdinand II
, mother =
Maria Christina of Savoy
, birth_date =
, birth_place =
Royal Palace of Naples
The Royal Palace of Naples ( it, Palazzo Reale di Napoli, italic=no, nap, Palazzo Riale ‘e Napule) is a palace, museum, and historical tourist destination located in central Naples, southern Italy.
It was one of the four residences near Na ...
,
Naples
Naples (; it, Napoli ; nap, Napule ), from grc, Νεάπολις, Neápolis, lit=new city. is the regional capital of Campania and the third-largest city of Italy, after Rome and Milan, with a population of 909,048 within the city's adm ...
,
Kingdom of the Two Sicilies(now Naples,
Italy
Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical ...
)
, death_date =
, death_place =
Arco,
Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary, often referred to as the Austro-Hungarian Empire,, the Dual Monarchy, or Austria, was a constitutional monarchy and great power in Central Europe between 1867 and 1918. It was formed with the Austro-Hungarian Compromise of ...
(now Arco, Italy)
, burial_place =
Basilica of Santa Chiara,
Naples
Naples (; it, Napoli ; nap, Napule ), from grc, Νεάπολις, Neápolis, lit=new city. is the regional capital of Campania and the third-largest city of Italy, after Rome and Milan, with a population of 909,048 within the city's adm ...
, religion =
Roman Catholicism
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...
Francis II (
Neapolitan
Neapolitan means of or pertaining to Naples, a city in Italy; or to:
Geography and history
* Province of Naples, a province in the Campania region of southern Italy that includes the city
* Duchy of Naples, in existence during the Early and Hig ...
and it, Francesco II, christened ''Francesco d'Assisi Maria Leopoldo''; scn, Francischieddu; 16 January 1836 – 27 December 1894) was
King
King is the title given to a male monarch in a variety of contexts. The female equivalent is queen regnant, queen, which title is also given to the queen consort, consort of a king.
*In the context of prehistory, antiquity and contempora ...
of the
Two Sicilies from 1859 to 1861. He was the last King of the Two Sicilies, as successive invasions by
Giuseppe Garibaldi and
Victor Emmanuel II of Sardinia
en, Victor Emmanuel Maria Albert Eugene Ferdinand Thomas
, house = Savoy
, father = Charles Albert of Sardinia
, mother = Maria Theresa of Austria
, religion = Roman Catholicism
, image_size = 252px
, succession ...
ultimately brought an end to his rule, as part of
Italian unification. After he was deposed, the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies and the
Kingdom of Sardinia were merged into the newly formed
Kingdom of Italy
The Kingdom of Italy ( it, Regno d'Italia) was a state that existed from 1861, when Victor Emmanuel II of Kingdom of Sardinia, Sardinia was proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy, proclaimed King of Italy, until 1946, when civil discontent led to ...
.
Biography
Early life
The only son and heir of King
Ferdinand II of the Two Sicilies by his first wife,
Maria Christina of Savoy, Francis II was the last of the
Bourbon kings of
Naples
Naples (; it, Napoli ; nap, Napule ), from grc, Νεάπολις, Neápolis, lit=new city. is the regional capital of Campania and the third-largest city of Italy, after Rome and Milan, with a population of 909,048 within the city's adm ...
, where he was born in 1836. His education had been much neglected and he proved a man of weak character, greatly influenced by his stepmother
Archduchess Maria Theresa of Austria, whom he feared, and also by the priests, and by the
camarilla
A camarilla is a group of courtiers or favourites who surround a king or ruler. Usually, they do not hold any office or have any official authority at the royal court but influence their ruler behind the scenes. Consequently, they also escape havi ...
, or reactionary court set.
On 3 February 1859 in
Bari, Francis married
Duchess Maria Sophie of Bavaria, of the royal
Bavaria
Bavaria ( ; ), officially the Free State of Bavaria (german: Freistaat Bayern, link=no ), is a state in the south-east of Germany. With an area of , Bavaria is the largest German state by land area, comprising roughly a fifth of the total l ...
n house of
Wittelsbach (a younger sister of
Empress Elisabeth "Sissi" of Austria). Maria Sophie, along with Elisabeth, was a great beauty. However, their marriage was unhappy.
Their only daughter,
Maria Cristina, was born ten years after her parents married, and lived only three months (24 December 1869 – 28 March 1870).
Reign
Francis II took the throne on 22 May 1859, after the death of his father. For the post of prime minister he at once appointed
Carlo Filangieri, who, realizing the importance of the Franco-Piedmontese victories in
Lombardy, advised Francis II to accept the alliance with the
Kingdom of Sardinia proposed by
Cavour. On 7 June, a part of the
Swiss Guard mutinied, and while the king mollified them by promising to redress their grievances, General Alessandro Nunziante gathered his troops, who surrounded the mutineers and shot them down. The incident resulted in the disbanding of the whole Swiss Guard, at the time the strongest bulwark of the
Bourbon dynasty
The House of Bourbon (, also ; ) is a European dynasty of French origin, a branch of the Capetian dynasty, the royal House of France. Bourbon kings first ruled France and Navarre in the 16th century. By the 18th century, members of the Spanis ...
.
Cavour again proposed an alliance to divide the
Papal States
The Papal States ( ; it, Stato Pontificio, ), officially the State of the Church ( it, Stato della Chiesa, ; la, Status Ecclesiasticus;), were a series of territories in the Italian Peninsula under the direct sovereign rule of the pope fro ...
between Piedmont and Naples (the province of
Rome
, established_title = Founded
, established_date = 753 BC
, founder = King Romulus ( legendary)
, image_map = Map of comune of Rome (metropolitan city of Capital Rome, region Lazio, Italy).svg
, map_caption ...
excepted), but Francis rejected an idea which to him seemed like heresy. Filangieri strongly advocated a Constitution as the only measure which might save the dynasty, but on the king’s refusal he resigned.
Garibaldi's invasion
Meanwhile, the revolutionary parties were conspiring for the overthrow of the Bourbons in
Calabria and
Sicily
(man) it, Siciliana (woman)
, population_note =
, population_blank1_title =
, population_blank1 =
, demographics_type1 = Ethnicity
, demographics1_footnotes =
, demographi ...
, and
Giuseppe Garibaldi was preparing for a raid in the south of Italy. A conspiracy in Sicily was discovered and the plotters punished with brutal severity, but Rosalino Pilo and
Francesco Crispi, who had organized the movement, escaped execution. When Garibaldi landed at
Marsala (May 1860) with his
Expedition of the Thousand, he conquered the island with astonishing ease.
These events at last coaxed Francis II into granting a constitution, but its promulgation was followed by disorders in Naples and the resignation of several ministers;
Liborio Romano became head of the government. The disintegration of the army and navy proceeded apace, and Cavour sent a Piedmontese squadron carrying troops on board to watch over these events. Garibaldi, who had crossed the
strait of Messina, was advancing northwards and was everywhere received by the people as a ''liberator''. After long hesitations and even an appeal to Garibaldi himself, and on the advice of Romano, Francis II left Naples on 6 September with his wife Maria Sophia, the court and the diplomatic corps (except the French and British ministers), and went by sea to
Gaeta, where a large part of the army was concentrated.
The next day Garibaldi entered Naples, was enthusiastically welcomed, and formed a provisional government.
Piedmontese invasion
King
Victor Emmanuel II
en, Victor Emmanuel Maria Albert Eugene Ferdinand Thomas
, house = Savoy
, father = Charles Albert of Sardinia
, mother = Maria Theresa of Austria
, religion = Roman Catholicism
, image_size = 252px
, succession ...
had decided on the invasion of the Papal States, and after occupying
Umbria and the
Marche
Marche ( , ) is one of the twenty regions of Italy. In English, the region is sometimes referred to as The Marches ( ). The region is located in the central area of the country, bordered by Emilia-Romagna and the republic of San Marino to the ...
entered the Neapolitan kingdom. Garibaldi’s troops defeated the Neapolitan royalists at the
Battle of Volturno (which took place on 1 October 1860), while the Piedmontese captured
Capua.
By late 1860, only
Gaeta,
Messina, and
Civitella del Tronto
Civitella del Tronto () is a town and '' comune'' in the province of Teramo, within the Abruzzo region of central Italy. It is in the Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga National Park.
History
The origins of Civitella are unknown, though in the area ha ...
still held out. The
Siege of Gaeta by the Piedmontese began on 6 November 1860. Both Francis II and his wife behaved with great coolness and courage. Even when the French fleet, whose presence had hitherto prevented an attack by sea, was withdrawn, they still resisted. It was not until 13 February 1861 that the fortress capitulated.
Overthrow
Thus, the
Kingdom of the Two Sicilies ceased to exist and its territory was incorporated into that of the
Kingdom of Sardinia (soon renamed the
Kingdom of Italy
The Kingdom of Italy ( it, Regno d'Italia) was a state that existed from 1861, when Victor Emmanuel II of Kingdom of Sardinia, Sardinia was proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy, proclaimed King of Italy, until 1946, when civil discontent led to ...
), and Francis II was deposed. Francis and Maria Sophia first lived in Rome as guests of the Pope, where they maintained a
government in exile
A government in exile (abbreviated as GiE) is a political group that claims to be a country or semi-sovereign state's legitimate government, but is unable to exercise legal power and instead resides in a foreign country. Governments in exile ...
recognized by some Catholic powers including
France
France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...
,
Spain
, image_flag = Bandera de España.svg
, image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg
, national_motto = '' Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond")
, national_anthem = (English: "Royal March")
, ...
,
Austria
Austria, , bar, Östareich officially the Republic of Austria, is a country in the southern part of Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine states, one of which is the capital, Vienna, the most populous ...
and
Bavaria
Bavaria ( ; ), officially the Free State of Bavaria (german: Freistaat Bayern, link=no ), is a state in the south-east of Germany. With an area of , Bavaria is the largest German state by land area, comprising roughly a fifth of the total l ...
.
After the
Prussia
Prussia, , Old Prussian: ''Prūsa'' or ''Prūsija'' was a German state on the southeast coast of the Baltic Sea. It formed the German Empire under Prussian rule when it united the German states in 1871. It was ''de facto'' dissolved by an e ...
n victory against Austria in 1866 and subsequent expansion of Italian territory, they disbanded this government and left Rome before it was occupied by the Italians in 1870. They led a wandering life from then on, living in Austria,
France
France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...
, and Bavaria. In 1894, Francis died at
Arco in
Trentino
Trentino ( lld, Trentin), officially the Autonomous Province of Trento, is an autonomous province of Italy, in the country's far north. The Trentino and South Tyrol constitute the region of Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol, an autonomous region ...
(now north-eastern Italy, but at the time in
Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary, often referred to as the Austro-Hungarian Empire,, the Dual Monarchy, or Austria, was a constitutional monarchy and great power in Central Europe between 1867 and 1918. It was formed with the Austro-Hungarian Compromise of ...
). His widow survived him by 31 years and died in
Munich
Munich ( ; german: München ; bar, Minga ) is the capital and most populous city of the German state of Bavaria. With a population of 1,558,395 inhabitants as of 31 July 2020, it is the third-largest city in Germany, after Berlin and ...
. Upon the death of Francis II, his half-brother,
Prince Alfonso, became the
pretender to the throne
A pretender is someone who claims to be the rightful ruler of a country although not recognized as such by the current government. The term is often used to suggest that a claim is not legitimate.Curley Jr., Walter J. P. ''Monarchs-in-Waiting'' ...
of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies.
Cause of beatification and canonization
On 11 December 2020, the cause of the beatification of King Francis II of the Two Sicilies was introduced by the Cardinal
Crescenzio Sepe
Crescenzio Sepe (born 2 June 1943) is an Italian prelate of the Catholic Church who served as Archbishop of Naples from 2006 to 2020. He served in the Roman Curia as Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples from 2001 to 20 ...
, the
Archbishop of Naples.
Pope Francis
Pope Francis ( la, Franciscus; it, Francesco; es, link=, Francisco; born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, 17 December 1936) is the head of the Catholic Church. He has been the bishop of Rome and sovereign of the Vatican City State since 13 March 2013 ...
declared the king a
Servant of God.
Honours
* : Grand Cordon of the
Order of Leopold, ''9 June 1855''
* : Knight of the
Order of the Golden Fleece, ''15 June 1844''
* : Grand Cross of the
Order of Pedro I
The Imperial Order of Dom Pedro I ( pt, Imperial Ordem de Pedro Primeiro or Imperial Ordem de Pedro Primeiro, Fundador do Império do Brasil) is a Brazilian order of chivalry instituted by Emperor Pedro I of Brazil on 16 April 1826. It is consid ...
* :
** Grand Cross of the
Order of St. Stephen, ''1849''
** Knight of the
Military Order of Maria Theresa, ''1861''
* :
Grand Cross of the Order of St. Louis
*
Kingdom of Prussia
The Kingdom of Prussia (german: Königreich Preußen, ) was a German kingdom that constituted the state of Prussia between 1701 and 1918.Marriott, J. A. R., and Charles Grant Robertson. ''The Evolution of Prussia, the Making of an Empire''. ...
:
** Knight of the
Order of the Black Eagle
The Order of the Black Eagle (german: Hoher Orden vom Schwarzen Adler) was the highest order of chivalry in the Kingdom of Prussia. The order was founded on 17 January 1701 by Elector Friedrich III of Brandenburg (who became Friedrich I, King i ...
, ''4 June 1853''
**
Pour le Mérite
The ' (; , ) is an order of merit (german: Verdienstorden) established in 1740 by King Frederick II of Prussia. The was awarded as both a military and civil honour and ranked, along with the Order of the Black Eagle, the Order of the Red Eag ...
(military), ''20 February 1861''
* : Knight of the
Order of Saint Hubert, ''1857''
* : Knight of the
Order of the Rue Crown, ''1860''
*
Grand Duchy of Tuscany: Grand Cross of the
Order of St. Joseph
* : Grand Cross of the
Order of the Württemberg Crown
Order, ORDER or Orders may refer to:
* Categorization, the process in which ideas and objects are recognized, differentiated, and understood
* Heterarchy, a system of organization wherein the elements have the potential to be ranked a number of ...
, ''1864''
[''Hof- und Staats-Handbuch des Königreich Württemberg'' (1886/7), "Königliche Orden" p]
22
/ref>
Ancestors
See also
* History of Italy
* Siege of Gaeta
References
*
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Francis 02 Of The Two Sicilies
1836 births
1894 deaths
Princes of Bourbon-Two Sicilies
Monarchs of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies
Deaths from diabetes
Burials at the Basilica of Santa Chiara
Grand Crosses of the Order of Saint Stephen of Hungary
Knights Cross of the Military Order of Maria Theresa
Knights of the Golden Fleece of Spain
Recipients of the Pour le Mérite (military class)
19th-century Roman Catholics
Italian Roman Catholics
Italian Servants of God
19th-century venerated Christians
Roman Catholic royal saints
Royal reburials