fwo_825375 - ITALY - KINGDOM OF SICILIA 5 Grana 1815

ITALY - KINGDOM OF SICILY - FERDINAND III

(1759-1816)

Third son of Charles II of Spain, Ferdinand (1751-1825) succeeded his father at the age of eight to the thrones of Sicily and Naples under the names of Ferdinand III in the island part (Sicily) and Ferdinand IV in the peninsular part (Naples). In 1799, he was driven out of Naples by the Parthenopean Republic but regained power following the departure of French troops. In 1806, Joseph Bonaparte invaded the Kingdom of Naples which was ceded to Joaquim Murat in 1808. When the latter fell in 1815, he recovered Naples and unified the two kingdoms under the name of Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies.