Francis I of the Two Sicilies
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| Francesco I | ||
|---|---|---|
| King of the Two Sicilies | ||
 |
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| Francis I of the Two Sicilies | ||
| Reign | 4 January 1825-8 November 1830 | |
| Born | 14 August 1777 | |
| Died | 8 November 1830 | |
| Predecessor | Ferdinand I | |
| Successor | Ferdinand II | |
| Consort | Maria Isabella of Spain | |
| Issue | Princess Carolina Ferdinanda Luisa Prince Ferdinand Princess Luisa Carlotta Princess Maria Christina Prince Ferdinand Prince Carlo Prince Leopold Princess Antoniette Princess Antonia Princess Marie Amelia Princess Maria Carolina Princess Teresa Prince Luigi Carlo Prince Francis |
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| Royal House | Bourbon | |
| Father | Ferdinand I | |
| Mother | Marie Caroline of Austria | |
Francis I (Francesco Gennaro Giuseppe, August 14, 1777 – November 8, 1830) was King of the Two Sicilies from 1825 to 1830.
[edit] Biography
Francis was born in Naples, the son of Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies and his wife Archduchess Maria Carolina of Austria. He was also the nephew of Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI the last King and Queen of France before the first French Republic.
In 1796 Francis married Archduchess Maria Clementina of Austria, daughter of the Holy Roman Emperor Leopold II. When she died, he married his first cousin María Isabel, daughter of King Charles IV of Spain.
After the Bourbon family fled from Naples to Sicily in 1806, and Lord William Bentinck, the British resident, had established a constitution and deprived Ferdinand I of all power, Francis was appointed regent (1812).
On the fall of Napoleon his father returned to Naples and suppressed the Sicilian constitution and autonomy, incorporating his two kingdoms into that of the Two Sicilies (1816); Francis then assumed the revived title of duke of Calabria. 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. But he was probably more conservatively inclined than that.
Hence, on succeeding to the throne in 1825, he followed more conservative principles as well. 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 (1828), repressed by the marquis Delcarretto, an ex-Liberal.
During his reign, the Royal Order of Francis I was founded to reward civil merit.
[edit] Children
With Maria Clementina of Austria:
- Carolina Ferdinanda Luisa (1798-1870), who married 1st Charles Ferdinand, duc de Berry, the second son of King Charles X of France, and 2nd Ettore Count Lucchesi Palli, Prince di Campofranco, Duke della Grazia.
- Ferdinando (1800-1801).
With Isabella of Spain:
- Luisa Carlota (1804-1844), who married her uncle Francisco de Paula, Infante of Spain, her mother's younger brother.
- María Cristina (1806-1878), who married 1st her uncle Ferdinand VII of Spain (her mother's older brother) and 2nd Ferdinand Muñoz, Duke of Rianzares.
- Ferdinand II of the Two Sicilies (1810-1859) who became Francis I's successor and married twice.
- Carlo Ferdinando, Count di Capua (1811-1862). Married morganatically to Penelope Smyth and had issue.
- Leopoldo, Count di Siracusa (1813-1860). Married Maria Princess of Savoy-Carignano. No issue.
- Maria Antonietta (1814-1898). Married Leopold II, Grand Duke of Tuscany.
- Antonio, Count of Lecce (1816-1843).
- Marie Amalie (1818-1857), who married Sebastian de Bourbon, Infante of Spain.
- Maria Carolina (1820-1861). Married Carlos, Conde de Montemolin of Spain and Carlist pretender to the throne of Spain.
- Teresa (1822-1889). Married Pedro II of Brazil.
- Luigi, Count di Aquila (1824-1897). Married Januária, Princess Imperial of Brazil (sister of Pedro II of Brazil and Maria II of Portugal). Had issue.
- Francesco, Count of Trani (1827-1892). Married Princess Isabella of Tuscany and had issue.
Also had illegitmate children with his mistresses.
| Preceded by: Ferdinand I |
King of the Two Sicilies 1825-1830 |
Succeeded by: Ferdinand II |
[edit] References
This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.
