Neapolitan Republic (1647–1648)
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Most Serene Republican Monarchy of Naples Serenissima Monarchia repubblicana di Napoli (Italian) | |||||||||
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| 1647–1648 | |||||||||
 Coat of arms
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| Motto: Henry II of Guise | |||||||||
| Generalissimo | |||||||||
• 1647–1648 | Gennaro Annese | ||||||||
| Historical era | Henry II of Guise made Doge | November 15, 1647 | |||||||
• Rebellion repressed | April 5, 1648 | ||||||||
| Currency | |||||||||
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| Today part of | Italy | ||||||||
The Neapolitan Republic (Repubblica Napoletana) was a
The Republic had the following official names: Serenissima Repubblica di questo regno di Napoli ("Most Serene Republic of this Kingdom of Naples"), Reale Repubblica ("Royal Republic"), and Serenissima Monarchia repubblicana di Napoli ("Most Serene Republican Monarchy of Naples"). All indicated the double nature of the Republic, both republican and
History
The Kingdom of Naples had been in personal union with the crown of Spain since 1504. In the first half of the 17th century, Naples was in the midst of a harsh economic crisis, one which was affecting all of Europe. In Naples, it was worsened by a viceregal government with few local concerns, interested only in helping to finance the series of continent wide wars in which Spain had become entangled.
Though repressed by the forces of viceroy Don
The viceroy's army was expelled and a Republic declared. Neapolitans sought French support and called
The Neapolitan Republic had, in fact, no hopes from the very beginning. The viceroy's forces controlled the line of castles around the city and the nobility controlled the provinces from their base in Aversa, thus controlling supply lines into Naples. In 1648 the duke of Guise managed to take Aversa, but the situation did not change much. The king's army, again under the command of John of Austria, chose a prudent strategy and filled Naples with spies, agitators and other agents to win over the remaining nobles.
On April 5, 1648, Henry, deceitfully pressed by some of his counsellors who were in Philip's pay, tried a sally, and Naples was reconquered by its former masters without resistance. On June 4 a French fleet of 40 ships tried to reconquer the city, but this time the people, tired by more than a year of continuing revolution, did not rise. The French attempted to land on the neighbouring island of Procida, but they were beaten by Spanish forces and had to flee.
Another and even more powerful French fleet appeared in the Gulf of Naples on August 4 of the same year, led by Thomas of Savoy. This time they managed to conquer Procida but, after being repulsed by Spanish naval forces near Ischia, Pozzuoli and Salerno, they abandoned any hope of taking Naples. Soon after, Gennaro Annese was beheaded in Piazza del Mercato in Naples. The following year, on June 3, there were new riots in Naples, but they were soon suppressed, as the people had simply grown weary of fighting.
See also
- Neapolitan Revolt of 1647
- History of Naples
- List of Neapolitan viceroys
References
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