History of the young king Francesco II of Naples

Romualdo M. De Velazquez, Salvatore Pastorello

• Publisher: Passerino
• Year: 2015
• Topic: History
• eBook ISBN:
  9788899617073
• Subtopic: Historical Biographies
• Index: History

This is a translation of a text from 1861, unreleased outside Spain, written by an alleged eyewitness to the events of the Risorgimento, as they happen. After an introduction on the framework of the European and Italian political situation that led to the "Expedition of the Mille", the book tells in detail the story of Francis II of Bourbon, ascended the throne of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies to just 23 years for premature death of his father Ferdinand II, immediately forced to defend his kingdom from attack by partisans first and then Piedmont, immobility in front of all the European powers, and with France and England interested and conniving with the invaders. The result is a historical portrait contrarily compared to the dominant opinion of Piedmontese winners, issued since then and still popular today, on the much reviled "Franceschiello", did all of moving impulses of love for his people, heroism and unsuspected wisdom which surely today helps to rehabilitate the character; while they are highlighted the perfidious plots hatched by the enemies of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, the betrayals of many politicians and military Bourbon and the acts of barbarism committed by fierce partisans and Piedmontese to achieve their purpose. The peculiarity of this work, in addition to the chronological description of situations and events during their course, of which has a great importance the siege of Gaeta, are the faithful references to documents issued then by Francis II and the government of the Two Sicilies sent to the European powers, in which the author for his alleged privileged position certainly had the access, and its “instantly” considerations to comment the events. Anyway, recognizing the indisputable value of the Unification of Italy, this text adds further details of the historical background of the Italian Risorgimento supplying a different reading and suggesting a properly historical review after more than 150 years after the events occurred.

Published in Madrid and Barcelona on 1861 and written by Romualdo M. de Velazquez.

Translation by Salvatore Pastorello.

Chapter 1

Death of Ferdinand II of Bourbon - Proclamation of his son Francesco II - The political situation in Italy - Crossing the Ticino by the Piedmontese and French - Battles of Magenta and Solferino - Crossing of the Mincio.

On May 22, 1859, few days after the resounding roar of the cannon on the hills of Montebello, in Caserta died only 49 years old, after nineteen years of his reign, Ferdinand II of Bourbon, the King of the Two Sicilies. It was as Providence had intended to deprive the Naples’s kingdom of the terrible tests that will await it. The brave monarch should know avert them. Ferdinand II of Bourbon so slandered and vilified by opponents. He was a great king and it is probably that in Europe if there hadn’t been a state of deterioration, such as the one that still it stands today and if his enemies were not so powerful to want impose ancient rights, he should have been the King of France or Austrian Emperor instead of King of the Two Sicilies.

The riots of 1848 were unable to wrest him the throne, and his people saw him as the brave guardian of its honor against foreign claims and staunch defender of peace and tranquility, against the utopias of the innovators.

However, he had the consolation to leave the kingdom in a state of prosperity and happiness: a disciplined army, a large navy, finances among the most robust in Europe and an administration model. Who should have imagined that after about one year not everything should longer existed, that a foreign government should dominate his people and his son forced to take refuge in a fortress with a handful of braves? Those men that he has won now besmirch his memory with ridiculous slander, but history will do justice.

The monarch's death gave rise to strange rumors. There were rumors that a slow poison had put an end to his life, that his many enemies, because of recent events, they wanted to get rid of a big obstacle. However, nothing of all of this was ever confirmed, but it is certain that the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies and the whole Italy lost a distinguished and valiant ruler just when there was most needed of him.

Francesco II, his eldest son, been born by the marriage with Maria Cristina of Savoy, succeeded to the throne at the age of twenty-three years. His ascent to the throne fed many hopes as many fears: the one and the other confirmed in part. The betrayal of some, the weakness of others, the infidelity of all cost the loss of the throne and the independence of the people, but neither abandonment nor the obstacles, or the inexperience could diminish the great value of his dynasty, which offered an extraordinary show to the world.

Let us look about the political situation of Italy to the death of Ferdinand II.

Napoleon III, preying on the historical ambitions of the House of Savoy, taking advantage of the anomalies that the revolutionary politics had produced in the Peninsula, had put in evidence the problem of the Revolution in the lowlands of Ticino. Neither can it attributed to Austria the responsibility of the 1859 bloody war that is due only to the Emperor of French. He was responsible for the aggressive attitude of Piedmont towards its neighbors, since the Crimean War; his the unexpected and outrageous solution resulted from the Paris Congress that, met to protect the Turks by the Tsar, without hearing the parties, ended to turn his attentions against other sovereigns also them weak and independent: the Pope and the King of Naples. He was the one to raise the issue and to neutralize the efforts of Lord Cowley when they were about to be rewarded with success. It was his the idea to announce a congress, also thinking that probably it shouldn’t be held, and it was him who rejected, at the last moment, the English proposals that Austria had already accepted, and finally, by his own admission, he began the war against the advice of Europe.

That the situation of Italy was critical, the peninsula in the throes of a great malaise, that its governments, with the exception of that of Naples, the Emperor and the King of Sardinia, were in need of foreign aid in order to survive, are facts that we all took note and that no one can doubt. However, what was the cause? At what thing they were due. Only to the revolutionary spirit, and it is surely a folly to try to correct the evil, giving vigor to the cause that generated it. Let us look to Italy at the end of the last century, before the French Revolution. The genius of one man, Napoleon I, had made to become European the governments of the Peninsula independent by foreign subjugation. In Italy, there were not others than Italians. The struggles of the past brought by the armies of all nations, almost always caused by conspiracies, had eliminated a major cause of the ancient quarrels and the Kingdom of Naples and Sicily ruled by an own dynasty recognized and loved by its people. The Dukes and the Pope did not need foreign aid; the Republic of Venice was independent and free, and even if the Lombardy still belonged to the Imperial house, it was more in name than in fact. Lombardy already led an existence entirely distinct from the Empire, it was holding on local institutions, enjoyed by a complete freedom in the management of its interests and definitely it wasn’t far from the day when, under the government of an archduke of the Austrian house, should have achieved its right of independence, as in fact it had already. In effects the French Revolution, with its expansion force and the ambitious target that brought the new revolutionary government, had conquered and destroyed the Republic of Venice. The General Bonaparte sold it to the Emperor in exchange of Lombardy, making sure that it and most of Italy became a fief of France and should contribute to the heavy support of the first empire.

Dethroned the Pope, ousted the King of Naples, deposed the Dukes, destroyed the freedom of Venice, almost traded the independence of Lombardy for the fervor rigorous and vexatious of the new government, Italy found itself in a completely new situation, whose conditions still persist, having been ineffective all the efforts to save it from injury.

The Restoration of 1815, besides to commit the error to compromise on the crime consumed in Venice by the Revolution, it could not avoid to resort to the weapons to mitigate the destabilizing elements (which in great turmoil that had passed through European society, it had spread on its territory, less in Italy than in other European countries). Then it succeeded to establish for more or less time the material order, but not the moral. In addition, in the Peninsula there was a reason of political disturbance more to animate the Liberals who did not disturb any other European country, as well as the new theories on the power, fatal legacy of the Revolution, which attracted the restless and progressive. meaning the thought spread among intellectuals, of national unity, as it always happened after every political upheaval that had passed through Italy in the Middle Ages and even in the successive ones. The memories of ancient Rome, of the power of its citizens, of the universal dominion of the eternal city have always confused the opinions of some leaders and strongly influenced on the destiny of the country.

The illusion of converting Italy in what was in other times Rome, in the Middle Ages had driven many to the Emperor, whereas the Popes fought to expel foreigners from the Peninsula, it is a demonstration of the groundlessness of that utopia. An idea that has lasted for centuries and has never fully rooted in the popular sentiment; heritage of a few politicians, has never been accepted by the people and, even today, is defended only by a few ambitious utopian and others that want to achieve their particular purposes.

We can say that the idea of the Restoration has returned in vogue mixed with the new theories, it has become a weapon of these to achieve that and of that to achieve the triumph of these. Italian governments threatened by innovators, not so much for their ideas, but because it was in danger their same existence, they had to employ rigorous methods of preventing and the weakest governments asked the help of the strongest, which in that case for Italy was the emperor of Austria. From that moment, the revolutionaries made many followers, with their proclamations on systems of government. To their unitary theories, that had never aroused the interest of the people, they could add the discontent that always moves the deepest aspirations of men, protesting against foreign oppression. There were no generous minds who didn’t deplore it, without taking into account that it was not fair to attribute it to the governments, because its only cause was the aggressive attitude of the revolutionaries, strengthened by the influence of this or that foreign nation.

The ambition of Piedmont to expand its borders is a constant in the history. Since 1849 it seemed determined to use it to their advantage and to the detriment of all other governments and the conservative interests of the Peninsula, the elements of disintegration that were made shield of the noble banner of the patriotism outraged. Furthermore pretended to affirm in Italy the known ideas of unity and criteria of government; comparable to those sustained in Europe by the movements who call themselves progressives. The court of Turin, where they found asylum all those professed the new doctrines, was not long in becoming the focal point from which they were thrown to the entire Peninsula lightning of rebellion. Not yet satisfied, the King of Sardinia, converted in the lawyer of the oppressed Italy, sent a division in Crimea, to fight together with the Anglo-French, with the sole aim of being able to raise his voice in the peace conferences that should held. In effect it was just so. With great scandal on the part of the moderates in Europe, the conferences held to put a stop to the Czar. He claimed to exercise by force rights incompatible with the sovereignty of the Sultan, closed with a ridiculous lie by Great Britain and France, which had the power to instigate the Kingdom of Sardinia against the powerful monarchs Ferdinand II and Pope Pius IX. From that moment Napoleon III, was the only real inspirer of what called "Italian question", preparing the public opinion through the press; now turning towards the Pope imperious and naughty advices; now suspending any diplomatic relations with the two Sicilies ruler, whose only crime was not wanting in his own kingdom what Louis Napoleon had destroyed in his. Then, you could see Victor Emmanuel to start the series of humiliations in front of his powerful ally, to the liberals of Turin, to the supporters of new ideas, to the defenders of all rights of the citizen, bursting into praise for the new Caesar, who the rights had violated all.

Being so the things, January 1, 1849 came and the scene organized in the palace of the Tuileries announced to Europe that prepared the actors and the theater, it was begun the show. He started with some sincere efforts to keep the peace on the part of the Tory government, which then headed the British politics, and it is almost certain that he would have reached the purpose. Austria wanted nothing more than to avoid the war, but that was not what others wanted. Therefore, it found a way to postpone any conclusion, to put everything in question through a project of conference that Russia, eager to charge the conduct of Austria in 1853, undertook to present the bill. What they wanted to achieve was clear: diplomacy is never inventiveness neither creative. The congresses follows and ratify only accords that the events have concretely determined, without any initiative, neither have they preceded the same accords. The stipulation always delayed because of the so many footnotes; in the negotiations that held before the accord thousand difficulties are contrived and it comes really to believe that the authors of the delay hoped in all this.

Austria agreed to the guidelines proposed by England for the next congress, and in doing so, it showed to be ready to satisfy every note that had asked for what happened up to then. That is why; keen to avoid the war and the consequent huge expenses that the attitude of France and Sardinia required it, to give to the peace strength and stability. In any case, to verify the extent to which it was the good faith of its enemies, presented as an alternative the obligation of a general disarmament before the opening of the congress.

England, sincere lover of peace, welcomed the idea with favor as a guarantee that it should not come to an explosion of hostilities. However, it did not happen so for France and Sardinia. This is completely dependent by the will of Napoleon III, refused to disarm. Rejecting it, although manifested to the eyes of history the goal that it was proposed, it was the best way to get it. In addition, in fact it got it. Austria, irritated by such behavior, and believing that sooner or later it should have been in conflict with enemies, which was what they expected, sent an ultimatum for disarm to Sardinia and, in anticipation of a negative response of Turin, communicated the order to their troops in Lombardy to penetrate into Piedmont. Great Britain, that performed so fairly and constantly efforts in favor of the peace, it was stated as spokesperson for the European public opinion for its aversion manifested against the war. It did not even win the match to the opponents and, discarding the unfortunate intention of Russia, offered itself as a mediator in the resumption of negotiations from the point where he had left them Lord Cowley, to the condition of an immediate, total and simultaneous disarmament. Austria agreed the proposal, even though it was already in enemy territory with the outposts of its army, but this caused it to lose precious time in vain. Napoleon III, who had seen so close to the fulfillment of his plan would not give it up and rejected the mediation. Fighting started with all their devastation and horrors.

We held back on purpose in the narrative of the facts because to evidence the truth on what we said at the beginning, that is, that Sardinia was a docile instrument of Napoleon, or rather, that this one is the only responsible of the war of 1859 and of disasters that have followed it. So it proved, and we must not forget it.

However, why Napoleon III, who had destroyed the political freedom in France, why the new Caesar showed him so stubborn to promote the ideas of freedom in the neighboring nation? Why, descent and executor of the policy of Napoleon I proved him so zealous for the independence of Lombardy and Venice, when it was due to the disastrous imperial politics the slavery reduction and the destruction of the Adriatic republic? How was it possible that he, the enemy of the press and the forums, while his government based on the suppression of all aspirations, could favor the cause of outraged patriotism, to gain the generous hearts, in the absence of a deep conviction? He could not ignore the Revolution with all its faults, with all its injustices, with all its theories. It was impossible, as unfortunately after the reality has shown.

Many reasons drove the French emperor to sponsor and direct the Italian movement. Although not all has, it considered and deepened by the history. The first and foremost is that Napoleon III, an emanation, like his uncle, of the Revolution, of what's more offensive about this, established himself betraying his most important collaborators, trampling each oath; he was by his own nature the enemy of the powers that recognized in themselves a different origin from his. The European governments, not admitting this truth, in 1852 committed the grave error to recognize the new power, and so, neither those could live in peace with him, neither him with them. The power that lays its foundations in good principles, and the people that doesn’t recognize the ambition and audacity of a few or many, such as titles sufficient to govern men, will be always a constant danger for the government that cannot express other, and this, in turn, it will be for the power based on the good principles. The one will complain constantly against each other because they depart by opposing principles, as well as the promoters of the ancient right in comparison to who professes the modern right, because the conservative principles lack the force of expansion that have those revolutionary. Each government not founded on universal suffrage represented a risk for Napoleon and his democratic caesuras, and for this reason, he began his work by making wear to Victor Emmanuel the popular purple. Moreover, he obtained to break the treaties of 1815, that offended so much the pride of France, and to appear to the eyes of the people as the glorious continuer of his military traditions. Not to mention that with an ally as weak and docile as the Piedmont he could earn very much and lose little. For the expansion of France, the natural frontiers could have fixed toward the claimed territory without danger, and it happened just like that: redeeming a province from foreign domination, in return they could get another. At the same time, that Lombardy ceased to be Austrian to become of Piedmont, Savoy and Nice could cease to be Italian to become French.

Keep in mind that, even if the assumptions leaned on nothing certain, although Napoleon III had not been an enemy of those governments which are based on something more worthy, stable and logic of the universal suffrage. The very character of his power and that of French people would have obliged to promote non-stop riots in the world, so that France would address the attention elsewhere averting its eyes from his person. With an irrelevant government, it does not avert a danger. Being inactive the Municipalities, inactive Departments and highest organs of the State, France it would seem to be a corpse among the European nations if it had its soldiers in China, Syria and Italy. What should be of Napoleon the day when, retiring France in its borders, realizes that the feverish agitation that transmit foreign issues deplete, debilitate and attract the enemies that eventually they win? The answer lies in the consciousness of the whole Europe.

The second Bonaparte, like the previous one, represented the Revolution in Italy. This thought over many after that the French crossed the Alps in 1859, and this made it clear the subsequent events. The question of patriotism, that for a moment can blind generous men, totally disappeared. Therefore, in the Italian question now only allowed seeing, as acknowledged by his own followers, the cause of the arbitrariness and of force against the justice and law. The cause of the idea that was born against the idea that dies, as they say in their high-sounding language the innovators. That also die to the betimes, the freedom of the world will not die with it!

On April 29, 1859, the Austrians crossed the Ticino invading the Piedmont region, while the Sardinian army was becoming strong on the line of Dora Baltea waiting for the rescue of its allies. Up to May 19, the Imperials remained on the territory making unnecessary raids on the plain limited almost parallel to the rivers Ticino and Sesia and closed at south by the Po; and finally, retreating themselves they defensively waited the attack of the French-Sardinian. On 20 the hostilities took more decided in Montebello: the allies moved forward and the fighting of Palestro, on May 30 and 31, favored the march fearlessly of the bulk of the French army performed to move to the left bank of the river Ticino. In those days the general Gyulai gave proof of competence and valor and, without being discouraged by the failure of his previous attacks, he threw his soldiers towards the flank of the French army succeeding, after a bloody struggle, to maintain his columns for few hours in Boffalora and Magenta.

On the four of June, ended the bloody battle, lost by the imperials, who took the name of the above small town, they had to change their war strategy. The immediate result of that event was their escape from Milan and Lombardy. On June 8, the allied sovereigns entered in the capital, while the Austrians retreated in perfect order, without their disciplined army had lost nothing of the primitive energy.

The French-Sardinian subsequently crossed the rivers Adda, Oglio and Chiesa, while the Austrian columns, from all directions making a rapid movement of concentration, fell back on the left bank of the Mincio. On June 24, they brought back on the right bank and they launched the biggest battle that ever took place on that land irrigated by the blood of all nations: the Battle of Solferino. They took part 400.000 men and more than 30.000 the number of fighters dead and wounded. The Austrians lost their positions and retreated again on the left bank of the Mincio, where the winners pursued them without hindrance, on June 29.

Chapter 2

Previous events results occurred in Tuscany, Parma and Modena duchies and the Papal State - Peace of Villafranca - Consequences of the peace.

It was impossible that such important events did not arouse an immense echo in the states of southern Italy, where the Kingdom of Sardinia had already made its plans for the Revolution. The Grand Duchy of Tuscany was the first chosen for the fulfillment of its wicked purposes and in the last days of April, the Austrian ultimatum to the court of Turin was the signal for the dethronement of Duke Leopold. The diplomatic annals demonstrate indisputably, with a series of documents, the sordid intrigues and plots hatched by the Sardinian government to start the revolution in the country and also prove, others repulsive shows that Europe witnessed in Italy from some time: the ambassador Buoncompagni, accredited to Florence in a friend court, became head of the conspirators against the legitimate government. The Grand Duke Leopold, which after the lesson received in 1848, knew that in Italy the question of patriotism was not only the shield, the cover with which they were hidden illusory and criminal plans. He refused to participate to a war to which he was not directly concerned; then, given the expectations of a part of the population and believing in the good faith of the Liberal-moderate party, on April 27 decided to effect the concessions. It was a fatal path, which often leads to the defeat and usually to the dishonor. He commissioned to form a new government the Marquis of Lajatico, head of the supporters of the movement’s faction and intimately linked to the Sardinian ambassador; he declared to be willing to the alliance with Piedmont and to the war against Austria, and promised to grant the constitution to his people. It was useless. This was not what they wanted, and the revolutionaries, without losing heart, required to persisting in their intent, on 18 they went to the Sardinian ambassador's palace to expose the new claims submitted to the Grand Duke, in consideration of his conciliatory disposition. The requests were very explicit: to Leopold was asked to abdicate in favor of his son; deprived of all sovereignty, he was obliged to submit immediately the command of the troops to the General Ulloa, stating that the organization of the country should conform to the general of ...

Table of contents

• Cover
• History of the young king Francesco II of Naples
• Table of contents
• Introduction
• Chapter 1
• Chapter 2
• Chapter 3
• Chapter 4
• Chapter 5
• Chapter 6
• Chapter 7
• Chapter 8
• Chapter 9
• Chapter 10
• Chapter 11
• Chapter 12
• Chapter 13
• Chapter 14
• Chapter 15
• Chapter 16
• Chapter 17
• Chapter 18
• Capitolo 19
• Chapter 20
• Chapter 21
• Chapter 22
• Chapter 23
• Chapter 24
• Chapter 25
• Chapter 26
• Chapter 27
• Chapter 28
• Chapter 29
• Chapter 30
• Chapter 31
• Credits