Encyclopedia:
Francis I of the Two Sicilies
Francis I (
Francesco Gennaro Giuseppe,
August 14,
1777 –
November 8,
1830) was King of the
Two Sicilies from
1825 to
1830.
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.
Children
With
Maria Clementina of Austria:
*
Maria Carolina (1798-1870), who married 1st Charles Ferdinand Prince of France, Duke de Berry and 2nd Ettore Count Lucchesi Palli, Prince di Campofranco, Duke della Grazia.
*
Ferdinando (1800-1801).
With
Isabella of Spain:
*
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.
*
Luisa Carlota (1804-1844), who married her uncle Francisco de Paula, Infante of Spain, her mother's younger brother.
*
Ferdinand II of the Two Sicilies (1810-1859) who became Francis I's successor and married twice.
*
Carlo Ferdinando, Prince 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 di Lecce (1816-1843).
*
Marie Amalie (1818-1857), who married Sebastian de Bourbon, Infante of Spain.
*
Maria Carolina (1820-1861). Married Carlos Infante 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 Januaria Princess Imperial of
Brazil and Infanta of
Portugal (sister of Pedro II of Brazil and
Maria II of Portugal). Had issue.
*
Francesco, Count di Trani (1827-1892). Married Princess Isabella of Tuscany and had issue.
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| width="30%" align="center" | Preceded by:
Ferdinand I| width="40%" align="center" |
King of the Two Sicilies1825-1830
| width="30%" align="center" | Succeeded by:
Ferdinand II|}
Category:1777 birthsCategory:1830 deathsCategory:Natives of Naplescategory:Monarchs of NaplesCategory:Kings of SicilyCategory:House of Bourbon-Two SiciliesCategory:Knights of the Golden Fleececa:Francesc I de les Dues Sicíliesde:Franz I. (Sizilien)es:Francisco I de las Dos Siciliasfr:François Ier des Deux-Sicilesit:Francesco I delle Due Sicilienl:Frans I der Beide Siciliënja:フランチェスコ1世 (両シチリア王)pt:Francisco I das Duas Sicílias