| Francis I | |
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| King of the Two Sicilies | |
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| Francis I of the Two Sicilies | |
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| Reign | 4 January 1825 - 8 November 1830 |
| Predecessor | Ferdinand I |
| Ferdinand II | |
| Spouse | Maria Clementina of Austria Maria Isabella of Spain |
| Issue | |
| Caroline Ferdinande, Duchess of Berry Prince Ferdinand Princess Luisa Carlotta Maria Christina, Queen of Spain Ferdinand II Charles Ferdinand, Prince of Capua Leopold, Count of Syracuse Maria Antonia, Grand Duchess of Tuscany Antonio, Count of Lecce Princess Maria Amalia Maria Carolina, Countess of Montemolin Theresa Christina, Empress of Brazil Louis, Count of Aquila Francis, Count of Trapani |
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| House | House of Bourbon-Two Sicilies |
| Father | Ferdinand I |
| Mother | Marie Caroline of Austria |
| Born | 14 August 1777 Naples |
| Died | 8 November 1830 (aged 53) Naples |
Francis I (Francesco Gennaro Giuseppe, 14 August 1777 – 8 November 1830) was King of the Two Sicilies from 1825 to 1830.
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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 his double first cousin 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 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. He was, however successful in having the Austrian occupation force withdrawn (1827) therefore relieving a large financial burden on the Treasury.
During his reign, the Royal Order of Francis I was founded to reward civil merit.
Issue
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 Carlotta (1804-1844), who married her mother's younger brother Infante Francisco de Paula 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.
- Ferdinand II of the Two Sicilies (1810-1859) who became Francis I's successor and married twice.
- Carlo Ferdinando, Prince of Capua (1811-1862). Married morganatically to Penelope Smyth and had issue.
- Leopoldo, Count di Siracusa (1813-1860). Married Princess Maria of Savoy-Carignan. No issue.
- Maria Antonietta (1814-1898). Married Leopold II, Grand Duke of Tuscany.
- Antonio, Count of Lecce (1816-1843).
- Maria Amalia (1818-1857), who married Infante Sebastian of Portugal and 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 Maria, Princess Imperial of Brazil (sister of Pedro II of Brazil and Maria II of Portugal). Had issue.
- Francesco, Count of Trapani (1827-1892). Married Archduchess Maria Isabella of Austria, Princess of Tuscany and had issue.
Also had illegitimate children with his mistresses.
Titles, styles, honours and arms
Titles and styles
- 19 August 1777 – 17 December 1778: His Royal Highness Prince Francis of Naples and Sicily
- 7 December 1778 – 8 December 1816: His Royal Highness The Crown Prince of Naples and Sicily
- 8 December 1816 - 4 January 1825: His Royal Highness The Crown Prince of the Two Sicilies
- 4 January 1825 - 8 November 1830: His Majesty The King of the Two Sicilies
Ancestry
References
This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica, Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.
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Francis I of the Two Sicilies
Cadet branch of the House of Bourbon
Born: 14 August 1777 Died: 8 November 1830 |
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| Preceded by: Ferdinand I |
King of the Two Sicilies 4 January 1825 - 8 November 1830 |
Succeeded by: Ferdinand II |
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