Nation Information: Difference between revisions
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| style="padding:2px;" | <h2 style="margin:3px; background:# | | style="padding:2px;" | <h2 style="margin:3px; background:#cef2e0; font-family:inherit; font-size:120%; font-weight:bold; border:1px solid #a3bfb1; text-align:center; color:#000; padding:0.2em 0.4em;">Naples in the Napoleonic Realm</h2> | ||
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[[File:A View of Naples and Vesuvius.jpg|thumb|600px]] | |||
More than two hundred years ago, the Apennine peninsula became embroiled in what became the first true attempt at Italian independence in history – the [[Italian Campaign of 1815|Neapolitan War]]. The conflict pitted the combined forces of Austria, Tuscany, Modena, Sicily, and Great Britain against the lone Kingdom of Naples, which itself remained the last bastion of Bonapartist power in Italy. In a desperate bid to maintain his throne in the face of foreign aggression, the flamboyant Neapolitan king [[Joachim Murat]] launched a daring campaign that would shake Italian society to the very core and set the stage for the famed events of the Risorgimento. | More than two hundred years ago, the Apennine peninsula became embroiled in what became the first true attempt at Italian independence in history – the [[Italian Campaign of 1815|Neapolitan War]]. The conflict pitted the combined forces of Austria, Tuscany, Modena, Sicily, and Great Britain against the lone Kingdom of Naples, which itself remained the last bastion of Bonapartist power in Italy. In a desperate bid to maintain his throne in the face of foreign aggression, the flamboyant Neapolitan king [[Joachim Murat]] launched a daring campaign that would shake Italian society to the very core and set the stage for the famed events of the Risorgimento. | ||
Yet to fully comprehend the motives and origins of the Austro-Neapolitan conflict, one must first understand the Kingdom of Naples: its history, its social and political influence, and its key figures. Founded in 1806 out of the wreckage of the [[wikipedia:Kingdom_of_Naples|Bourbon Kingdom of Naples]], it was initially ruled by Napoleon Bonaparte’s older brother [[ | Yet to fully comprehend the motives and origins of the Austro-Neapolitan conflict, one must first understand the Kingdom of Naples: its history, its social and political influence, and its key figures. Founded in 1806 out of the wreckage of the [[wikipedia:Kingdom_of_Naples|Bourbon Kingdom of Naples]], it was initially ruled by Napoleon Bonaparte’s older brother [[wikipedia:Joseph_Bonaparte#King_of_Naples|Joseph]]. His brief but effective reign would bring Napoleonic customs to Southern Italy and set the groundwork for a truly self-sufficient state. | ||
When Joseph was made [[ | When Joseph was made [[wikipedia:Spain_under_Joseph_Bonaparte|King of Spain]] by his brother in 1808, the throne of Naples was passed to one of Napoleon’s most trusted lieutenants: [[Joachim Murat]]. Under his guidance Naples would grow to become the dominant military and political presence in Southern Italy, achieving in less than a decade what the Bourbon monarchy could not accomplish in almost half a century. | ||
As a client state, the Kingdom’s borders stretched across the entirety of Southern Italy, from the hills of [[Abruzzo]] to the clear shores of [[Calabria]]. Structured along the [[The Napoleonic Code in Naples|lines of the French government]], Naples would prove to be invaluable to the Napoleonic Empire by forming its southernmost line of defence, keeping in check British forces in the region. The Kingdom would also supply a number of troops to serve in Napoleon’s campaigns, namely | As a client state, the Kingdom’s borders stretched across the entirety of Southern Italy, from the hills of [[Provinces of the Kingdom of Naples|Abruzzo]] to the clear shores of [[Provinces of the Kingdom of Naples|Calabria]]. Structured along the [[The Napoleonic Code in Naples|lines of the French government]], Naples would prove to be invaluable to the Napoleonic Empire by forming its southernmost line of defence, keeping in check British forces in the region. The Kingdom would also supply a number of troops to serve in Napoleon’s campaigns, namely Spain (1808-1813), Tyrol (1809), Russia (1812) and Germany (1813). The largely raw Neapolitans would prove time and again their courage and tenacity in various engagements and would even receive the honour of escorting Napoleon himself on the retreat from Russia. | ||
The Kingdom’s faith | The Kingdom’s faith in the Bonapartist cause would waver in 1813, culminating in December 1813 when it mobilised forces to join the Austrians in fighting the Franco-Italians in Northern Italy. This caused a rift in Neapolitan society, with many trusted and experienced administrators and officers of French birth leaving their posts in order not to serve against their homeland. This would prove an immense handicap to the Neapolitan state when it eventually descended into war with Austria in early 1815. | ||
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The entrance of Joseph Bonaparte into Naples at the head of the French Armée de Naples on February 15th, 1806, marked the beginning of a new era in the far-flung southern corners of Italy. Following the atrocities of the counter-revolution in 1799, the entrance of the enlightened Bonapartist ruler to the capital years later was accepted generally well by the middle and upper classes, and even the troublesome lazzaroni remained quiet on this occasion. Notwithstanding the protests of the clergy, Joseph assumed his official role as King and head of state on the 30th of March by decree of his younger brother, the Emperor. With Joseph’s arrival to Naples also came a tidal wave of French military and civil officials, seeking to enrich themselves on the vast amounts of material wealth in the country. | The entrance of Joseph Bonaparte into Naples at the head of the French Armée de Naples on February 15th, 1806, marked the beginning of a new era in the far-flung southern corners of Italy. Following the atrocities of the counter-revolution in 1799, the entrance of the enlightened Bonapartist ruler to the capital years later was accepted generally well by the middle and upper classes, and even the troublesome lazzaroni remained quiet on this occasion. Notwithstanding the protests of the clergy, Joseph assumed his official role as King and head of state on the 30th of March by decree of his younger brother, the Emperor. With Joseph’s arrival to Naples also came a tidal wave of French military and civil officials, seeking to enrich themselves on the vast amounts of material wealth in the country. | ||
Fortunately for Joseph, he was not completely alone in the task of reforming and reshaping the old and conservative structure of the Neapolitan Kingdom; on his side presented themselves many capable men, veterans of the French Revolution like Saliceti, Roederer, Dumas and Miot, and insiders to Neapolitan politics such as the Duke di Gallo or Michele Cianciulli who proved themselves ready to set in motion the cogs of reform to an enthusiastic population. While strained under the effort of upkeeping the French troops in the area, the new government soon began to form in a clear way. | Fortunately for Joseph, he was not completely alone in the task of reforming and reshaping the old and conservative structure of the Neapolitan Kingdom; on his side presented themselves many capable men, veterans of the French Revolution like Saliceti, Roederer, Dumas and Miot, and insiders to Neapolitan politics such as the Duke di Gallo or Michele Cianciulli who proved themselves ready to set in motion the cogs of reform to an enthusiastic population. While strained under the effort of upkeeping the French troops in the area, the new government soon began to form in a clear way. | ||
[[File:Ritratto di Giuseppe Bonaparte.jpg|left|thumb|300px|Joseph Bonaparte as King of Naples, by Costanzo Angelini.]] | |||
The Ministries of Police and the Interior were among the first to be set up, with Saliceti and Miot appointed as their respective heads. On 3 March the French authorities appointed Police Commissars in each district, supported by Inspectors of police and a force of Gendarmes. The Commissars were given powers to arrest suspected enemies of the state, to impose censorship, control and inspect the mail, issue licenses for carrying firearms, regulate all public meetings, markets, and fairs, and in particular to detain all ‘vagabonds, beggars and unknown persons’. Soon, the Commissariat was also being purged of former royalists. | The Ministries of Police and the Interior were among the first to be set up, with Saliceti and Miot appointed as their respective heads. On 3 March the French authorities appointed Police Commissars in each district, supported by Inspectors of police and a force of Gendarmes. The Commissars were given powers to arrest suspected enemies of the state, to impose censorship, control and inspect the mail, issue licenses for carrying firearms, regulate all public meetings, markets, and fairs, and in particular to detain all ‘vagabonds, beggars and unknown persons’. Soon, the Commissariat was also being purged of former royalists. | ||
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Overall, however, it can be judged that Joseph-Napoléon’s reign as King of Naples was a largely successful one. While it did not eradicate the brigandage (this would only come with Manhès’s brutal suppressions of 1811), his rule successfully introduced the enlightened policies of the Empire without meeting nor causing any major social opposition in the upper classes, as was the case in the days of 1799. Joseph’s administration set the stage for the expansion of the Army and the creation of a sense of patriotic sentiment for the Neapolitans, while also salvaging the economy and establishing the Kingdom’s position as a major zone of Imperial influence in Italy. While not loved as dearly by his subjects as Murat, the Bonaparte Prince proved to be a capable and cool-headed administrator, who performed precisely what was expected of him by his brother and raised few objections through his directing of the Kingdom’s affairs. [[References:Joseph Bonaparte's Kingom|References]] | Overall, however, it can be judged that Joseph-Napoléon’s reign as King of Naples was a largely successful one. While it did not eradicate the brigandage (this would only come with Manhès’s brutal suppressions of 1811), his rule successfully introduced the enlightened policies of the Empire without meeting nor causing any major social opposition in the upper classes, as was the case in the days of 1799. Joseph’s administration set the stage for the expansion of the Army and the creation of a sense of patriotic sentiment for the Neapolitans, while also salvaging the economy and establishing the Kingdom’s position as a major zone of Imperial influence in Italy. While not loved as dearly by his subjects as Murat, the Bonaparte Prince proved to be a capable and cool-headed administrator, who performed precisely what was expected of him by his brother and raised few objections through his directing of the Kingdom’s affairs. [[References:Joseph Bonaparte's Kingom|References]] | ||
[[Joseph Bonaparte's Reign in Naples]] | |||
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Latest revision as of 13:54, 15 March 2024
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