FERDINAND J

of Bourbon, King of the Two Sicilies (previously Ferdinand IV of Naples), born 12th Jan., 1751, died in Jan., 1825. He was the third son of Charles IIT, King of Spain, whom he succeeded, in 1759, on the throne of Naples, on the acce ion of the latter to that of Spain. In 1768 he married Maria Caroline Louisa, daughter ef the Empre Maria The res a, who soon acquired a decided infiuence over him. After the death of Louis XVI, Ferdinand joined the coalition against France, and took part in the general war from 1793 to 1796; but in 1799, after the defeat of the Neapolitans under General Mack, the French took po e ion of the whole kingdom, and proelaimed the Par the nope an Repwblic. The new republic did not last long, Ferdinand returned to Naples in 1800. Six years later he was again driven from Naples by the French, and compelled to take refuge in Sicily, where he maintained himself by the aid of the British. The Congre of Vienna finally re-established Ferdinand IV in all his rights as King of the Two Sicilies in 1814, while Naples was still occupied by Murat. But after the flight of the latter in March, 1815, Ferdinand once more entered Naples, 17th June, 1815. In 1816 he a umed the title of Ferdinand I, King of the Two Sicilies. In 1820, in eon sequence of a revolution, Ferdinand was obliged to swear to support a new and more liberal constitution. The Austrians, however, came to his help, and re-established him in po e ion of absolute power. He was succeeded by his son, Francis I.—Cf. R. H Johnston, The Napoleonic Empire in Southern Italy.