Naples

Most populous city of Italy; famous for the beauty of its situation, on its bay at foot of Mt. Vesuvius; probably founded by Greeks as Par the nope; overthrown by the Cumeans; rebuilt as Neapolis; long a favorite residence of wealthy Romans. Ravaged and laid waste during the barbarian invasions, it was restored from the 12th century on. The Normans seized it 1037. Their rights were transmitted to the Emperor of Germany. Frederic II. founded a university 1224. In 1265 the Pope conferred the kingdom of the Two Sicilies upon Charles of Anjou, who made Naples his capital, and retained it after losing Sicily 1282. In 1442 it fell to Alphonso of Aragon, and in 1504 was made subject to Spain; 1707-35 it was under Austrian dominion. In 1735 Don Carlos overcame the Austrians and founded the Spanish Bourbon dynasty, which continued in power till 1861, when Naples became a part of the kingdom of Italy. Though irregularly planned, it has streets in the main IMG:content-1491.jpg:[blocks in formation] View of Naples-Showing Vesuvius tranquil after an Eruption. Naples, KINGDOM OF. Old political division of ITALY (q.v.). Naples, SCHOOL OF. See NATURALISTS.