Neapolitan Republic (1647)

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The Neapolitan Republic of years 1647-1648 was a Republic created in Naples, which lasted for some months and began after the revolt led by Masaniello and Giulio Genoino against the Spanish viceroys.

The leader of the Republic was Henry II of Lorraine, duke of Guise, descendant of the former king of Naples Rene I of Anjou.

The Republic had the following official names: Serenissima Repubblica di questo regno di Napoli ("Most Serene Republic of this Kingdom of Naples"), Reale Repubblica ("Royal Republic"), and Serenissima Monarchia repubblicana di Napoli ("Most Serene Republican Monarchy of Naples"). All indicated the double nature of the Republic, both republican and monarchical, and the "Serenissima" was a purposeful comparison with the famous Italian Republic called by that by-name--Venice. The coat of arms was a red shield with the motto S.P.Q.N., in imitation of the well-known S.P.Q.R., the initialism of the Latin phrase, Senatus Populusque Romanus ("The Senate and the People of Rome"), Thus, the Neapolitan phrase meant "The Senate and People of Naples." The coat of arms contained the crest of the duke of Guisa.

[edit] History

In the first half of the 17th century the Viceroyalty of Naples was in the midst of a harsh economic crisis, one which was affecting all of Europe. In Naples it was worsened by a viceregal government with few local concerns, interested only in helping to finance the series of wars in which the mother nation, Spain, had become entangled.

Though repressed by the Spanish forces of viceroy Don Rodrigo Ponce de Leon, which had been able to restore order in almost all of the city, Masaniello's revolt had left in the streets a strong discontent. When the Spanish fleet, led by John of Austria the Younger, came "to soothe the last insurgents" by cannonading the city, a new revolt broke out. This time the revolt was not one of lazzari (poor Neapolitan people) simply rebelling against the class that held power; it was led by the gunsmith Gennaro Annese and was clearly anti-Spanish.

The Spaniards were expelled and a Republic declared. Neapolitans sought French support and called Henry of Guise to be entrusted with the leadership of the new state. The duke of Guise was in Rome at that moment and accepted the offer, being eager to have a crown and to reinstate French influence in southern Italy after two centuries. On November 15, 1647, he landed in Naples and took the reins of the Republic.

The Neapolitan Republic had, in fact, no hopes from the very beginning. Spanish forces controlled the line of castles around the city and the nobility controlled the provinces from their base in Aversa, thus controlling supply lines into Naples. In 1648 the duke of Guise managed to take Aversa, but the situation did not change much. The Spaniards, again under the command of John of Austria, chose a prudent strategy and filled Naples with spies, agitators and other agents to win over the remaining nobles.

On April 5, 1648, Henry, deceitfully pressed by some of his counsellors who were in Spain's pay, tried a sally, and Naples was reconquered by its former masters without resistance. On June 4 a French fleet of 40 ships tried to reconquer the city, but this time the people, tired by more than a year of continuing "revolution", did not rise. The French attempted to land on the neighbouring island of Procida, but they were beaten and had to flee.

Another and even more powerful French fleet appeared in the Gulf of Naples on August 4 of the same year, led by Thomas of Savoy. This time they managed to conquer Procida but, after being defeated at Ischia, Pozzuoli and Salerno, they abandoned any hope of taking Naples.

Soon after, Gennaro Annese was beheaded in Piazza del Mercato in Naples.

The following year, on June 3, there were new riots in Naples, but they were soon suppressed, as the people had simply grown weary of fighting.