Ferdinand II of Naples

Ferdinand II (26 August, 1469 - September 7, 1496), sometimes known as Ferrantino, was King of Naples from 1495 to 1496. He was the grandson of Ferdinand I, and son of Alphonso II.

Alphonso, finding his tenure of the throne uncertain on account of the approaching invasion of Charles VIII of France and the general dissatisfaction of his subjects, abdicated in his son's favour in early 1495. Notwithstanding this, the treason of a party in Naples rendered it impossible to defend the city against the approach of Charles VIII.

Ferdinand fled to Ischia, but when the French king left Naples with most of his army, after the formation of an Italian league against him, Ferdinand returned and defeated the French garrisons. The Neapolitans, irritated by the terrible conduct of their conquerors during the occupation of the city, received him back with enthusiasm. With the aid of the great Spanish general Gonzalo de Cordova , he was able completely to rid his state of its invaders shortly before his death, which occurred in 1496, a little over a year after his accession.

He had married his half-aunt Giovanna of Naples in 1496, shortly before his death (she was the daughter of his grandfather Ferdinand and his second wife, Joanna of Aragon ; Giovanna, born in 1478, a late child of a second marriage, was actually younger than Ferdinand). He thus had no heirs, and was therefore succeeded by his uncle Frederick.

External links

• Genealogy entry for Ferdinand II