fwo_1121773 - NAPLES - ROYAUME DE NAPLES - FERDINAND Ier Cavallo n.d.

NAPLES - KINGDOM OF NAPLES - FERDINAND I

(1458-1494)

Ferdinand I is a bastard of Alfonso V, king of Sicily and Aragon since 1416 and of Naples since 1442. He opposed Pope Calixte III (1455-1458) who refused to recognize him. In 1464 he managed to impose himself by force in Naples, where his authority had been in dispute since 1458. He allied himself with the city of Milan and the pope against Florence, but ended up signing a peace treaty in 1480 with Lorenzo of Medici. Ferdinand I was excommunicated by Innocent VIII on June 29, 1489 and was reconciled with the Holy See in May 1492. He died on January 25, 1494 during preparations against a possible French invasion. The death of Ferdinand I gave the French another opportunity to conquer Naples. Charles VIII's troops entered Italy in September 1494 and took Naples on February 22, 1495.