FERDINAND i
1751 - 1825

Ferdinand's father Charles III became king of Spain in 1759. This made eight-year-old Ferdinand King Ferdinand IV of Naples and King Ferdinand III of Sicily.

In 1768, Ferdinand married Marie Caroline of Austria (or Maria Carolina,) sister of French Queen Marie Antoinette, who lost her head in France in 1793. Consequently Ferdinand and Marie Caroline did all they could to stop French revolutionaries.

The year 1799 brought some action for Ferdinand. The French took Naples in January and set up the Parthenopean Republic. Ferdinand and Marie C fled to Sicily. Horatio Nelson helped the couple recapture Naples later in 1799.

All was well until Napoleon re-re-captured Naples, which meant that Ferdinand and Marie Caroline had to pack their bags yet again. The year? 1806.

Ferdinand was king again in 1815.

In 1816, he declared himself king of the Two Sicilies, which he remained until his death.

Ferdinand's son Francis I became his successor.
 

WEE FERDINAND READY TO RULE
1760