FERDINAND II. (1469-1496), king of Naples, was the grandson of the preceding, and son of Alphonso II. Alphonso abdicated in his son's favour in 1495, on the approach of Charles VIII. of France. Ferdinand was unable to defend the city, where Viii. of France. Ferdinand was unable to defend the city, where there was a strong party hostile to the dynasty. He fled to Ischia; but when the French king left Naples with most of his army, in consequence of the formation of an Italian league against him, he returned and defeated the French garrisons; and the Neapolitans, irritated by the conduct of the French occupa tion, received him back with enthusiasm. With the aid of the great Spanish general, Gonzalo de Cordova, he drove out the invaders. He died on Sept. 7, 1496.
For authorities see under FERDINAND I. of Naples; for the exploits of Gonzalo de Cordova see H. P. del Pulgar, Cronica del gran capitano don Gonzalo de Cordoba (new ed., Madrid,