TWO SICILIES, KINGDOM OF TILE. The name commonly given to a former kingdom em bracing Sicily and Southern Italy, and known often as the Kingdom of Naples. In the Middle Ages the southern part of the Italian mainland came to be known as 'Sicily on this side of the Faro' (the Strait of Nessina). From the earliest times both the island and the mainland were subject to settlement and conquest by peoples of widely different stock, producing a complicated admixture of races. At the dawn of history the Phoenicians had trading settlements there. In the eighth century n.e. numerous Greek colonies were founded in both Sicily and Southern Italy and became powerful and wealthy States. A new Pheenician element was introduced when Car thage disputed the supremacy of Sicily with the Greeks. The Roman conquest followed. In the middle of the fifth century, at the time of the fall of the Roman Empire, Sicily was ravaged by the Vandals. Toward the close of the century the Ostrogoths made themselves masters of Italy and Sicily. In the sixth century their realm was con quered by the Byzantines. Soon after the Lom bards established their sway over part of South ern Italy. The Lombard Duchy of Benevento was founded, out of which in the ninth century arose the three principalities of Benevento, Salerno, and Capita. By the side of these was the Duchy of Naples, a Byzantine creation. Apulia and Cala bria were held by the Byzautines until the eleventh century. In the years from 827 to 878 the island of Sicily was conquered by the Sara cens. Owing to dissensions among the Chris tians of Southern Italy, the Saracens likewise obtained a foothold on the mainland.
About 1037 the sous of a Norman knight, Tan ered de Hauteville, setting out with a few fol lowers to win their fortunes, entered Southern Italy in the service of the Byzantine Governor, but soon seized and divided Apulia and were able to hold the country against every effort of the Creeks to dislodge them. Robert Guiseard, one of these brothers, became Count of Apulia in 1057, and in 1050 he was recognized by Pope Nicholas II. as Duke of Apulia and Calabria. In 1061 his younger brother, Roger, with a few hundred Norman knights, began the conquest of the island of Sicily, which was made a. county and a fief of Robert's duchy. though the total subjugation of the island was not accomplished till 1090, after Robert's death. In 1127 Roger 11., son of the first Roger, united Apulia. Calabria, and Sicily, and in 1130 he assumed the title of King of Sicily. He extended his sway over the Abruzzi, made himself master of Capita, and received the submission of Naples. The marriage of Frederick Barbarossa's son, the later Emperor Henry VI., to Constance, heiress of the Two
Sieilies, in 1180, united the destinies of the Nor man kingdom with those of the House of Hohen staufen, whose rule began in 1194. The child of this marriage, the Emperor Frederick IL (q.v.), was the most remarkable prince in the Europe of his day. He reorganized the govern ment of the Sicilian kingdom on essentially mod ern lines, founded the University of Naples, and made his Court the brilliant centre of the high est culture and learning of his time. His death in 1250 was followed by the speedy downfall of the House of Hohenstaufen. In 1266 Charles of Anjou, brother of Louis IX. of France, at the in stance of the Pope, undertook the conquest of the Two Sicilies. He vanquished Manfred, son of Frederick II., at Benevento, and in 1268 he de feated, captured, and executed Conradin, the last of the Hohenstaufen. Charles of Anjou made Naples his residence.
The year 1282 witnessed the fearful popular uprising against the French in Sicily known as the Sicilian Vespers (q.v.). The people shook off the yoke of Anjou and placed their island wi der the rule of Pedro 111. of Aragon. The House of Anjou continued to rule in South Italy, which thus became the Kingdom of Naples. In 1296 Sicily was separated from Aragon, but continued under the rule of the Aragonese house, and in 1412 was reunited with that kingdom. Robert I. of Naples (1309-43) made himself the eham pion of the Guelph Party :Ind extended his in fluence throughout Italy. He was succeeded by his granddaughter Joanna I. (q.v.), and an anarchic period began and continued for many years. the heirs of the elder Neapolitan line, Which had also aequired the throne of 1 lungary, contending with new aspirants from _\njou. In 1399 the Neapolitan line triumphed in the person of the crafty and unprincipled Lathslas (q.v.). He died in 1414, leaving the kingdom to his sister. Joanna 11. (q.v.). 51w was given up to sensuality, and the disorder was renewed. tier her death in 1435 Alfonso V., Kinn. of Aragon and Sicily, undertook the conquest of Naples, of which he secured possession in 1442, reigning un til his death in 1458. He left Aragon and Sicily to his eldest son, John. and Naples to his illegiti mate son, Ferdinand, under whose rapacious and cruel rule new troubles arose. In 1495 Charles VIII. of France invaded Naples. and although he was compelled to withdraw in the same year, his successor, Louis XII., jointly with Ferdinand of Spain, conquered the country in 1501. Two years afterwards the Spaniards under Gonsalvo de C6r (lova, (q.v.) drove out the French and made Naples a Spanish province.