FERDINAND II. (1810-59). King of the Two Sicilies from 1830 to 1859, known as 'King Bomba.' Ile was the son of Francis 1. by his second wife, Isabella Maria of Spain, and was born January 12, 1810. On succeeding his father in 1830, he found the country in the most wretched condition. The beginning of his reign was marked by specious promises of reform in the economy and government of the country. But Ferdinand soon began to listen to Austrian counsels, which saw danger for the whole penin sula in liberal measures. From that time Naples became the scene of incessant conspiracy, revolu tion, bloodshed, and political prosecutions. The King was aided by his infamous minister of police. Delcarreto, and an elaborate system of espionage was established. The general diseon tent was greatly aggravated by this obnoxious policy. After insurrections had taken place in 1837, 1841, 1844, and 1847, Ferdinand was forced to yield to the storm of 1848, and granted a con stitution to both parts of his dominions. After following the Constitution so far as to call the Chambers together, he quarreled with the Depu ties, and on March 13, 1849, dismissed them, impatient of any interference with his authority.
An insurrection which had broken out in Sicily was put down by a ruthless bombardment of Messina, an incident which earned for the King the name of Bomba. After the subjugation of Sicily he hastened completely to set aside the new Con stitution, while all who had taken any part in the agitation for reform were subjected to cruel per secution. In 1851 there were 13,000 political prisoners confined at Naples. Both France and England made strong representations in 1856, but in vain. Several attempts to assassinate Ferdi nand failed, but in 1858 he- was forced by Great Britain to liberate the political prisoners. Ferdi nand died May 22, 1359, after terrible suffering, and was succeeded by his eldest son, Francis H. Consult: Nisco, Ferdinando II. eel it SUO regno (Naples, 1884) ; Dawburn, Naples and King Fer di-nand (London, 1858) ; Thayer, The Dawn of Italian Independence (Boston, 1893) ; Stillman, The Union of Italy (Cambridge. 1898).