King Ferdinand IV of Naples (1751-1825), also known as Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies after the creation of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies in 1816, was a key figure in late 18th and early 19th-century Italian history. The son of Charles III of Spain, he inherited the throne of Naples and Sicily in 1759 at just eight years old, under the regency of Bernardo Tanucci.
Ferdinand is remembered for his tumultuous reign, marked by internal conflicts, revolutions, and the Napoleonic wars. His policy was characterized by a certain inertia and a tendency to rely on external advisors, often foreigners. During the Napoleonic invasions, Ferdinand fled to Sicily, protected by the British fleet, leaving Naples in the hands of republican governments and then under the control of Napoleon, who installed first his brother-in-law Joseph Bonaparte and then Joachim Murat as kings of Naples.
After Napoleon's fall, Ferdinand returned to Naples, restoring his kingdom and initiating a period of repression against his opponents. His reactionary policy and refusal to adopt liberal reforms contributed to a climate of dissatisfaction that would influence future events of the Italian Risorgimento. His legacy is controversial, seen by some as a conservative monarch who sought to preserve the traditional order, and by others as an obstacle to progress and Italian unification.
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