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Francis II of the Two Sicilies

Naples, 16 Jan 1836 – Arco, 27 Dec 1894

10 facts3 sources

Facts and their sources

A life in time

  1. 16 Jan 1836

    Born in Naples

  2. 24 Dec 1869

    A daughter is born

  3. 27 Dec 1894

    Dies in Arco, aged 58

Family

See the tree

Parents

Partner

Children · 1

During his lifetime

He lived through 7 decades. Pick one to hear and see what it was like around Naples.

General history, not a record about the family: each item says where it comes from.

The 1830s · Francis II is born in Naples

In the news1835–1837

Deadly cholera epidemic hits Italy in 1835

A cholera epidemic struck Italy between 1835 and 1837, resulting in over 140,000 deaths, including nearly 20,000 in Naples alone. Poor sanitation in urban centers favored the spread of the disease, which disproportionately affected the poor.

Getting around

Climbing Mount Etna by horse and carriage

To climb Mount Etna, travelers would depart Catania by carriage for Nicolosi, then ride horses to the Casa degli inglesi, arriving at midnight. From there, they trekked 1.5 hours before dawn to reach the summit to witness the sunrise.

Around the world1832

Cholera spreads around the world

A cholera pandemic from India reached Europe and the Americas; cities learned the hard way about clean water and sewers.

Daily life

Limited access to education

The kingdom had no compulsory school attendance, and education was largely controlled by the Church, with literacy rates remaining extremely low, at approximately 14.4 percent by 1861.

What people wore

Sorrento women's feast day attire

On feast days, peasant women in Sorrento wore bodices of damask with braided trim, styled their hair in a Chinese fashion, and wore a special pin called a spadella with a ribbon hanging down their necks.

Music

Music in religious festivals

Religious processions and festivals were vibrant musical events where people sang devotional songs and participated in popular theatre performances. These celebrations often merged music, dance, and collective banqueting to strengthen community bonds.

At the table

Spicy parsnip spiritosa dish

A common, spicy tavern dish called spiritosa consisted of boiled yellow parsnips in a sauce made of vinegar, pepper, oregano, garlic, and chili peppers.