KINGDOM OF NAPLES

Part 2

Anjou and Habsburg

 

The House of Anjou-Valois

The House of Castilia-Trastamare

The House of Habsburg

Monarchia Repubblicana di Napoli

PART 3

The House of Bourbon

Repubblica Napoletana

Territorial Arms

Province of Naples

SICILY-TRINACRIA

KINGDOM OF THE TWO SICILIES

 

LITTLE ARMORIAL

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House of Anjou-Valois

 

René

1435-1442

 

Armorial bearings of René of Anjou

From: Hours of René d’Anjou fol. 4 v° (British Library)

 

Initially the arms of René  were the arms of Anjou-Valois. When he succeeded in the duchy of Bar in 1424 he quarterd these arms with the arms of Bar. When he had married the heiress of the duchy of Lorraine in 1431 he added the arms of Lorraine on an escutcheon in nombril point. After his succession in Naples he added the quarters of  the arms of Joanna and his arms became:

 

Arms: Per fess, the first tierced per pale of Arpad, Anjou-Naples and Jeruzalem; the second tierced per pale of Anjou Valois, Bar and Lorraine.

Crest: On a crowned helmet affronté lambrequined of France, a three-dimensional fleur de lys Or, plumed Gules.

 

To make his achievement René added two (golden) eagles for supporters. The achievement is on his seals, the first with the legend X RENATI DEI GRA IHRLM & CICIL REG ANDEGAUIE ET LOTH DUCIS COM PROUICIE &C.

The second with the leggend: X S * REGIS * IHRLM * & * SICILIE ORDINATUM * BARRI *  & *  LOTHARINGIE. [1]

Seals with the achievement of Alfonso I (V)

 

In 1442 Alfonso V of Aragon was ready to realize his claims on the Neapolitan crown. He set out for Naples and when he appeared before its coast René embarked for France (12 June 1442), never to return.

 

 

 

 

Titulary Kings of Sicily-Naples 1442-1527

 

The French Claims. The Division of the Kingdom

 

It’s true that René was forced to retreat for the armies of Alfonso, but he would never give up his claims on the kingdom. Indeed he changed his arms in his long and unfortunate career several times  but he always maintained the quarters for Sicily-Naples. At his death in 1480 he left his title to his nephew Charles who handed it over, together with all his other titles, to Louis XI of France. Louis XI made no efforts to occupy Naples but his successor Charles VIII changed this policy. He made his claims a part of his italian policy and for that reason clashed with the Spanish Catholic Kings who tried to get a foothold on the mainland from their base on the island. On his italian campaign Charles VIII succeeded to occupy Naples for a few weeks.

 

Golden counterseal of Louis XII, 1501 [2]

 

The successor of Charles VIII, Louis XII was more succesful. In 1500 Naples was again occupied by France. Passing over Frederick II, Louis XII could extract from Ferdinand II of Aragon a treaty by which he was recognized a king of Sicily. The success was not complete. The treaty, signed in Granada on 11 November 1500 prescribed that Louis XII had to abandon his claims on Roussillon, an ancient bone of contest between Aragon and France. The same was prescribed for Sardinia. The Kingdom of Sicily-Naples was divided into two parts each yielding about the same amount. Louis XII received Naples, Lavoro and half of the revenues of the customs of Basilicata. Ferdinand received the rest with Apulia and Calabria and the title of Duke of Sicily. The negotiations probably have also been about the arms each prince would bear. Louis XII, who apparently also had given up his claims on Hungary, bore, as a King of Sicily, a quarterly of Sicily-

Naples and Jeruzalem [3] Around the shield are the decorations of the Order of the Crescent, founded by René in 1464. [4]

 

Alliance Achievement of Louis XII, 1501

As on his seal pending on the Treaty of Granada.

 

As a duke of Sicily Ferdinand bore the arms of Manfred: a black eagle on a silver field, augmented with a golden crown.

The french victory soon turned into an advantage for Ferdinand. Once Frederick III removed, the aragonese ambitions on the mainland could easier be realized. For the purpose the bridgeheads of Apulia and Calabria proved to be of great value. In 1503 the aragonese armies had advanced as far as Naples which was captured on 12 May.

 

 

 

 

House of Castilia Trastamare

 

 

 

Alfonso I (V) the Magnanimous

*1394-†1458

King of Aragon and Sicily-Trinacria 1416-1458

King of Sicily-Naples 1442-1458

Knight Toison d’Or N° 42 1445

 

 

Alfonso ascended the Neopolitan throne and called himself from then on  Rex Siciliæ Citra et Ultra Pharum. The island and the mainland remained united until his death in 1458.

Contrary to René he did not combine the arms of his territories on one shield. In Naples Alfonso bore a quarterly of Naples and Aragon, in Sicily the arms quarterly in saltire and in Aragon the arms paly. 

His seal  shows his royal and armorial bearings:

 

 

Seal of 4 March 1454:

Obverse: The king on a lion’s throne, a globe in his left hand, between two crowned shields. The dexter: ¼ of a tierced of Arpad, France and Jeruzalem, for Naples; and a paly for Barcelona. The sinister a cross potent.

Legend (completed): X ALFONSUS DEI GRACIA REX ARAGONUM SICILE CITRA ET ULTRA FARUM VALENCIE HUNGARIE IERUSALEM MAIORICARUM

 

 

Reverse: Equestrian seal: The king on horseback in full armory, at his arm a shield of the arms quarterly described above, his helmet crested with a winged dragon issuant.

Legend (continuation of the obverse): SARDINIE ET CORSICE COMES BARCHINONE DUX ATHENARUM ET NEOPATRIE AC COMES ROSSILIONIS ER CERITANIE. [5]

 

 

.

Armorial bearings of Alfonso V

(reconstruction after his equestrian seal)

 

 

Ferdinand I

1458-1494

Knight Toison d’Or n° 74, Valenciennes, 1473

 

 

In Naples Alfonso was succeeded by his illegitimate son Ferdinand I. He and his descendants ruled, not without effort, until 1501.

According to his armorial bearings as a Knight of the Fleece, Ferdinand bore a quarterly of Aragon (Barcelona) and the tierded arms of Naples. On his coins however, the arms are the same as those of his father.  

Photo H.d.V. 2000.

Armorial bearings of Ferdinand I with the legend “Ferdinand Roy de Naples”

Mechelen, St. Rombouts Kathedraal

 

Arms: ¼: 1 & 4: Barcelona; 2&3: 1|3 Arpad, Naples, Jeruzalem.

Crest.: A helmet affrontée Or, lambrequined Gules and Or, a dragon issuant also Or.

Order: Of the Fleece

Golden Ducat of Ferdinand I

 

 

Alfonso II

son of Ferdinand I

1494-1495

 

Ferdinand II

son of Alfonso II

1495-1496

 

 

 

Alfonso II and his son both bore the arms of  Alfonso I. They were on their golden ducats.

 

 

Frederick III

2nd son of Ferdinand I

*1452 –†1504

1496-1501

 

 

Arms of Frederick III, in the corners his imprese

From: The Hours of Frederick of Aragon  / Horai ad usum fratrum praedicatorum. BNF Paris Ms Latin 10532

 

The motto DVCIT AS SVMMVS GLORIA COELITES  means: Leads to great glory in heaven

 

However, a Portuguese Armorial dated about 1509, which is about six years after Ferdinand captured Naples, gives the armorial bearings of Aragon as:

 

Armorial bearings of Aragon, the crest replaced by a crown

Livro do Armeiro Mor, fol.15. 1509 ca [6]

 

 

Separation of the Duchy of Sicilia Citrafarum by Treaty of Granada, 11.11.1500, until the Treaty of Madrid, 1527.

 

Ferdinand II, the Catholic

*1452-†1516

King of Sicily-Trinacria 1468-1515

¥ 1469 Isabella I of Castile

Knight Toison d’Or n° 73, Valencijn 1473

King of Castilia 1474-1516

King of Aragon 1479-1516

King of Granada 1492-1516

King of Sicily-Naples 1503-1515

¥ 1506 Germaine van Foix

King of Navarra 1512-1516

 

It is known that as a King of Aragon and of Sicily-Trinacria Ferdinand bore Castile-Leon quartered with an impaled of Aragon (Barcelona) and Sicily-Trinacria.

As a king of Naples he bore after 1503:

Ducat of the Catholic Kings showing their royal arms for Naples

L.: FERNANDUS ET ELISAB. D.G.

 

Arms: ¼: 1&4 ¼ of Castile and Leon; 2. 1|2 the dexter of Aragon (Barcelona), the sinister tierced per pale of Jeruzalem, Anou-Naples and Hungary (Arpad), 3. 1|2 of Aragon (Barcelona) and Sicily-Trinacria. And enté en point of Granada

 

The House of Habsburg

 

Joanna of Aragon (the Mad)

Charles I (V) of Habsburg

1515-1555

1516-1555

 

The royal arms of Queen Joanna and her son Charles V for all of Sicily are on their seal:

 

Armorial Seal of 1515-’19

Crowned arms and the legend: ioanna et carolvs roma impe eivs filivs reges hispanie vtrivsqe sicilie indiar insvlar : X : ac tere firme maris oceani et &c. [7]

 

Arms: ¼: I&IV: ¼: 1& 4: ¼ van Castilia and Leon; 2. 1|3 Aragon, Jeruzalem and Hungary (Arpad); 3. 1|2 Aragon and Sicily-Trinacria. II&III: The Netherlands. Crown of 5 fleurs de lys.

 

Their achievement after the second coronation of Charles in 1530 shows the arms slightly modified

 

 Photo H.d.V.

Achievement above the entrance of  the Castle of L’Aquila, 1543.

 

Arms.: ½  I. ¼: 1&4: ¼ Castilia and Leon, the 4th enté en point of Granada; 2. 1|2: 1. ½ of Aragon and Navarra; 2. 1|2 Jeruzalem (Acre) and Hungary (Arpad); 3. 1|2 of Aragon and Sicily-Trinacria enté en point of Granada II. ¼ of Brabant, Valois, Burgundy and Limburg. (!) Escutcheon in nombril point: Austria (Babenberg) archducally crowned.

Crown: Of 5 fleurs de lys

Order: Of the Fleece.

Supporter: A two headed crowned eagle recrowned with the Imperial Crown.

Impresa: On both sides of the shield two pairs of Piles of Hercules connected by a ribbon with the motto plvs vltra, and crowned with a royal crown.

 

Later the achievement was simplified:

 

Coin of Charles I (V), 1550.

With the legend: ESPAN VTRIVS SICIL

 

The achievement is:

Arms: per pale: I. the first for Spain: ½: 1. ¼ of Castile and Leon 2. ¼ of Austria (Babenberg), Valois, Burgundy and Brabant; II. the second for Sicily: ½: The chief  ¼:  1&4: Aragon (Barcelona) 2. Sicily Trinacria; 3. Navarra; The base 1|3 of Jeruzalem, Anjou Naples and Hungary (Arpad). And enté en point of Granada.

Supporter: A crowned  two-headed eagle, recrowned with the Imperial Crown.

 

Both achievements are different from the achievements used in Sicilia Trinacria, Spain and the Netherlands.½

 

Philip I (II)

             * 21.05.1527-†13.09.1598

Knight Toison d’Or n° 176, Doornik 1531

Duke of Milan 1540

Regent in Spain 1542

 ¥ Maria I, Queen of Engeland 1554 (†1558)

King of Naples 1554

Lord of the Netherlands 25.10.1555

King of Spain 1556

 

The seal of Philip I for use in Naples shows him sitting on his throne and supporting with his left hand his arms.

Seal of Philip I for use in Naples.

With the legend: PHILIPPVS D G ANGLIÆ FRANCIÆ NEAPOLIS ET HIERVSALEM REX.

 

The arms are:

 

Arms: ½ I. The chief ½, the first per pale of Castilia&Leon and Aragon (Barcelona); the second 1|3 of Jeruzalem, Hungary (Arpad) and Sicily Trinacria. II The base for the Netherlands.

Crown: Of five fleurs de lys

 

The arms on the reverse of the seal, which is an equestrian seal are surrounded by the Order of the Fleece.

 

Later, when a king of Spain, the arms for Naples were modified by rearranging the quarters, the quarters for Spain and the Netherlands occupying the dexter half and the quarters for Sicily-Naples the sinister half.

This arrangement was continued until the end of Habsburg rule in Naples.

 

 

Arms on the counterseal of Philip II

Gold coin of Philip II, 1582

 

The arms on the royal palace built for Philip III (1598-1621) in 1600 shows a larger and augmented version of the royal arms.

 

Royal arms on the Royal Palace in Naples, 1600.

 

Philip IV, 1621-‘65 (1622)

Charles II 1665-1700 (1689)

 

Monarchia Repubblicana di Napoli

22.10.1647-05.04.1648

 

The Neapolitan Republic was a Republic created in Naples, which lasted from 22 October 1647 to 5 April 1648. It began after the successful revolt led by Masaniello and Giulio Genoino against King Philip III and his viceroys.

The leader of the Republic was Henry II of Lorraine, duke of Guise, descendant of the former king of Naples René I of Anjou.

The Republic had the official names of: Serenissima Repubblica di questo regno di Napoli ("Most Serene Republic of this Kingdom of Naples"), Reale Repubblica ("Royal Republic"), and Serenissima Monarchia repubblicana di Napoli (“Most Serene Republican Monarchy of Naples”). All indicated the double nature of the Republic, both republican and monarchical, and “Serenissima” borrowed from the famous Italian maritime republic with the same title, Venice.

 

Coin with the arms of the Neopolitan Republic

The legend reads: HEN DE LORENA DUX REIP NE

 

The coat of arms was a red shield with the motto S.P.Q.N. (i.e., Senatus Populusque Neapolitanus = The Senate and People of Naples), in imitation of the well-known S.P.Q.R. of the city of Rome.

 

The achievement of Henry II when the leader of the republic was:

 

Achievement of Henry II de Guise, 1647. [8]

 

Arms: Per fess the first per pale of Hungary (Arpad) Anjou-Naples, Jeruzalem and Aragon (Barcelona); the second per pale of Valois, Gelre, Julich and Bar. And an escutcheon in nombril point of Lorraine. And in chief a label of three.

Crown: Of five leaves

Crest: A crowned eagle with a crown around his neck pending therefrom a patriarchal cross, issuant.

Supporters: Two eagles as of the crest

 

A younger version of the arms shows the same arms, the crest and supporters replaced by a mantling of the arms.

Arms of  Henry II de Guise 1668  [9]

 

The House of Bourbon

 

Philip IV (V)  

1700-1707

Knight Toison d’Or n° 619, 1701

 

Charles II of Habsburg was succeeded in Naples by Philip V of Bourbon. His arms were:

 

 

Arms: Per fess, the chief for Spain, the base for the Netherlands, enté en point of Flanders and Tirol impaled, and in fess point France.

Crown: A roya crown of five hoops.

Orders: Of the Holy Ghost (France 1578) and of the Fleece (Burgundy, 1429).

 

His achievement showed these arms supported by two lions.

 

House of Habsburg-Austria

 

Charles III (VI)         

1707-1735

Knight T.d’O. n° 588, 1697

 

In 1707 Philip was forced to give ground to Charles VI of Habsburg-Austria, who was recognised as a king of Naples by the Treaty of Utrecht, ratified 1713.

Usually Charles VI bore the arms of Charles V for Spain and the Netherlands, also borne by Philip II before 1580 (when the arms of Portugal were added). It was per fess of Spain and the Netherlands, royally crowned and surroundd by the Order of the Fleece. His achievement, adopted 1715 consisted of his larger arms supported by a two-headed eagle with sword, sceptre and orb. In the larger arms the blason for Naples was in the fourth quarter[10]:

 

Arms.: ¼: I. 1/6 Arpad, Hungary, Bohemia, Dalmatia, Croatia, Bosnia. Escutcheon: Austria-Babenberg; II. ¼ Castilia, Leon, Aragon, Sicily-Trinacria. Escutcheon: Habsburg; III. ¼ Brabant, Swabia, Antwerp, Flanders; Escutcheon: Burgundy; IV. ¼: Sicily-Naples; Jeruzalem, Navarra, India. Escutcheon: Barcelona. Enté en point 1|2 Tirol-Milan.

Crown: Royal crown 5,4,5.

Supporter: Two-headed eagle with sword, sceptre and orb.

 

On his seal the eagle is crowned with the Imperial Crown.

 

Part 3

The House of Bourbon

 

 

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© Hubert de Vries 2012-11-23. Updated 2015.07.15

 



[1] Vredius, Olivarius: Genealogica Comitum Flandriae a Balduino Ferreo usque ad Philippum IV Hisp. Regem. Brugge, 1642. pp. 105-106

[2] Pinoteau, Hervé: Les ordres de chevalerie du roi de France et l’héraldique. In: Genealogica & Heraldica. Copenhagen, 1980./1982. p. 257.

[3] Hefner O.T. von a.o.: Die Wappen der ausserdeutschen Souveräne und Staaten. Nürnberg, 1870. Taf. 21, p. 10. The arms are on a golden seal on a Treaty of Division of  1501, allied with the arms of  France. 

[4] For the Order of the Crescent see: Vale, M.: War and Chivalry. London, 1981, pp. 51-62 and a short section in Palliot. P.: La Vraye et Parfaite Sciendce des Armoiries. Dyon, 1660, pp. 500-501. A predecessor of  the order was founded in  1448-’51.

[5]  Secret Archives of the Vatican: ASV Atti diplomatici e privati. b 39, n. 1149. In: Il Sigillo nella storia e nella cultura . Roma, 1985. No 35.

[6]  The “Livro do Armeiro-Mor” is in the  Intituto de Arquivos Nacionais/Torre do Tombo, Lissabon. Instituto dos Archivos Nacionais

[7]  Vredius, Olivarius: Genealogica Comitum Flandriae a Balduino Ferreo usque ad Philippum IV Hisp. Regem. Brugge, 1642.  p. 190

[8]  Partenope Liberata overo Racconto dell’Heroica risolutione fatta del Popolo di Napoli. Napoli, 1647. Frontispiece

[9]  Les Memoires du fev monsievr Le Duc de Guise. Paris, 1668. Frontispiece

[10]  Gall, Franz: Österreichische Wappenkunde. Handbuch der Wappenwissenschaft. Wien/Köln, 1977. Taf. 6, p. 46