Parthenopean Republic

Origins

After the Kingdom of Naples attacked the French in Rome in late 1798 and was defeated, King Ferdinand IV fled to Sicily. French troops under General Championnet fought their way into Naples, and in January 1799 local patriots proclaimed a republic named after Parthenope, the ancient Greek name for the city.

Rule and society

The republic was led by intellectuals and liberal nobles such as Carlo Lauberg and the jurist Francesco Mario Pagano, who drafted a constitution. Eleonora Fonseca Pimentel edited its newspaper, the Monitore Napoletano. It tried to abolish feudalism, but had little support among the poor and peasants, and depended on French troops, who withdrew in May.

Decline and legacy

Cardinal Fabrizio Ruffo's Sanfedisti army retook Naples in June 1799. The surrender terms were broken with Nelson's backing, and over a hundred republicans, including Pagano, Pimentel and Admiral Francesco Caracciolo, were executed.