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Sicily has been ruled by many different civilisations throughout its history, including the Greeks, Romans, Spanish, and Austrians. In the 18th century, the island came under Bourbon rule, becoming part of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. However, in the mid-19th century, revolutionary movements aimed at unifying Italy gained momentum. So, when did Austria rule over Sicily?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year Austria ruled Sicily | 1713-1720, 1735, 1815, 1820, 1848-49 |
| Rulers | Austrian Habsburgs, House of Savoy, Don Carlos of Bourbon, Charles III of Spain, Charles of Anjou, Victor Amadeus II |
| Reason for Austrian rule | Exchange for Sardinia, Treaty of Utrecht, War of the Spanish Succession, Treaty of the Hague |
| Other rulers during this period | Spanish, French, British, Angevins, Aragonese, Normans, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Vandals, Ostrogoths, Carthaginians, Phoenicians |
| Significant events | Unification of Italy, Napoleonic Wars, Sicilian Vespers uprising, Servile Wars, Punic Wars, War of the Sicilian Vespers, War of the Quadruple Alliance, War of the Polish Succession, Congress of Vienna |
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What You'll Learn
- Sicily was ruled by the Austrian Habsburgs from 1713-1720
- In 1720, the House of Savoy traded Sicily to the Austrians
- The Kingdom of the Two Sicilies was formed in 1820
- In 1848-49, a Sicilian revolution for independence was put down
- Napoleon conquered Naples in 1799, forcing King Ferdinand to flee to Sicily
Sicily was ruled by the Austrian Habsburgs from 1713-1720
Sicily has been ruled by many different civilisations throughout its history, including the Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Normans, Aragonese, Spanish, Austrians, and British.
From 1713 to 1720, the Kingdom of Sicily was ruled by the House of Savoy, which had received it as a reward for siding with the victorious coalition in the War of the Spanish Succession. However, the House of Savoy struggled to defend such a remote territory, and so in 1720, they traded Sicily to the Austrian Habsburgs in exchange for Sardinia. This period of Austrian rule over Sicily lasted until 1734, when the island was given up by Austria in exchange for the Duchy of Parma and the Grand Duchy of Tuscany.
The Austrian Habsburgs already ruled Naples at the time they gained control of Sicily, and the union of these two territories in 1735 under the rule of Don Carlos of Bourbon (later Charles III of Spain) formed the Bourbon-ruled Kingdom of Sicily. The Bourbons officially resided in Naples, except for a brief period during the Napoleonic Wars between 1806 and 1815, when the royal family lived in exile in Palermo.
During this period of Austrian rule, Sicily was a prime target for Barbary pirates from North Africa. The subsequent rebuilding after these attacks created the distinctive architectural style known as Sicilian Baroque.
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In 1720, the House of Savoy traded Sicily to the Austrians
The history of Sicily is a long and complex one, with the island having been controlled by many different powers over the centuries. In the 18th century, Sicily came under Bourbon rule, becoming part of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. However, this was not the first time that Sicily had changed hands. In fact, the island had been ruled by the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Greeks, Romans, Vandals, Ostrogoths, Byzantines, Arabs, Normans, Aragonese, and Spanish at various points in its history.
During the 18th century, the House of Savoy also played a significant role in the history of Sicily. The House of Savoy was an Italian royal dynasty that had been established in 1003 in the historical Savoy region between France and Italy. Through gradual expansions, the family grew in power, and by the 15th century, they had been raised to ducal status within the Holy Roman Empire.
In 1713, the House of Savoy added the Kingdom of Sardinia to their possessions, with Victor Amadeus II becoming the ruler of Sardinia, in addition to his existing domain in Sicily. However, ruling over both territories proved challenging, as it created a more fragmented and geographically dispersed domain for the House of Savoy.
After the exchange, the House of Savoy continued their expansionist policies on the Italian mainland. Through advantageous alliances during the War of the Polish Succession and the War of the Austrian Succession, King Charles Emmanuel III gained new lands, including the Austrian-controlled Duchy of Milan. The House of Savoy went on to play a significant role in the unification of Italy, becoming the ruling house of the Kingdom of Italy in 1861 until the establishment of the Italian Republic in 1946.
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The Kingdom of the Two Sicilies was formed in 1820
The Kingdom of the Two Sicilies was formed in 1816 when the Kingdom of Sicily merged with the Kingdom of Naples, which was officially also known as the Kingdom of Sicily. The name "Two Sicilies" originated from the partition of the medieval Kingdom of Sicily. The island of Sicily and the Mezzogiorno were constituent parts of the Kingdom of Sicily until 1285, when the King of Sicily lost the island of Sicily to the Crown of Aragon. However, he and his successors never gave up the title "King of Sicily" and continued to refer to their realm as the Kingdom of Sicily. The Aragonese rulers of the island of Sicily also called their realm the Kingdom of Sicily, resulting in two kingdoms called Sicily. When these two kingdoms were reunited, the result was named the Kingdom of Two Sicilies.
The Kingdom of the Two Sicilies was ruled by the House of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, a cadet branch of the Bourbons, from 1816 to 1861. The kingdom was the largest sovereign state in Italy by population and land area before the Italian unification, comprising Sicily and most of the area of today's Mezzogiorno (southern Italy). The capital of the kingdom was Naples, which was the biggest city in Italy at the time. The kingdom was formed under the rule of King Ferdinand I, who changed his title to acknowledge the union of the two kingdoms. However, the resentment of the Sicilians and the pressure for a constitution led to the revolutions that started in 1820.
The principal demands of the revolutionaries were for greater local autonomy and political freedom. The revolution in 1820 was led by General Guglielmo Pepe, a leader of the previous revolution in 1816, and Francesco Bagnasco, who wrote a circular calling on the people to rise up against the monarchy. The revolution in 1820 resulted in a constitutional government that lasted for nine months before the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies was invaded by an Austrian army in March 1821. A systematic purge of all suspected liberals followed, along with measures to protect the kingdom's economy, which had been bankrupted by the revolution.
The Kingdom of the Two Sicilies played a significant role in the unification of Italy in the mid-19th century. In 1860, Giuseppe Garibaldi led the Expedition of the Thousand, successfully liberating Sicily and integrating it into the newly formed Kingdom of Italy. The fall of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies in 1860 marked a critical turning point in the unification process, as it was the largest Italian state at the time. The kingdom's collapse unexpectedly ensured Italy's political unification, as it removed the main obstacle to unification and demonstrated the strength of the nationalist movement.
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In 1848-49, a Sicilian revolution for independence was put down
In the mid-19th century, Sicily found itself in a state of flux, caught between the competing interests of European powers. This period witnessed the island become a pawn in a larger game, with its destiny decided by the ambitions of others. The year 1848 saw a wave of revolutions across Europe, and Sicily was no exception. The Sicilian revolution of 1848-49 was an attempt by the island's people to break free from foreign rule and assert their independence. At this time, Sicily was under the control of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, with King Ferdinand II on the throne. The kingdom encompassed not just Sicily but also Naples and surrounding mainland territories.
Sicily had a long history of foreign domination, having been ruled by a succession of powers, including the Normans, Hohenstaufens, French, and Spanish. By the 19th century, the island had become a backwater, its economy stagnant and its people impoverished. The Sicilian revolution of 1848-49 was sparked by a combination of factors, including economic grievances, a desire for greater political autonomy, and the influence of the broader European revolutionary movement. The Sicilians sought to establish a constitutional monarchy, with a parliament to represent their interests.
Initially, the revolution met with some success. The Sicilians overthrew Bourbon rule and established a provisional government, with Ruggero Settimo, a prominent politician, as its leader. Settimo attempted to negotiate with King Ferdinand, offering him the Sicilian crown if he agreed to a constitution. However, the king was unwilling to compromise, and the negotiations broke down. In response, the Sicilians declared an independent republic, with Settimo as its first president. The revolutionary government introduced a number of reforms, including the abolition of feudal privileges and the establishment of a national guard.
However, the revolution ultimately proved short-lived. King Ferdinand, determined to crush the rebellion, assembled a large military force, including Austrian and French troops, and invaded Sicily in 1849. The Sicilian army, poorly equipped and outnumbered, was quickly defeated. The Austrians played a crucial role in putting down the revolution, with their troops helping to suppress resistance and restore Bourbon rule. The intervention of foreign powers, particularly Austria, was decisive in crushing the Sicilians' dreams of independence. The revolution ended with the surrender of Palermo in May 1849, and King Ferdinand quickly moved to reassert his authority, dismantling the reforms introduced by the revolutionary government and imposing a repressive regime.
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Napoleon conquered Naples in 1799, forcing King Ferdinand to flee to Sicily
The history of Sicily is a rich tapestry of various civilisations, each leaving its mark on the island. In the 18th century, the island came under the rule of the House of Savoy (1713-1720) and then the Austrian Habsburgs, who united with the Bourbon-ruled Kingdom of Sicily in 1735 under Don Carlos of Bourbon (later Charles III of Spain).
In 1799, Napoleon conquered Naples, forcing King Ferdinand to flee to Sicily. This was not the first time the French had invaded Naples, as they had previously done so in December 1798, declaring it the Parthenopean Republic. However, this republic was short-lived, and in June 1799, Ferdinand returned to Naples and ordered the execution of the French collaborators.
The year 1806 saw another French invasion of Naples, led by Napoleon's brother Joseph Bonaparte, who was appointed to rule over Southern Italy as king. This invasion was in response to King Ferdinand's double-crossing of Napoleon. Once again, Ferdinand was forced to flee to Sicily, where he ruled under British protection. The Neapolitan army, which only numbered 22,000 soldiers, stood little chance against the French and was swiftly defeated.
During the Napoleonic Wars, from 1806 to 1815, the Bourbon royal family lived in exile in Palermo, and a new constitution was developed for Sicily based on the Westminster model of government, resulting in a two-chamber parliament. After Napoleon's fall, Ferdinand returned to Naples as Ferdinand I of the united kingdom of the Two Sicilies in December 1816.
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Frequently asked questions
Austria ruled over Sicily from 1720 to 1734.
Austria received Sicily from the House of Savoy in exchange for Sardinia.
The Austrian Habsburgs ruled over Sicily.
Before Austrian rule, Sicily was ruled by the House of Savoy.
After Austria, Sicily was ruled by the Bourbons.
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