History of Naples
The history of Naples traces the city from its Greek foundation as Neapolis through Roman, medieval, early modern, and modern rule.
Parthenope: An ancient Greek settlement on the site of present-day Naples, traditionally founded by Greek colonists. Its settlement preceded Neapolis and survives in Naples’s literary and civic traditions.
Duchy of Naples: A largely autonomous duchy that governed Naples from the seventh to the twelfth century. Its long autonomy followed Byzantine rule and preceded Norman incorporation.
Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor: A thirteenth-century Holy Roman emperor and king of Sicily who founded the University of Naples in 1224. His university strengthened Naples’s role as a center of royal administration and learning.
Sack of Naples (1194): The capture and sack of Naples by forces of Henry VI during his conquest of southern Italy. The episode marked the end of the city’s independent duchy.
University of Naples Federico II: A public university founded in Naples in 1224 and named after Frederick II. Its medieval foundation and continuing presence reflect Naples’s long institutional history.
Neapolis: The ancient Greek city whose name, meaning “new city,” became Naples. Its foundation marks the beginning of Naples as a distinct urban center.
Norman conquest of southern Italy: The eleventh-century expansion that brought much of southern Italy under Norman control. Norman rule ended Naples’s duchy and folded it into a new southern kingdom.
Joan I of Naples: Queen of Naples from 1343 to 1382, whose reign was marked by dynastic conflict and political upheaval. Her contested rule illustrates the instability of the medieval Angevin kingdom.
Masaniello revolt: A 1647 popular uprising in Naples against Spanish rule, taxation, and social inequality. The revolt exposed tensions within the Spanish-ruled Kingdom of Naples.
Bourbon Naples: Naples under the Bourbon dynasty, especially when it served as the capital of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. Bourbon government reshaped the city through court patronage, public works, and reform.