1554, Kindom of Naples, Philip II of Spain. Beautiful Silver Carlino Coin.

Mint Place: Naples
Condition: VF/aXF!
Denomination: Carlino
Mint Period: 1554-1598
Reference: MIR 180/3, Pannuti Riccio 35.
Diameter: 24mm
Weight: 2.91gm
Material: Silver

Obverse: Bare bust of Philip II of Spain right. Mint official's initials (CR/VP) in left field.
Legend: * PHILIPP REX ARAGON VTR

Reverse: Inscription "Defender of the Faith." in three lines within wreath.
Legend: + FIDEI / DEFEN / SOR

 

The Kingdom of Naples (Latin: Regnum Neapolitanum; Italian: Regno di Napoli; Neapolitan: Regno 'e Napule), also known as the Kingdom of Sicily, was a state that ruled the part of the Italian Peninsula south of the Papal States between 1282 and 1816. It was established by the War of the Sicilian Vespers (1282–1302), when the island of Sicily revolted and was conquered by the Crown of Aragon, becoming a separate kingdom also called the Kingdom of Sicily. This left the Neapolitan mainland under the possession of Charles of Anjou. Later, two competing lines of the Angevin family competed for the Kingdom of Naples in the late 14th century, which resulted in the death of Joanna I by Charles III of Naples. Charles' daughter Joanna II adopted King Alfonso V of Aragon as heir, who would then unite Naples into his Aragonese dominions in 1442.

As part of the Italian Wars, France went to war with Aragon over the kingdom in 1502; the war ended in an Aragonese victory that left Ferdinand II in full control of the kingdom by 1504. The Spanish held control of Naples throughout the 17th century where it remained an important source of economic and military power for the Spanish Crown. After the War of the Spanish Succession in the early 18th century, the possession of the kingdom again changed hands; the 1714 Treaty of Rastatt saw Naples given to Charles VI of the Austrian Habsburgs. However, Naples and Sicily were conquered by Charles, Duke of Parma (of the Spanish Bourbons) during the War of the Polish Succession in 1734, he was then installed as King of Naples and Sicily from 1735. In 1816, Naples formally unified with the island of Sicily to form the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies.

The territory of the Kingdom of Naples corresponded to the current Italian regions of Campania, Calabria, Apulia, Basilicata, Abruzzo, Molise, and also included some areas of today's southern and eastern Lazio.

 

Philip II, King of Spain 1556-1598. Son of Emperor Charles V (King Charles I of Spain), founder of the Spanish line of Habsburg. * 1527 Valladolid, - 1598 Escorial near Madrid. Philip II received from his father the following contries: in 1540 the Duchy of Milan, in 1554 the Kingdoms of Naples and Sicily and in 1555/56 the Netherlands, the Franche-Comte and Spain with its colonies. In 1580 Philip also claimed and took over Portugal. He strove for Spanish world supremacy and fought for the counter-reformation. He was married four times: Maria of Portugal (*1526, - 1545 following the birth of Don Carlos), Queen Mary Tudor of England (1554, - 1558), Elizabeth of Valois, daughter of King Henry II of France (1559, - 1568) and finally, in 1570, Anna of Austria, daughter of Emperor Maximilian II. King Philip II fought successfully against France (1557-1559), against the Turks (Juan d'Austria's victory near Lepanto in 1571) and against Mediterranean pirates. However, his attempt to conquer England failed (destruction of the Armada in 1588, sea-battle of Cadiz in 1596), as did his efforts to subdue the revolting Netherlands (secession of the northern provinces). Philip's ongoing war efforts overstrained his financial and economic resources and eventually led to the decline of Spanish supremacy.