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Episode Overview Having toured Spanish Sardinia and turbulent Sicily, we now complete our circuit of southern Italy by turning to the Kingdom of Naples. Once secured for Spain by the legendary Gonzalo de Córdoba, Naples became one of the crown jewels of the Spanish Empire — wealthy, strategic, and politically delicate. In this episode, we follow the kingdom from consolidation under Spanish rule through internal tensions, shifting viceroys, the Battle of Ravenna, and finally to the dramatic French siege of Naples in 1528 — a moment when the city came dangerously close to slipping from Spanish control. Naples Under Spanish Rule This preferential treatment helped Naples grow into one of the largest cities in Europe — rivaling Venice and Paris in population and prestige. Social Balance and Political Tensions Gonzalo de Córdoba and the Transition of Power The Battle of Ravenna (1512) Charles V, Pavia, and Rising Tensions But while Rome burned, Naples nearly fell. The French Siege of Naples (1528) After Lannoy’s death from plague in 1527, Ugo de Moncada — formerly viceroy of Sicily — took charge. A Dire Situation Moncada attempted to break the blockade and was killed in the effort. Why Naples Did Not Fall Despite appearances, several factors saved the city: 1. Powerful Defenses Naples was protected by three major fortresses: Even if the French breached the city, holding it would be another matter. 2. Genoese Defection The Genoese fleet switched sides — Spanish imperial trade interests proved more profitable than French alignment. 3. Plague In a desperate move, Lautrec destroyed the Bolla Aqueduct, flooding surrounding marshlands. Combined with summer heat, this triggered a devastating outbreak of plague. One of its victims: Lautrec himself. With their commander dead and disease rampant, French momentum collapsed. The Aftermath Naples remained Spanish. Walking Through History: The Spanish City The legacy of this period can still be explored today: Looking Ahead: A New Viceroy In 1532, one of the most influential and controversial viceroys arrived: Pedro Álvarez de Toledo y Zúñiga His tenure would transform Naples physically, politically, and socially — reshaping the city in ways still visible today. But before we follow that story, we must turn north — far north — to events unfolding in the distant reaches of what would one day be called northern Italy.
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Episode Overview Having raced through the early 1500s following the Italian Wars, the Medici popes, Leonardo da Vinci, and the creation of the Medici duchy in Florence, it’s time to slow down and look at the parts of Italy we’ve left slightly out of focus. In this episode, we take a tour of the Italian peninsula’s two great islands — Sardinia and Sicily — and the Kingdom of Naples’ wider Mediterranean context. Though often treated as peripheral, these territories were central to Spanish power in Italy and deeply affected by war, rebellion, piracy, and imperial ambition. A Geographic Reset: Italy Beyond the Mainland Sardinia Under Spanish Control Power, Cities, and Administration Stability and Growth A Quiet Role in the Italian Wars Sicily: A More Volatile Island Spanish Rule and Rising Tensions The Palermo Uprising of 1511 A Cycle of Revolts (1512–1522) Leaders and Failures Plague, Piracy, and Temporary Stability Charles V Visits Sicily (1535) Closing Thoughts Sardinia and Sicily reveal two very different faces of Spanish rule in Italy: one relatively stable and quietly strategic, the other restless, rebellious, and perpetually on edge. Both islands remind us that the Italian Wars were not only fought on famous mainland battlefields but also shaped the lives of people far from Florence, Rome, or Milan—on islands that were anything but peripheral. And as always, peace in early modern Italy rarely lasts long.
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To celebrate the 200th anniversary episode, which coincided with the 8th anniversary, we decided to hear from you, dear constant listener to create a special episode to celebrate this great milestone with many more hopefully to come. As well as greetings, we’ll hear about: Sieges vs Battles Moving Michelangelo artwork An influential writer at the court of pope Leo X The legend of the heart of bricks hidden among the alleyways of Venice A warning from the lovely town of Carpi The story of the unsung police hero Salvatore and his role in the notorious 1984 train bombing by the Sicilian Mafia and far-right terrorist organisations Enjoy!
A chronological history of the Italian peninsula from the fall of the Western Roman Empire to the present
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A History of Italy 