Francesco I of Bourbon-Sicily (1777-1830)

King of Naples and Sicily. Born Francesco Gennaro Giuseppe Saverio Giovanni Battista, the second son of Ferdinand I and Maria Caroline of Habsburg. After the death of his older brother Carlo Tito he became Duke of Calabria. In 1797 he married Maria Clementina of Habsburg. Ferdinand was defeated by french troops in 1799 and the family had to flee Naples for Sicily. Shortly after their return to Naples Maria Clementina died. Francesco remarried in the following year to his cousin Maria Isabella of Spain. The family again fled Naples in 1806. During his exile he occupied himself with his favorite pastimes, botany and agriculture. They returned to Naples in 1820 and Francesco assumed the regency under the new constitution. He appointed new ministers and held parliamentary elections. In 1825 he succeeded his father as King but showed little interest in the government. He left the responsibilities in the hands his favorites, among them were his valet and a maid of the queen. For the duration of his reign, the country's government remained in the hands of the Prime Minister Luigi de'Medici, who was also the minister of Finance and Foreign Affairs. Shortly after his return from Spain, where he had attended the wedding of his daughter Maria Christina, he fell ill and died.

Bio by: Lutetia