Sicily
| Sicily | |
|---|---|
| Sicilian State | |
| Statu Sicilianu | |
 | |
 Location of Sicily | |
| Established | Aragonese Kingdom of Sicily- 1412
Rule as a French Viceroyalty - 1701 Independent Kingdom - 1755 |
| Capital | Palermo, Giurgenti (Provisional) |
| Largest City | Palermo |
| Government Type | Unitary State |
| Languages | Sicilian |
| Currency |
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Sicily (Sicilian: Sicilia), officially the Sicilian State (Sicilian: Statu Sicilianu) is an insular nation south of the Italian Peninsula. It is located entirely on the island of Sicily, the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.
History
The Kingdom of Sicily was founded in 1130 by the Italo-Norman Hauteville family. During this time, Sicily was one of the most prosperous and wealthiest states in Europe. A dynastic succession crisis caused Sicily to fall into the hands of the Hohenstaufen family. By the end of the 13th century, Sicily was fought over by the crowns of Anjou and Aragon during the war of the Sicilian Vespers. The crown of Aragon won the conflict and Sicily was passed to their hands. When the crowns of Castille and Aragon united in 1479, Sicily was ruled directly by the kings of Spain via governors and viceroys.
French Rule (1701 - 1755)
In 1701 the kingdoms of Naples and Sicily were handed over to France after the Spanish Succession Crisis in accordance with the Second Partition Treaty. Sicily had been ruled as one of several kingdoms within the Crown of Aragon with great autonomy, but under French rule, it was reorganized along with Naples into a single entity, centered on Naples. The new Kingdom of Naples then became joined in a personal union with the Kingdom of France, ruled by a viceroy, usually overseen by the Dukes of Berry.
This arrangement left Sicily as the backwater of the Kingdom of Naples, and caused much resentment among the Sicilian populace. Economic woes, the loss of autonomy from the Aragonese model to the much more centralized French one and a growing feeling that the two regions were sufficiently distinct that they were no longer divisions of a single ancient kingdom brought back memories of the War of the Vespers, a massive Sicilian revolt to kick out the (French) Angevins from the island.
An opportunity finally came during the Great Silesian War, and with British and Austrian backing the Sicilians revolted against the French, winning their independence and recognition from the Great Powers in the Treaty of Vienna (1755).
Independent Sicily & the House of Notarbartolo (1755 - 1773)
Initially a republic from 1755 to 1758, under pressure from the Great Powers, mainly Britain and Austria, it became a kingdom with the ascension of the House of Notarbartolo, which had been one of the most prominent aristocratic families in Sicily since the 14th century, and with connections to many other influential Italian families such as the Grimaldi.
Under the Notarbartolos, Sicily flourished culturally, and it saw renewed interest in it´s multicultural past with Byzantines, Arabs and Normans. Particular focus was given to its Greek influences, with the ancient Greek name for the island, Trinacria, becoming quite popular as opposed to the Italian name. This came about within a wave of Sicilian nationalism and a desire to differentiate themselves from the rest of the Italian peninsula.
Political struggles & Spanish Invasion (1773 – 1776)
In 1773 a power struggle began between the Notarbartolos and the Zacco family, another noble house of Aragonese origins that came to Sicily to fight during the War of the Sicilian Vespers. The Zacco family had been active in the higher echelons of Sicilian society in the roles of Governors, the Church, and the military, and they challenged the legitimacy of the Notarbartolos to rule. They were also backed by Spain, which was attempting to reassert its influence over Sicily and Sardinia.
For three years Sicily was on the verge of a civil war, as both sides prepared for conflict. Fearing support for the Notarbartolos was greater, the Zacco family appealed to Spain for direct aid. A Spanish army landed in Sicily to support the Zaccos, but in response to this perceived foreign invasion, the population rallied behind the Notarbartolos, and the Spanish were driven out, securing the position of the House of Notarbartolo.
Rivalry with Naples & realignment with France (1814 - 1820s)
In the aftermath of the Augustine Wars, Naples gained independence with the new pro-British House of Calabria (1814). Shortly after independence the new kingdom claimed the island of Sicily as an integral part of the kingdom, separated only because of foreign meddling while it was under French occupation.
From 1816 to the 1820s, the Neapolitans made several attempts to take over Sicily and numerous naval battles ensued between the two kingdoms. While the Sicilians were initially successful in preventing any landings, it soon became clear that the burgeoning Naples would eventually overpower them. Sicily appealed to its old benefactors for assistance, but neither Britain nor Austria wanted to intervene in the conflict. Britain had supported the establishment of the new Kingdom of Naples, and was unwilling to jeopardize its alliance with the much stronger state. The British disregard towards the actions of its ally caused much anger in Sicily, and led to it turning to France for support. Seeing the value of its strategic position in the middle of the Mediterranean, France guaranteed Sicily's independence, and forced Naples to back down under the threat of war.
Turn of the 20th Century & Anti-British Sentiment
Over the following century, British interference in Italian politics, particularly their support for Naples, left the Sicilians with a great disdain for Britain, and they began to develop friendly ties with the Ottoman Empire, which owned the nearby islands of Malta & Gozo since 1814. These islands became the focus of Sicilian expansion, and they entered in talks with the Ottomans hoping to acquire the islands, but these plans were foiled when Britain occupied the islands after the Anglo-Turkish War of 1885, drawing the ire of Sicilian nationalists.
In Sicily, hatred of Britain and its allies reached a boiling point in 1908 after the British backed Venetian invasion of the Papal States which outraged the deeply catholic population of Sicily. That same year, the deadliest earthquake in European history would happen in the Strait of Messina, killing thousands in both Naples and Sicily. The aftermath saw a brief rapprochement as both nations mourned the victims and began the process of rebuilding, but this would not last. Thousands of Sicilians would later join volunteer legions to fight with Austria against the Venetians during the Alps War (1911-1912). The Sicilian government refrained from joining the conflict however, fearful of British reprisals, and still struggling to rebuild after the Messina earthquake. However, these repeated humiliations at the hands of Britain, and its friendly ties to France, Austria & the Ottoman Empire led Sicily to form an alliance with the Tripartite Coalition in 1931, which promised protection and support modernizing its armies.
In December 1935 Sicily was finally enticed to join the Great War after being promised Malta & Gozo, along with territory in southern Naples.
