1734-1860
 Bourbons

1713 Treaty of Utrecht following the death of Charles IIof Spain gives Sicily to the House of Savoy. 1720 House of Savoy trades Sicily with the Austrians for Sardinia.

18th Century The continuation of indirect Spanish rule through corrupt nobility results in increased oppression and virtual elimination of wealth production.

Caltagirone - The Bourbon Palace

1734 Bourbon King Charles I (1734-59) reclaims Sicily for the Spanish.
1759 Charles I becomes Charles III of Spain leaving Sicily to be governed indirectly by Ferdinand IV of Naples.

1799 Napoleon invades Naples, forcing Ferdinand to flee to Palermo in Admiral Nelson’s flagship.
Nelson is rewarded by the king with a large holding near mount Etna.
 

The Chinese palace at Palermo

 

1806-1815 British Administration

1812 Lord Bentinck (commander of British forces) forces introduction of two chamber parliament based on British model.

Abolition of feudal privileges.Increase in Malvasia wine production to supply Nelsons fleet, based in Messina.
 

1815 Napoleon is defeated and the British abandon Sicily to the Bourbons.

1815-1860 Bourbons (The Kingdom of the Two Sicilies)

1815 Ferdinand returns to Naples and declares himself Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies. British designed constitution is abandoned.

Next 45 years Revolutionary spirit grows as Spanish rule becomes increasingly untenable.
 

“Liotru” Catania

Bourbonic coin.