The Aragonese Naples (1442-1503)

This chapter examines the transformation of Naples under the Aragonese dynasty, from the conquest by Alfonso V (1442) to the Spanish takeover (1503). Alfonso introduced a model of government that established a balance between royal authority and local institutions, while his successor Ferrante centralised power and restricted the autonomy of the nobility. Naples became a centre of the Mediterranean and experienced significant urban renewal, economic growth, and a dynamic influx of merchants and intellectuals. The Aragonese court promoted humanism and used culture to legitimise its power, which was reflected in the monumentalisation of the city. Financial challenges and resistance from the aristocrats ultimately led to the fall of the dynasty and marked the transition to Spanish rule.