| Numismatica Ars Classica > Auction 159 | Auction date: 5 November 2025 |
| Lot number: 355 Price realized: 28,000 CHF (Approx. 34,602 USD / 30,111 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | Show similar lots on CoinArchives Find similar lots in upcoming auctions on  |
| Lot description: The House of Aragon The First French occupation of the Kingdom of Naples. Charles VIII of France, 1495 – 1496. Charles VIII of France, 1495 – 1496. Carlino, AR 3.57 g. + KAROLVS D G R FRANCORV SI IER Crowned shield of France between crowned K and cross potent. Rev. + XPS VINCIT XPS REGNAT XPS IMPA Cross potent fleurdelisée in a quatrefoil. Pannuti-Riccio 2. Ciani 853. MEC XIV, unlisted but see p. 385. MIR 97/1. Of the highest rarity. Old cabinet tone and extremely fine Ex Florange-Ciani sale 22nd -26th November 1927, Marcheville I, 2068. Privately purchased from NAC December 2008. The expedition and invasion of Naples by Charles VIII of France in 1494 was a pivotal event in Italian history, marking the beginning of the Italian Wars. The invasion was primarily motivated by Charles's desire to assert French claims to the Kingdom of Naples, which had been under the control of the Aragonese dynasty since 1442. Charles VIII's claim to the throne of Naples was based on his descent from the Angevin kings of Naples, who had ruled the kingdom in the 14th century before being displaced by the Aragonese. In 1494, after the death of King Ferdinand I of Aragon, Charles saw an opportunity to press his claim, as the kingdom was left to his son, Alfonso II, who faced internal instability and opposition. He gathered a large army and crossed the Alps into Italy. His entry into Italy was relatively smooth, as many Italian states, including the Duchy of Milan and the Papal States, were either neutral or supportive, viewing the French as a counterbalance to the growing power of the Kingdom of Naples. Charles's army rapidly advanced through Italy, with little resistance, and by the end of 1494, he had captured Naples, which Alfonso II had abandoned in the face of the French invasion. The invasion had far-reaching consequences. Charles VIII's actions led to the first of the Italian Wars, which would involve multiple European powers vying for control of Italian territories. The French presence in Italy also contributed to the destabilization of the Italian peninsula, setting the stage for ongoing conflicts between French, Spanish, and local Italian forces throughout the 16th century. However, Charles VIII's control over Naples was short-lived, actually only between February 22nd and July 7th 1495. The French were eventually forced to withdraw after a coalition of Italian states, including Spain, the Papal States, and Milan, united against them. Despite this, the invasion had a lasting impact on the political landscape of Italy, sparking the involvement of foreign powers in the region for the next several decades. Estimate: 20000 CHF |  |
