The Bourbons: Reforms and Renaissance of Catanzaro in the 18th Century
Contenuto dell'articolo
In 1708, Carlo III of Bourbon ascended to the throne of Naples and Sicily, inaugurating an era of profound transformations.
Under his reign, a reformist policy aimed at abolishing the feudal system and reorganizing the administrative and fiscal sectors was initiated, culminating in 1741.
Catanzaro maintained the status of royal demesne, benefiting from the establishment of schools that trained a class of professionals, particularly esteemed jurists and doctors.
The ties with Spain remained strong, especially following the union of the four Bourbon houses of Spain, France, Naples-Sicily, and Parma.
From 1751, under the rule of Ferdinand of Bourbon, son of Carlo III, the city entered a new phase of development.
In 1777, Ferdinand proclaimed the independence of the Neapolitan State, revoking the feudal homage of the "Chinea" to the Pope, a gesture of strong symbolic value.
This new autonomy spurred a socio-economic and cultural renaissance for Catanzaro, leading to a renewed civic and intellectual fervor.
However, in 1783, the city was struck by the devastating earthquake that hit Calabria. Historical documents preserved in the work "L'Historia dei fenomeni del terremoto avvenuto nelle Calabrie e nel Valdemone nell'anno 1783," published by the Royal Academy of Sciences and Fine Arts of Naples, accurately describe those tragic events.
Regarding Catanzaro, it is written: "...but the earthquake sought to involve it in the common disaster. Fortunately, it escaped, but it was not exempt from damages. Some sacred temples collapsed, and those that did not fall remained severely shaken. Some houses sank, many were left in ruins, and numerous others were full of cracks." The earthquake caused extensive damage not only in the city but throughout the province, leading to a sharp decline in economic and political activities.
At that time, Calabria was divided into two geographical and administrative entities: "Calabria Citra," corresponding to the territory of Cosenza, and "Calabria Ultra," of which Catanzaro was a political reference. This division is crucial for understanding the historical dynamics of the Kingdom of Naples and the entire Calabrian region.
