JOSEPH NAPOLEON King of Naples and the Two Sicilies - Lot 260

JOSEPH NAPOLEON King of Naples and the Two Sicilies March 30, 1806 - July 5, 1808 IOSEPH NAPOL. D. G. VTR. SICIL. REX. His bare head to left. R/. PRINC.GALLIC. MAGN. ELECT. IMP. Crowned coat of arms supported by two marine allegories. Below, 1808. G. 120. edge inscribed in relief, CUSTOS REGNI DEUX IIIIII (6 dolphins) IIIIII. ♦ Dav 165 Piastre of 120 Grana silver 1808 Naples (27.58 g). A very fine example. Joseph Napoleon was born on January 7, 1768 in Corte, during the period of independence of the Corsican Republic. He died on July 28, 1844 in Florence, in the Grand Duchy of Tuscany. He was a French statesman and the elder brother of Emperor Napoleon I. His political, diplomatic and military career was closely linked to that of his brother Napoleon. Joseph's appointment to the throne of Naples inaugurated the family system that Napoleon intended to place at the head of Europe. His aim was to reorganize Europe, with "his dynasty spreading to the four corners of the continent to establish French domination through the intermediary of other sovereigns". Thus, as soon as he came to power, the Kingdom of Naples joined "a coalition of France's allies, one of whose main aims was to close the continent to British influence and tradea ". On May 10, 1808, Joseph Bonaparte received a letter from the Emperor informing him of his accession to the Spanish throne. Charles IV and his son Ferdinand had abdicated a few days earlier in Bayonne, following an unprecedented crisis. His two brothers, Louis and Jérôme, had also refused the crown. After entrusting the government of his kingdom of Naples to Pierre-Louis Roederer, Joseph Bonaparte left his capital on May 23 and finally reached Bayonne on June 7. Officially King of Spain since the 4th, he met his new subjects among the various Spanish representatives present in the town.