Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Joachim Murat

Napoli is the regional capital of Campania and the third-largest city of Italy. Its metropolitan area has a population of more than 3 million. Founded by Greek settlers before 900 BC, Napoli was an important part of Magna Graecia and played a major role in the merging of Greek and Roman society. Following the decline of the Western Roman Empire Napoli was shortly ruled by the Ostrogoths. Byzantine troops captured the city in 536m but after the Byzantine exarchate Ravenna fell a Duchy of Naples was created. Over centuries the Duchy´s relations to Rome or Byzanz were hard-fought. In 836 Napoli could repel a siege of Lombard troops with the help of the Saracens, what did not prevent Muhammad I Abu 'l-Abbas in the 850s loot Napoli. In the 11th century, the Duchy hired Norman mercenaries and about 1140 it came under Norman control under Roger II, then King of Sicily. In 1228 Emperor Frederick II founded the first university in Europe here, making Napoli the intellectual centre of the kingdom. The conflict between the House of Hohenstaufen and the Papacy led in 1266 to Pope Innocent IV crowning the Angevin duke Charles I King of Sicily. Charles officially moved the capital from Palermo to Napoli. In 1282 after the "Sicilian Vespers", a successful rebellion on the island of Sicily against the rule of King Charles I, the Kingdom of Sicily was divided into two. The Angevin Kingdom of Naples included the southern part of the Italian peninsula, while the island of Sicily became the Aragonese Kingdom of Sicily. By the 17th century, Naples had become Europe's second-largest city – second only to Paris – with around 250000 inhabitants. San Francesco di Paola is located on Piazza del Plebiscito opposite the Palazzo Reale. The entire square, as well as the large buildings and colonnades on its west side, were planned at the beginning of the 19th century by the then King of Naples, Joachim Murat, a brother-in-law of Napoleon. In order to make space for the new buildings, he first had the old monastery knocked down. After Napoleon was exiled and Joachim Murat was deposed, the Bourbons again ascended the throne of Napoli. King Ferdinand I launched a competition in 1817 and dedicated the planned church to Saint Francis of Paola (aka "Francis the Fire Handler"), founder of the Order of Minims. The church was finally built and consecrated in 1836. The shape of the church is reminiscent of the Pantheon in Rome.

Napoli is the regional capital of Campania and the third-largest city of Italy. Its metropolitan area has a population of more than 3 million. Founded by Greek settlers before 900 BC, Napoli was an important part of Magna Graecia and played a major role in the merging of Greek and Roman society. Following the decline of the Western Roman Empire Napoli was shortly ruled by the Ostrogoths. Byzantine troops captured the city in 536m but after the Byzantine exarchate Ravenna fell a Duchy of Naples was created. Over centuries the Duchy´s relations to Rome or Byzanz were hard-fought. In 836 Napoli could repel a siege of Lombard troops with the help of the Saracens, what did not prevent Muhammad I Abu 'l-Abbas in the 850s loot Napoli. In the 11th century, the Duchy hired Norman mercenaries and about 1140 it came under Norman control under Roger II, then King of Sicily. In 1228 Emperor Frederick II founded the first university in Europe here, making Napoli the intellectual centre of the kingdom. The conflict between the House of Hohenstaufen and the Papacy led in 1266 to Pope Innocent IV crowning the Angevin duke Charles I King of Sicily. Charles officially moved the capital from Palermo to Napoli. In 1282 after the "Sicilian Vespers", a successful rebellion on the island of Sicily against the rule of King Charles I, the Kingdom of Sicily was divided into two. The Angevin Kingdom of Naples included the southern part of the Italian peninsula, while the island of Sicily became the Aragonese Kingdom of Sicily. By the 17th century, Naples had become Europe's second-largest city – second only to Paris – with around 250000 inhabitants. San Francesco di Paola is located on Piazza del Plebiscito opposite the Palazzo Reale. The entire square, as well as the large buildings and colonnades on its west side, were planned at the beginning of the 19th century by the then King of Naples, Joachim Murat, a brother-in-law of Napoleon. In order to make space for the new buildings, he first had the old monastery knocked down. After Napoleon was exiled and Joachim Murat was deposed, the Bourbons again ascended the throne of Napoli. King Ferdinand I launched a competition in 1817 and dedicated the planned church to Saint Francis of Paola (aka "Francis the Fire Handler"), founder of the Order of Minims. The church was finally built and consecrated in 1836. The shape of the church is reminiscent of the Pantheon in Rome.

Napoli is the regional capital of Campania and the third-largest city of Italy. Its metropolitan area has a population of more than 3 million. Founded by Greek settlers before 900 BC, Napoli was an important part of Magna Graecia and played a major role in the merging of Greek and Roman society. Following the decline of the Western Roman Empire Napoli was shortly ruled by the Ostrogoths. Byzantine troops captured the city in 536m but after the Byzantine exarchate Ravenna fell a Duchy of Naples was created. Over centuries the Duchy´s relations to Rome or Byzanz were hard-fought. In 836 Napoli could repel a siege of Lombard troops with the help of the Saracens, what did not prevent Muhammad I Abu 'l-Abbas in the 850s loot Napoli. In the 11th century, the Duchy hired Norman mercenaries and about 1140 it came under Norman control under Roger II, then King of Sicily. In 1228 Emperor Frederick II founded the first university in Europe here, making Napoli the intellectual centre of the kingdom. The conflict between the House of Hohenstaufen and the Papacy led in 1266 to Pope Innocent IV crowning the Angevin duke Charles I King of Sicily. Charles officially moved the capital from Palermo to Napoli. In 1282 after the "Sicilian Vespers", a successful rebellion on the island of Sicily against the rule of King Charles I, the Kingdom of Sicily was divided into two. The Angevin Kingdom of Naples included the southern part of the Italian peninsula, while the island of Sicily became the Aragonese Kingdom of Sicily. By the 17th century, Naples had become Europe's second-largest city – second only to Paris – with around 250000 inhabitants. The Royal Palace was constructed in the 17th century to house King Philip III of Spain on a visit never fulfilled to this part of his kingdom. So it housed initially the Viceroy Fernando Ruiz de Castro. By 1616, the facade had been completed, the decoration of the Royal Chapel of Assumption was completed in 1644. With the arrival of Charles III of Spain to Naples in 1734, the palace became the royal residence of the Bourbons. Alterations took place under Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies. By the 18th century, the royal residence was moved to Caserta, as that inland town, about 25km north, was more distant from the often-rebellious populace of Naples. During the Napoleonic occupation, the palace was enriched by Joachim Murat and his wife, Caroline Bonaparte, with Neoclassic decorations. After a fire in 1837 restorations were done from 1838 to 1858. Since 1925 the palace houses the National Library and a museum.

Bari was an early settlement and passed under Roman rule in the 3rd century BC. It developed strategic significance as the point of junction between the coast road and the Via Traiana and as a port for eastward trade. The first bishop of Bari was Gervasius who is known from the Council of Sardica in 347. After the decline of the Roman Empire, the town was devasted and taken by Alaric´s Visigothic troops, then was under Lombardian rule, before the Byzantines took over. In 755 it was conquered by Pepin the Short (Charlemagne´s father) and from 847 on it was an Islamic Emirate. The Byzantine fleet returned in 871 and since 885 Bari ws the residence of the local Byzantine governor. Following a three-year siege, Bari was captured by Robert Guiscard in 1071. After the relics of Saint Nicholas, which were surreptitiously brought from Myra in Lycia (Byzantine territory), arrived in Bari, the Basilica di San Nicola was founded in 1087. This attracted pilgrims, whose encouragement and care became central to the economy of Bari. Pope Urban II consecrated the Basilica in 1089. In 1096 a crusader army embarked in the port of Bari for the First Crusade. After the murder of archbishop Griso in 1117 a civil war broke our and the control was seized by Grimoald Alferanites, a native Lombard, in opposition to the Normans. He later did homage to Roger II of Sicily, but rebelled and was defeated in 1132. In 1155 the city's inhabitants rebelled again against the Normans and negotiated with the Byzantines. As a retaliatory action, William I of Sicily (aka William the Wicked") had the city destroyed except for the cathedral and the Basilica of St. Nicola in the following year. Baro recovered and had it´s heydays under Frederick II. When he returned from his crusade after 1229, the city gates were locked so he had to use force to gain entry. Therefore, he probably had the fort built in 1233 to keep the city in check. On the other hand, he granted the city generous trade privileges and left it the leading role in the region. Napoleon´s brother in law Joachim Murat, then King of Naples, ordered the building in 1808 of a new section of the city, laid out on a rationalist grid plan, which bears his name today as the Murattiano Located at the edge of this area area is the Teatro Margherita. The first theather, named "Margherita Variety", was a wooden building, that burnt down, after having been only one year in business, in 1911. The structure of the "Teatro Margherita" that was erected then, was the first building built in Bari in reinforced concrete, and unique in Europe for its particular construction on stilts. Being entirely surrounded by water, the theater was connected to the mainland by a pier . The inauguration of the theater, named "Kursaal Margherita" took place in 1914. Later it housed the Historical Museum in its halls and was used as a cinema until 1979. It was purchased by the state and was subject to static restoration and restoration of the external facades until 2009. It was converted into the first museum complex of contemporary arts in the Apulian capital, the "BAC", that opened in 2018.

Bari was an early settlement and passed under Roman rule in the 3rd century BC. It developed strategic significance as the point of junction between the coast road and the Via Traiana and as a port for eastward trade. The first bishop of Bari was Gervasius who is known from the Council of Sardica in 347. After the decline of the Roman Empire, the town was devasted and taken by Alaric´s Visigothic troops, then was under Lombardian rule, before the Byzantines took over. In 755 it was conquered by Pepin the Short (Charlemagne´s father) and from 847 on it was an Islamic Emirate. The Byzantine fleet returned in 871 and since 885 Bari ws the residence of the local Byzantine governor. Following a three-year siege, Bari was captured by Robert Guiscard in 1071. After the relics of Saint Nicholas, which were surreptitiously brought from Myra in Lycia (Byzantine territory), arrived in Bari, the Basilica di San Nicola was founded in 1087. This attracted pilgrims, whose encouragement and care became central to the economy of Bari. Pope Urban II consecrated the Basilica in 1089. In 1096 a crusader army embarked in the port of Bari for the First Crusade. After the murder of archbishop Griso in 1117 a civil war broke our and the control was seized by Grimoald Alferanites, a native Lombard, in opposition to the Normans. He later did homage to Roger II of Sicily, but rebelled and was defeated in 1132. In 1155 the city's inhabitants rebelled again against the Normans and negotiated with the Byzantines. As a retaliatory action, William I of Sicily (aka William the Wicked") had the city destroyed except for the cathedral and the Basilica of St. Nicola in the following year. Baro recovered and had it´s heydays under Frederick II. When he returned from his crusade after 1229, the city gates were locked so he had to use force to gain entry. Therefore, he probably had the fort built in 1233 to keep the city in check. On the other hand, he granted the city generous trade privileges and left it the leading role in the region. Napoleon´s brother in law Joachim Murat, then King of Naples, ordered the building in 1808 of a new section of the city, laid out on a rationalist grid plan, which bears his name today as the Murattiano To find in this "modern" part of Bari is the Teatro Petruzzelli. It was commisoned by the art loving Petruzzelli brothers and opened in 1903. With about 1500 seats, one of the largest in Italy. In October 1991 the theatre was completely destroyed by fire, the result of arson. The Teatro Petruzzelli was reconstructed entirely in 2008. On the 6th of December 2009 ("St. Nicolas Day") the first opera season in the re-built theatre began.