King Ferdinand I of Naples
King Ferdinand I of Naples (1424 – 1494) ruled from 1458 until his death, and liked the logic of “keep your friends close, and your enemies even closer“. He was a capable ruler who brought peace and prosperity to his realm. Through diplomacy and strategic marriages, he created a network of interlocking friendships and alliances with other sovereigns. It made him so influential, that he was nicknamed “The Judge of Italy”. He was also a generous patron of the arts, and was an important figure in the Italian Renaissance. So much for Ferdinand’s good side.
As to the bad side that made him a jerk, Italian politics back then were not for the squeamish. The Italian Peninsula was full of small states and independent cities, constantly on the brink of anarchy as rival aristocrats fiercely competed for power and prestige. Betrayals, poisonings, assassinations, murders, and wars were commonplace, in what amounted to a real life version of Game of Thrones, minus the dragons. Ferdinand had a vicious streak that allowed him to thrive in such an environment. As seen below, after he killed his enemies, Ferdinand exhibited their corpses in what came to be known as the “Museum of Mummies”.
