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Parthenope 8th century–507 BCE
Neapolis 507–326 BCE
Neapolis 326–89 BCE
∟ ally of Roman Republic
Roman Republic 199–89 BCE
∟ municipium of Neapolis
Roman Republic 89–27 BCE
Roman Empire 27 BCE–395 CE
Western Roman Empire 395–476
Kingdom of Italy 476–493
Ostrogothic Kingdom 493–535
Eastern Roman Empire 535–661
Eastern Roman Empire 661–763
∟ Duchy of Naples 661–763
Duchy of Naples 763–840
∟ client state of the Eastern Roman Empire
Duchy of Naples 840–1137
Kingdom of Sicily 1137–1194
Kingdom of Sicily 1194–1254
∟ personal union with the Holy Roman Empire
Kingdom of Sicily 1254–1282
Kingdom of Naples 1282–1442
Crown of Aragon 1442–1458
∟Kingdom of Naples
Kingdom of Naples 1458–1501
Kingdom of Naples 1501–1504
∟ personal union with the Kingdom of France
Kingdom of Naples 1504–1647
∟ Spanish viceroyalty
Most Serene Republic of this Kingdom of Naples 1647–1648 ∟ protectorate of the Kingdom of France
Kingdom of Naples 1648–1714
∟ Spanish viceroyalty
Kingdom of Naples 1714–1734
∟ ruled by Austrian monarchy
Kingdom of Naples 1734–1799
Parthenopean Republic 1799
∟ client state of the First French Republic
Kingdom of Naples 1799–1806
Kingdom of Naples 1806–1815
∟ client state of the First French Empire
Kingdom of Naples 1815–1816
Kingdom of the Two Sicilies 1816–1861
Kingdom of Italy 1861–1946
Italian Republic 1946–present
The history of Naples is long and varied, dating to Greek settlements established in the Naples area in the 2nd millennium BC.[1] During the end of the Greek Dark Ages a larger mainland colony – initially known as Parthenope – developed on the Pizzofalcone hill in the 8th century BC,[2] and was refounded as Neapolis in the 6th century BC:[3] it held an important role in Magna Graecia. The Greek culture of Naples was important to later Roman society. When the city became part of the Roman Republic in the central province of the Empire, it was a major cultural centre.[4]
It served as the capital of the Duchy of Naples (661–1139), of the Kingdom of Sicily, of the Kingdom of Naples (1282–1816) and finally of the Two Sicilies until the unification of Italy in 1861. The city has seen the rise and fall of several civilisations and cultures, each of which has left traces in its art and architecture, and during the Renaissance[5] and the Enlightenment was a major centre of culture.[6] It was also a capital of the Baroque, beginning with the artist Caravaggio's career in the 17th century, and the artistic revolution he inspired.
During the Neapolitan War, the city rebelled against the Bourbon monarchs, spurring the early push towards Italian unification.
Today, Naples is part of the Italian Republic, the third largest municipality (central area) by population after Rome and Milan, and has the second or third largest metropolitan area of Italy.