Ferdinand IIKing Bomba

Ferdinand II (King Bomba). (1810-1859), commonly known as King Bomba (q.v.), King of the Two Sicilies, was the son of Francis I. and grandson of Ferdinand I. above-mentioned. He succeeded to the throne in 1830, and his despotic measures caused such additional discontent that his subjects revolted in 1848, and in that year he bombarded his capital. He made many promises of constitutional reform, but broke them on restoration to power, and in spite of the protests of Great Britain and France, who withdrew their ambassadors, he continued his despotic career, and filled his prisons with political prisoners. The storm came in his son's reign, when the crown of Naples and of the Two Sicilies became merged in that of Italy.