Page:History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic Vol. III.djvu/39

PARTITION OF NAPLES. 13 Meanwhile, the negotiations between France and chapter Spain, respecting Naples, were brought to a close, — '— .. /-ii-j Partition of by a treaty for the equal partition oi that kingdom Naples. between the two powers, ratified at Granada, No- vember 11 th, 1500. This extraordinary document, after enlarging on the unmixed evils flowing from war, and the obligation on all Christians to preserve inviolate the blessed peace bequeathed them by the Saviour, proceeds to state that no other prince, save the kings of France and Aragon, can pretend to a title to the throne of Naples ; and as King Frederic, its present occupant, has seen fit to en- danger the safety of all Christendom by bringing on it its bitterest enemy the Turks, the contracting parties, in order to rescue it from this imminent peril, and preserve inviolate the bond of peace, agree to take possession of his kingdom and divide it between them. It is then provided, that the northern portion, comprehending the Terra di La- voro and Abruzzo, be assigned to France, with the title of King of Naples and Jerusalem, and the southern, consisting of Apulia and Calabria, with the title of Duke of those provinces, to Spain. The dogana, an important duty levied on the flocks of the Capitanate, was to be collected by the officers of the Spanish government, and divided equally with France. Lastly, any inequality be- tween the respective territories was to be so adjust- ed, that the revenues accruing to each of the parties should be precisely equal. The treaty was to be kept profoundly secret, until preparations were com-