Page:History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic Vol. I.djvu/179

MINORITY OF FERDlNAxND. 35 II. an OS re- res to Na- factions which desolated that unhappy kingdom, chapter and, after an ineffectual struggle against his ene- mies, resolved to seek an asylum at the court of his uncle Alfonso the Fifth, of Naples, and to refer to him the final arbitration of his differences with his father.'^ On his passage through France and the various c courts of Italy, he was received with the attentions p' due to his rank, and still more to his personal char- acter and misfortunes. Nor was he disappointed in the sympathy and favorable reception, which he had anticipated from his uncle. Assured of protec- tion from so high a quarter, Carlos might now rea- sonably flatter himself with the restitution of his legitimate rights, when these bright prospects were suddenly overcast by the death of Alfonso, who expired at Naples of a fever in the month of May, 1458, bequeathing his hereditary dominions of Spain, Sicily, and Sardinia to his brother John, and his kingdom of Naples to his illegitimate son Fer- dinand.^* The frank and courteous manners of Carlos had won so powerfully on the affections of the Neapoli- tans, who distrusted the dark, ambiguous character of Ferdinand, Alfonso's heir, that a large party eagerly pressed the prince to assert his title to the vacant throne, assuring him of a general support 113 Zurita, Anales torn. iv. fol. lib. 26, c. 7. — Ferreras, Histoire 3-48. — Aleson, Anales de Na- G^nerale d'Espagne, trad, par vi ■ ■ - . - varra, torn. iv. pp. 508-526. — D'Hermilly, (Paris, 1751,) torn. L. Marineo, Cosas Memorables, vii. p. 60. — L'Histoire du Roy- fol. 105. aume de Navarre, par I'un des !■* Giannone, Istoria Civile del Secretaires Interprettes de sa Ma- Regno di Napoli, (Milano, 1823,) jest6, (Paris, 1596.) p. 468.