In late 1798, Ferdinand joined British forces to attack Rome and take it from the French occupiers. Timing was critical; his wife, Maria Carolina of Austria, reminded the king that Napoleon was occupied in Egypt and, therefore, Rome would be vulnerable. He enlisted the support of British Vice Admiral Horatio Nelson who brought a massive fleet to Naples and they moved on Rome.
Victory appeared to be in the offing, but the French forces recovered and swept Ferdinand’s forces from the city, then chased them back to Naples. Even there, Ferdinand didn’t feel safe so by January 1799 he fled to Palermo, to be replaced by Francesco Pignatelli Strongoli in Naples. Before long he, too, surrendered to the French and raced to exile in Palermo.
“There is a ship on the waters,” came the cry from the c
