The reason it is called “Two Sicilies” is because there were two separate kingdoms called Sicily at one point in history. This may seem confusing, but let me explain.
During the medieval period, the Island of Sicily was ruled by various different powers. One of these powers was the Kingdom of Sicily, which was established by the Normans in the 11th century. The Normans were a group of Vikings who had settled in the region and eventually became a powerful force in southern Italy.
The Kingdom of Sicily, ruled by the Normans, was a prosperous and influential realm. It encompassed not only the Island of Sicily itself, but also parts of southern Italy, including the regions of Calabria, Apulia, and Naples. The Normans were able to establish a strong and centralized government in Sicily, and their kingdom became a major player in the politics and culture of the Mediterranean.
However, in the 13th century, the Kingdom of Sicily faced a major upheaval. The Hohenstaufen dynasty, who were German rulers, came to power in Sicily. They had ambitions to expand their rule beyond Sicily and into the mainland of Italy. This led to conflict with the Papal States and other Italian powers, who saw the Hohenstaufen as a threat to their own authority.
During this time, a branch of the Hohenstaufen family known as the House of Anjou came to power in the Kingdom of Sicily. They were originally from France and had gained control of various territories in Italy through marriage and conquest. The House of Anjou ruled the Kingdom of Sicily for several generations, but their reign was marked by constant conflict and instability.
Meanwhile, in the mainland of Italy, another kingdom called the Kingdom of Naples had emerged. This kingdom was also ruled by the House of Anjou, but it was separate from the Kingdom of Sicily. The Kingdom of Naples encompassed the southern part of the Italian peninsula, including the regions of Campania and Basilicata.
So, to summarize, during this period of time, there were two separate kingdoms called Sicily: the Kingdom of Sicily on the island itself, and the Kingdom of Naples on the mainland. These two kingdoms both had rulers from the House of Anjou, but they were politically and administratively distinct.
Eventually, the House of Anjou lost control of both the Kingdom of Sicily and the Kingdom of Naples. The island of Sicily came under the rule of the Aragonese dynasty, while the mainland of Italy was conquered by the Kingdom of Spain. The Aragonese rulers of Sicily also referred to their realm as the “Kingdom of Sicily,” hence the name “Two Sicilies” to distinguish between the island and the mainland.
The Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, as it came to be known, lasted for several centuries. It was a unique and complex political entity, with its own institutions, laws, and culture. The kingdom went through periods of prosperity and decline, and it was eventually absorbed into the newly unified Kingdom of Italy in the 19th century.
The name “Two Sicilies” refers to the fact that there were two separate kingdoms called Sicily during a certain period of history. These kingdoms, the Kingdom of Sicily and the Kingdom of Naples, were politically and administratively distinct, although they both had rulers from the House of Anjou. The name “Two Sicilies” is a reminder of this unique and complex chapter in the history of southern Italy.