Ruling the Mediterranean's waves? Anglo-Italian relations, 1720-1783: how the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies and the Kingdom of Sardinia contributed to the birth of a British Mediterranean

Abstract

This thesis builds upon the previous histories of the Mediterranean and highlights the important role the Italian Kingdoms of the Two Sicilies and Sardinia played in the expansion of British influence into the Mediterranean in the Early Modern period.

The Mediterranean had historically been the domain of a single power, such as Rome, Venice or the Ottoman Empire. With the growth of European Empires this mantle passed to France and Spain.1 Commercial expansion in the seventeenth century led Britain to establish mercantile communities in the Italian ports of Nice and Naples but they lacked the political, legal or commercial influence to establish themselves as a dominant power. The War of the Spanish Succession (1700-1714) led to the creation of two new Italian kingdoms, the Kingdom of Sardinia (1720) and the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies (1734). These fledgling kingdoms found themselves searching for allies to confirm their place among the monarchies of Europe and remove the lingering threat of invasion. For Britain, the two kingdoms offered a means of securing its own position in the Mediterranean, thus this relationship and its evolution forms the core focus of this thesis.

Therefore, this thesis will explore both the imperial historiography of a British Mediterranean while also casting new light on how the relationships between Britain and the Italian kingdoms evolved. This research takes a socio-political approach to diplomatic and economic developments across the defining 1720-1783 period, during which Britain developed, grew, and consolidated its position of power within the Mediterranean. Each chapter demonstrates the differing aspects of the British system in operation within Naples and the Savoyard state, charting how these varied approaches expanded Britain’s influence within both Kingdoms. Furthermore, this thesis highlights the important role of consuls and other diplomats within the British system, exploring the various agents, couriers and informants who ensured its effectiveness. This research also sheds new light on the previously unexplored role the Italian kingdoms played in Britain’s war effort during the Seven Years’ War. Economics are also a central aspect of this thesis and the importance of trade as well as the power it commanded was central to the establishment of Britain’s authority in the two Italian kingdoms as well as the wider Mediterranean. Finally, the comparative nature of this study highlights the dynamic yet largely uncoordinated approach Britain had to Italian policy and sheds new light upon the effectiveness of Britain’s diplomatic and economic networks in Italy.

Date of Award	Nov 2024
Original language	English
Supervisor	Gabriel Guarino (Supervisor) & Ian Thatcher (Supervisor)