History of Naples Trivia Quiz

Answer: No one knows

The founding of Naples is somewhat murky and unclear. In mythology it was said to have been founded by Phaleros, one of the Argonauts who traveled with Jason to find the Golden Fleece, and the original settlement was called Phaleron.

Historically, there is archeological evidence the area was involved in a major power struggle between the Greeks and Etruscans. The old city was called Palaipolis, and seemed to just have disappeared. Some theories historians have is that the city was destroyed in battle or the Greeks placed too much economic stress on the city to be the dominant hub in the area, and that Palaipolis simply collapsed financially and was abandoned.

Neapolis was rebuilt some time afterward nearby where Palaipolis once stood, but slightly further inland.

Answer: San Gennaro

San Gennaro, or St. Januarius, was a local bishop who was executed under the orders of Diocletian during the Great Persecution of Christians in 305. He was initially from a wealthy family and became a priest in a highly pagan area of Benevento, which was near Naples, at the age of fifteen.

Although he had managed to avoid arrest for much of the Great Persecution, he was eventually captured when he went to visit his fellow Christians in prison. He was, according to legend, beheaded at the Solfatara crater in the Neapolitan commune of Pozzuoli. Also according to legend, Gennaro was supposed to be executed via wild beasts, but the beasts (sometimes stated to be bears) refused to eat him and left him alone.

Answer: Via aqueduct

After conquering Sicily, Byzantine General Belisarius set his sights on Naples. Belisarius believed his invasion of Naples would take minimum effort, but the city unexpectedly resisted and fought back. The Neapolitans and Ostrogoths initially had the upper hand, with the Byzantines suffering mass casualties and unable to enter the city.

They found something of a secret passage in an unused aqueduct, however, which they enlarged to enter and then attacked Naples. The Byzantines quickly swept through the city and claimed it.

Answer: Abul Abbas

In the mid to late first millennium, Naples switched allies frequently to protect itself from invaders. The city had allied itself with the Saracens (Arabs in southern Europe) to defend the city against Lombard invaders. Although this alliance lasted many years and was beneficial to both sides, it easily allowed Abul Abbas, Emir of the Maghrib, to invade Naples. Abul Abbas plundered the city for its wealth and treasure, but did not seek to conquer its land, having already a strong control on Sicily and Malta.

Answer: Castel Nuovo

Castel Nuovo is one of the most famous attractions in Naples. It was built in 1282 under the orders of King Charles I of Anjou, who was appointed King of Sicily by the Pope. Charles moved the Sicilian capital from Palermo to Naples and Castel Nuovo was built as his main residence. As time passed and Naples grew, Castel Nuovo was considered to be the center of the city. It is located within the Piazza Municipio. Castel Nuovo was the headquarters of the local monarch for centuries.

In the 15th century, Castel Nuovo was rebuilt to make it grander by King Alfonso the Magnanimous of Aragon who had conquered the area and wanted his new lands to rival those of Florence.

Answer: Failing to bring the Spanish Inquisition to Naples

By the 16th century, Naples had fallen under the control of the Kingdom of Aragon. After his wife, Isabella, died, Ferdinand expelled her Castilian allies from Aragon-controlled Naples and ruled Naples with viceroys. The most famous of these viceroys was Pedro de Toledo, who ruled decades after Ferdinand's death.

Although Toledo was seen as instrumental in improving the quality of life in Naples, including increasing its wealth, power and infrastructure, his attempt to bring the Inquisition to Naples was highly unpopular.

Influential Jewish aristocrats were easily able to convince their peers to oppose Toledo in this effort. The Inquisition had stripped land and wealth from Jews in Spain, and non-Jewish aristocrats feared their own property would be taken away. By 1552, Toledo was essentially removed from his position by Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, who sent him away from the city.

He died soon afterward.

Answer: True

Naples was invaded by French Revolutionary troops in 1799. At this time, Naples was governed by a small but powerful group of aristocrats and royalty who opposed the ideas of the French Revolution. The French troops had invaded the city in the hopes of securing the support of the lazzerone, the poor of Naples, who were numerous.

Although French troops did receive some support from the middle class, the population of Naples largely rejected them, including those poorest, and the French left after five months.

Answer: Francis II

King Francis II was the last King of the Two Sicilies. He reigned from 1859 until 1861, when the Italy was unified under one kingdom. As a result of the reunification, Francis II was deposed and he lived with the Pope in Rome. Francis II is not highly regarded as a king, as he is generally seen as having done very little to address the issues of his kingdom and making only a minimum amount of effort to save his lands from Giuseppe Garibaldi.

Answer: Four Days of Naples

The Four Days of Naples (Quattro giornate di Napoli) occurred on September 27-30, 1943, and was the first time an Italian city rebelled against Nazi Germany. The uprising was spontaneous and widely believed to have little chance of success. However, the people of Naples were able to push the Nazis out of the city, an event that saved the city from certain destruction and helped pave the way for an Allied liberation of Italy.

When the British and the Americans arrived in Naples in October, they found the city already liberated, which allowed them to move on elsewhere.

Answer: Camorra

The Camorra is essentially a conglomeration of different mafia associations active within Naples and Campania. The Camorra is active around the world and has been for centuries. In the modern day, Camorra is most active in money laundering and the drug trade. Things heated up in 2004 when hundreds of shootings connected to the Camorra's drug trade plagued Naples. Two clans of the Camorra also fought a rather public feud called the Scampia Feud, which resulted in over 100 murders.

In the 2010s, Naples saw large scale protests against the Camorra over the group's control of waste disposal areas which heavily polluted the city.