“Come se non si fosse cambiato padrone”. Il regno di Sicilia dagli Asburgo ai Borbone, tra politica internazionale e dinamiche locali (1700-1703)

Abstract

The death of Charles II of Habsburg and the designation of Philip of Anjou asthe legitimate heir caused - in any territory belonging to the Spanish monarchy –the definition of new political languages and the creation of new networks of political andsocial relationships. This happened also in the Kingdom of Sicily, where the internaland international dynamics were strictly connected. In this context, the role played bythe island was not passive, but allowed – respecting the hierarchies of power - tobuildnetworks of relationships, to achieve specific goals and to rethink the participation ofthe Kingdom within the larger context of Spanish monarchy.The paper aims to highlight as well as the Kingdom of Sicily, although it was in amarginal position in relation to the area of conflict, was affected by problems related tothe defense, the financial contributions and the redefinition of the practices of loyalty