After the final defeat of the French Emperor Napoleon I in 1815, the victorious European powers tried to restore the authority of kings and priests, which had been shaken by the French Revolution. But liberal ideas soon surfaced once more and challenged the new conservative order. Spain and Portugal lost their American empires and were torn by internal political disputes. Italy struggled to find a path to self-government and national unity. In the Ottoman Empire, national uprisings shook the sultan's throne. @"See Naples and die"@
In the 19th century, Naples was capital of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies and a vital seaport. It was built like an amphitheatre around the Gulf that bears its name. The famous expression "see Naples and die" reflects the city's prestige during this time.
