The Italian Revolts

In 1647, popular revolutions broke out in Naples and Palermo, and soon these two cities were in the hands of revolutionary governments. In Naples, at least, it was again the excessive taxation, imposed for Spain's war effort that had precipitated the rebellion. The Spanish monarchy, wrote the Venetian ambassador to Madrid at the time, 'resembled that great colossus that during an earthquake had collapsed in a few moments while everyone hurried along to enrich himself with the fragments.' In fact, Spain survived and even managed to hold on to much of its empire. The revolts of Naples and Sicily, directed as much against the local nobility as against Spain, were put down in 1648.