Editing Ferdinand I of Naples (section)

==== Death and burial ====
[[File:Regno di napoli, ferdinando I, oro, 1458-1494, 03.JPG|thumb|Coin with the effigy of Ferrante]]
King Ferrante, who up to 1493 with his prudence had maintained the peace both in the [[Kingdom of Naples|Kingdom]] and in [[Italy]], knowing that [[Kingdom of France|France]] was preparing for war, began to reinforce the kingdom and to recruit armies to resist such a powerful enemy; but due to a great [[phlegm]] and then [[fever]], on the fourteenth day of his infirmity, he died on January 25, [[1494]], overwhelmed more by the sorrows of the soul than by age. This tenacious man maintained physical health and mental clarity until the end of his life; his sturdy and muscular body withered in old age and his thick dark hair, cut short in the prime of life, became long and white, but only a few serious illnesses are remembered of him.<ref name="Treccani">{{cite web|url=https://www.treccani.it/enciclopedia/ferdinando-i-d-aragona-re-di-napoli_%28Dizionario-Biografico%29/|title = Treccani - la cultura italiana &#124; Treccani, il portale del sapere}}</ref>

Shortly before his death, not believing that his time had really come, he had his hair and jaws accommodated, which seemed to be falling, but, suddenly feeling faint, trembling said to the children and grandchildren who were around him these words: "My children, be blessed"; and turning to a crucifix he said:""[[Deus]], propitius esto mihi peccatori ([[God]], forgive my sins)", and immediately died.<ref name="Le vite de Re di Napoli"/><ref name="Biancardi 1737-7">{{harvnb|Biancardi|1737|p= 356}}.</ref> The cause of his death was determined in 2006 to have been [[colorectal cancer]] (mucinous adenocarcinoma type with mutation in the [[KRAS|KRas]] gene), by examination of his mummy. His remains show levels of carbon 13 and nitrogen 15 consistent with historical reports of considerable consumption of meat.<ref name="Ottini2010">Ottini L, Falchetti M, Marinozzi S, Angeletti LR, Fornaciari G (2010) Gene-environment interactions in the pre-Industrial Era: the cancer of King Ferrante I of Aragon (1431-1494).
Hum. Pathol.{{Full citation needed|date=September 2019}}</ref> The death of this sovereign was preceded by huge earthquakes, which caused many buildings to collapse in [[Naples]], [[Capua]], [[Gaeta]], and [[Aversa]]. It is also said that on the day he was buried, the Mint of Naples had largely collapsed.

Ferrante's funeral, which was celebrated by order of [[Alfonso II of Naples|Alfonso]], was solemn, and neither the barons nor the primates of the city were second in giving him the extreme offices. Two funeral prayers were celebrated, one inside the [[Castel Nuovo]] in the presence of the militias and the other in the [[San Domenico Maggiore|Church of San Domenico Maggiore]].<ref name="Nicolò Morelli-1849" />

His embalmed corpse was placed in a chest covered with gold [[brocade]] and was buried in the Basilica of San Domenico Maggiore. His sepulcher can be seen in the sacristy of the basilica.<ref name="Le vite de Re di Napoli"/> His heart was enclosed with very sweet heights in a small golden urn engraved with the verses: "Fernandus senior, qui condidit aurea saecla (Ferdinand the elder, who founded the golden age). Hic felix Italum vivit in virum hours".<ref name="Nicolò Morelli-1849" />

His death, unfortunately fatal, led to ruin not only his [[House of Trastámara|progeny]] and the [[Kingdom of Naples|kingdom]], but showered him of innumerable evils throughout the [[Italy]].<ref name="Le vite de Re di Napoli"/><ref name="Biancardi 1737-7"/>

On the throne he was succeeded by his son [[Alfonso II of Naples]], who in turn abdicated very soon in favor of his own son [[Ferdinand II of Naples|Ferrandino]] due to the much-feared invasion of [[Charles VIII of France]], who in 1494 fell to Italy.

The move did not have the desired effects: the [[House of Trastámara|Aragonese]] lineage was by now dangerously vacillating and the imminent arrival of the French sovereign pushed many Neapolitan nobles to take sides with the invader, facilitating the future fall of the royals from the throne.