In treating of the chief dynasties of Italy, it is convenient t discuss
the Aragonese, on account of its special character, apart from the
rest. The feudal system, which from the days of the Nor mans had
survived in the form of a territorial supremacy of the Barons, gave a
distinctive color to the political constitution of Naples; while
elsewhere in Italy, excepting only in the southern part of the
ecclesiastical dominion, and in a few other districts, a direct tenure
of land prevailed, and no hereditary powers were permitted by the law.
The great Alfonso, who reigned in Naples from 1435 onwards (d. 1458),
was a man of another kind than his real or alleged descendants.
Brilliant in his whole existence, fearless in mixing with his people,
dignified and affable in intercourse, admired rather than blamed even
for his old man's passion for Lucrezia d'Alagno, he had the one bad
quality of extravagance, from which, however, the natural consequence
followed. Unscrupulous financiers were long omnipotent at Court, till
the bankrupt king robbed them of their spoils; a crusade was preached
as a pretext for taxing the clergy; when a great earthquake happened in
the Abruzzi, the survivors were compelled to make good the
contributions of the dead. By such means Alfonso was able to entertain
distinguished guests with unrivalled splendor; he found pleasure in
ceaseless expense, even for the benefit of his enemies, and in
rewarding literary work knew absolutely no measure. Poggio received 500
pieces of gold for translating Xenophon's 'Cyropaedeia' into Latin.

Ferrante, who succeeded him, passed as his illegitimate son by a
Spanish lady, but was not improbably the son of a half-caste Moor of
Valencia. Whether it was his blood or the plots formed against his life
by the barons which embittered and darkened his nature, it is certain
that he was equalled in ferocity by none among the princes of his time.
Restlessly active, recognized as one of the most powerful political