who succeeded to the kingdom of his father Alfonso, became
alarmed at having so powerful an enemy in Italy, and was doubtful of
the disposition of many of his barons, who being desirous of change, he
feared would take part with the French. He was also apprehensive of
the pope, whose ambition he well knew, and who seeing him new in the
government, might design to take it from him. He had no hope except
from the duke of Milan, who entertained no less anxiety concerning the
affairs of the kingdom than Ferrando; for he feared that if the French
were to obtain it, they would endeavor to annex his own dominions; which
he knew they considered to be rightfully their own. He, therefore, soon
after the death of Alfonso, sent letters and forces to Ferrando; the
latter to give him aid and influence, the former to encourage him with
an intimation that he would not, under any circumstances, forsake him.
The pontiff intended, after the death of Alfonso, to give the kingdom
of Naples to his nephew Piero Lodovico Borgia, and, to furnish a decent
pretext for his design and obtain the concurrence of the powers of Italy
in its favor he signified a wish to restore that realm to the dominion
of the church of Rome; and therefore persuaded the duke not to assist
Ferrando. But in the midst of these views and opening enterprises,
Calixtus died, and Pius II. of Siennese origin, of the family of the
Piccolomini, and by name AEneas, succeeded to the pontificate. This
pontiff, free from the ties of private interest, having no object but to
benefit Christendom and honor the church, at the duke's entreaty crowned
Ferrando king of Naples; judging it easier to establish peace if the
kingdom remained in the hands which at present held it, than if he were
to favor the views of the French, or, as Calixtus purposed, take it for
himself. Ferrando, in acknowledgment of the benefit, created Antonio,
one of the pope's nephews, prince of Malfi, gave him an illegitimate
daughter of his own in marriage, and restored Benevento and Terracina to
the church.

It thus appeared that the internal dissensions of Italy might be
quelled, and the pontiff prepared to induce the powers of Christendom
to unite in an enterprise against the Turks (as Calixtus had previously
designed) when differences arose between the Fregosi and John of Anjou,
the lord of Genoa, which occasioned greater and more important wars than
those recently concluded. Pietrino Fregoso was at his castle of R