Francisco II of Sicily of the Castillian Álvarez dynasty was born in 1640 as the son of José of Sicily and his wife. 1667, he made a dynastical marriage with Florence, with the only surviving child of grand duke Lorenzo III, Condolcessa. (Even besides the political consequences, the marriage was considered a scandal - there were rumors that Condolcessa was the mistress of both her father and her uncle, late grand duke Giovanni III.) In 1693, the Earthquake of Sicily destroyed the old royal palace, helping king Francisco / Francesco I in his decision to move the court to Rome.