The opera is loosely based on the historical uprising of Masaniello against Spanish rule in Naples in 1647. The story happens in 1647 in the Kingdom of Naples that at that time was under Spanish rule. The story revolves around the fishermen revolts, lead by Tomaso Aniello (a.k.a. Masaniello) in the village of Portici, that resulted in a major riot in which the rebels took the Castle Nuovo and forced the Spanish rulers to flee.