DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.67375#0038
20
NAPLES AND ITS ENVIRONS.
The first object to which he now devoted himself was
the extinction of the Saracens and all others who had
been faithful to Manfred and Conradin, an end which he
achieved by means of great cruelties. He aimed to be the
absolute master of his territory, and fondly hoped to wear
the Imperial Crown. But Pope Gregory X. had other
views; and by favoring the return of the Ghibelline exiles
and making Rudolph of Hapsburg Emperor of Germany,
he effectually lessened the power and ambition of Charles.
His successor, Pope Nicholas III., still further humiliated
the King of Naples by depriving him of his senatorship in
Rome and his power in Tuscany.
Another obstacle to the attainment of his wishes was
his absence during two years in a crusade against the
Infidels ; but on the death of Nicholas HI. and the election
of a French pope, Martin IV., Charles counted on regain-
ing all that he had lost. This hope was soon crushed by a
conspiracy led by Peter of Aragon, the husband of Man-
fred’s daughter Constance, — the sole heir of the Hohen-
staufen, — who claimed the kingdom of Sicily in her right,
and was supported by the Emperor Michael Paleologus.
Charles was aware of their plans, and was preparing to
defend himself, when, in 1282, the sleeping hatred of the
Sicilians for the French was roused to vengeance by an
insult offered a Sicilian bride by a French soldier. The
massacre known as the “ Sicilian Vespers ” followed, and
eight thousand Frenchmen were slain, and the reign of
Charles essentially ended. He besieged Messina, but was
repulsed by Peter of Aragon, who was proclaimed king.
The Pope thundered his anathemas in vain; Peter and his
ally gave them no heed. The capture of the son of Charles
in 1284, by the Admiral, Roger of Loria, completed the
mortification and sorrow of the Angevine king, and he
lived but two years longer.
Charles II. of Anjou ransomed himself from prison in
NAPLES AND ITS ENVIRONS.
The first object to which he now devoted himself was
the extinction of the Saracens and all others who had
been faithful to Manfred and Conradin, an end which he
achieved by means of great cruelties. He aimed to be the
absolute master of his territory, and fondly hoped to wear
the Imperial Crown. But Pope Gregory X. had other
views; and by favoring the return of the Ghibelline exiles
and making Rudolph of Hapsburg Emperor of Germany,
he effectually lessened the power and ambition of Charles.
His successor, Pope Nicholas III., still further humiliated
the King of Naples by depriving him of his senatorship in
Rome and his power in Tuscany.
Another obstacle to the attainment of his wishes was
his absence during two years in a crusade against the
Infidels ; but on the death of Nicholas HI. and the election
of a French pope, Martin IV., Charles counted on regain-
ing all that he had lost. This hope was soon crushed by a
conspiracy led by Peter of Aragon, the husband of Man-
fred’s daughter Constance, — the sole heir of the Hohen-
staufen, — who claimed the kingdom of Sicily in her right,
and was supported by the Emperor Michael Paleologus.
Charles was aware of their plans, and was preparing to
defend himself, when, in 1282, the sleeping hatred of the
Sicilians for the French was roused to vengeance by an
insult offered a Sicilian bride by a French soldier. The
massacre known as the “ Sicilian Vespers ” followed, and
eight thousand Frenchmen were slain, and the reign of
Charles essentially ended. He besieged Messina, but was
repulsed by Peter of Aragon, who was proclaimed king.
The Pope thundered his anathemas in vain; Peter and his
ally gave them no heed. The capture of the son of Charles
in 1284, by the Admiral, Roger of Loria, completed the
mortification and sorrow of the Angevine king, and he
lived but two years longer.
Charles II. of Anjou ransomed himself from prison in