Individual Details
Charles II King of Naples, Sicily and Jerusalem
(1254 - 6 May 1309)
Charles was born in 1254, the son of Charles I Etienne, king of Naples and Sicily, and Beatrice de Provence. His father made him prince of Salerno and gave him Maria of Hungary, daughter of Stephan V, king of Hungary, and Erzsebet of the Cumans, as his bride. They married in 1269; of their fourteen children, four sons and three daughters would have progeny. In 1282 his father lost Sicily to the king of Aragón. When he set out to regain it he left Charles II in charge of Naples. In 1284 the enemy's admiral, Ruggiero de Lauria, lured Charles out of Naples and he was captured. In 1285, while he was still imprisoned, his father Charles I Etienne died. It took until 1288 for him to arrange his own release with his promise to give up his claims to Sicily. However, once Charles was released and installed as king of Naples, Pope Nicholas IV absolved him from this promise, and so the war for Sicily continued.
Later, at the Peace of Caltabellotta in 1302, Charles II gave up his claim to Sicily for the lifetime of Fadrique III of Aragón, king of Sicily. Charles then built a set of alliances, usually sealed with the marriage of one of his children. In this way he increased or extended his control over Piedmont, Provence, Hungary, Athens, and Albania. Even though he was extremely pious and closely allied with the Church, he ruled over an enlightened court, eliminating many of his father's harsh measures. By fostering trade and the arts, patronising the university, and building monasteries and churches, he made Naples a European capital. Charles died on 6 May 1309, and was succeeded in Naples and Sicily by his son Robert.
Source: Leo van de Pas
Later, at the Peace of Caltabellotta in 1302, Charles II gave up his claim to Sicily for the lifetime of Fadrique III of Aragón, king of Sicily. Charles then built a set of alliances, usually sealed with the marriage of one of his children. In this way he increased or extended his control over Piedmont, Provence, Hungary, Athens, and Albania. Even though he was extremely pious and closely allied with the Church, he ruled over an enlightened court, eliminating many of his father's harsh measures. By fostering trade and the arts, patronising the university, and building monasteries and churches, he made Naples a European capital. Charles died on 6 May 1309, and was succeeded in Naples and Sicily by his son Robert.
Source: Leo van de Pas
Events
| Birth | 1254 | ||||
| Marriage | 1269 | Maria of Hungary | |||
| Death | 6 May 1309 | Casanova | |||
| Biography |  |
Families
| Spouse | Maria of Hungary (1257 - 1322) |
| Child | Marguerite d'Anjou ( - 1299) |
| Father | Charles I Etienne King of Naples and Sicily (1226 - 1285) |
| Mother | Beatrice de Provence (1234 - 1267) |
Notes
Biography
Charles was born in 1254, the son of Charles I Etienne, king of Naples and Sicily, and Beatrice de Provence. His father made him prince of Salerno and gave him Maria of Hungary, daughter of Stephan V, king of Hungary, and Erzsebet of the Cumans, as his bride. They married in 1269; of their fourteen children, four sons and three daughters would have progeny. In 1282 his father lost Sicily to the king of Aragón. When he set out to regain it he left Charles II in charge of Naples. In 1284 the enemy's admiral, Ruggiero de Lauria, lured Charles out of Naples and he was captured. In 1285, while he was still imprisoned, his father Charles I Etienne died. It took until 1288 for him to arrange his own release with his promise to give up his claims to Sicily. However, once Charles was released and installed as king of Naples, Pope Nicholas IV absolved him from this promise, and so the war for Sicily continued.Later, at the Peace of Caltabellotta in 1302, Charles II gave up his claim to Sicily for the lifetime of Fadrique III of Aragón, king of Sicily. Charles then built a set of alliances, usually sealed with the marriage of one of his children. In this way he increased or extended his control over Piedmont, Provence, Hungary, Athens, and Albania. Even though he was extremely pious and closely allied with the Church, he ruled over an enlightened court, eliminating many of his father's harsh measures. By fostering trade and the arts, patronising the university, and building monasteries and churches, he made Naples a European capital. Charles died on 6 May 1309, and was succeeded in Naples and Sicily by his son Robert.