Individual Details
Manfredo King of Sicily
(1232 - 28 Feb 1266)
Known as 'bello e biondo', Manfredo was born at Venosa, southern Italy, in 1232, the illegitimate son of Emperor Friedrich II by his mistress Bianca Lancia, whom Friedrich was said to have married on his deathbed. In his early years he had been a great favourite of his father, sharing literature and other tastes. Before the emperor died, he appointed Manfredo viceroy of Southern Italy and Sicily.
When about seventeen, Manfredo married Béatrice de Savoie, daughter of Amadeo IV, comte de Savoie, duke of Chablais and Aosta, and his first wife Anne (Marguerite) de Bourgogne. They had two children of whom Constance would have progeny.
On the death of his half-brother Konrad IV, Manfredo supported Konrad's son Konradin. However, as the two-year-old Konradin was in Germany with his mother, Manfredo was crowned king of Sicily in 1258, taking up residence at Barletta. As he was a widower, in April 1259 he took for his second wife Elena Dukaina Angelina, heiress of Corfu, a daughter of Michael II Komnenos Dukas Nothos Angelos, archon of Epirus and Atolia, and fathered another four children by her, all of whom would have progeny.
However Pope Urban IV, continuing the feud against the Hohenstaufen, excommunicated Manfredo and handed the kingdom of Sicily to Charles I Etienne of Anjou, a brother of the French King Louis IX. Charles brought a well-equipped army to Beneventum, where the two opponents met on 26 February 1266. As the battle turned against Manfredo and with his German barons defecting, he tried to inspire his men by going into the thick of the battle with great valour, but he was killed. The pope refused a Christian burial for him, and Charles of Anjou imprisoned Manfredo's widow Elena and her young children. Only Constance, Manfredo's surviving child by his first wife, escaped imprisonment. She would become the wife of Pedro III 'the Great', king of Aragón, who through her also became king of Sicily.
Source: Leo van de Pas
When about seventeen, Manfredo married Béatrice de Savoie, daughter of Amadeo IV, comte de Savoie, duke of Chablais and Aosta, and his first wife Anne (Marguerite) de Bourgogne. They had two children of whom Constance would have progeny.
On the death of his half-brother Konrad IV, Manfredo supported Konrad's son Konradin. However, as the two-year-old Konradin was in Germany with his mother, Manfredo was crowned king of Sicily in 1258, taking up residence at Barletta. As he was a widower, in April 1259 he took for his second wife Elena Dukaina Angelina, heiress of Corfu, a daughter of Michael II Komnenos Dukas Nothos Angelos, archon of Epirus and Atolia, and fathered another four children by her, all of whom would have progeny.
However Pope Urban IV, continuing the feud against the Hohenstaufen, excommunicated Manfredo and handed the kingdom of Sicily to Charles I Etienne of Anjou, a brother of the French King Louis IX. Charles brought a well-equipped army to Beneventum, where the two opponents met on 26 February 1266. As the battle turned against Manfredo and with his German barons defecting, he tried to inspire his men by going into the thick of the battle with great valour, but he was killed. The pope refused a Christian burial for him, and Charles of Anjou imprisoned Manfredo's widow Elena and her young children. Only Constance, Manfredo's surviving child by his first wife, escaped imprisonment. She would become the wife of Pedro III 'the Great', king of Aragón, who through her also became king of Sicily.
Source: Leo van de Pas
Events
| Birth | 1232 | Venosa | |||
| Marriage | 1248 | Beatrice of Savoia | |||
| Death | 28 Feb 1266 |
Families
| Spouse | Beatrice of Savoia ( - 1259) |
| Child | Constance of Sicily (1249 - 1301) |
| Father | Friedrich II Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire (1194 - 1250) |
| Mother | Bianca Lancia (1212 - ) |