Charles I of Anjou

Charles I of Anjou defeated Manfred of Hohenstaufen at the Battle of Benevento, conquering the Kingdom of Sicily. He was crowned king in Rome with papal support, establishing Angevin rule in southern Italy.

Charles I defeated Conradin of Hohenstaufen at the Battle of Tagliacozzo, ending Hohenstaufen claims to Sicily. Conradin was captured and later executed, solidifying Angevin control and earning Charles a reputation for ruthlessness.

Charles I negotiated with the Pope and other powers to launch a crusade against the Byzantine Empire, aiming to restore the Latin Empire. He used Sicily as a base for naval preparations, but the plan was delayed by the Eighth Crusade.

A popular uprising in Palermo, known as the Sicilian Vespers, expelled Angevin rule from Sicily. The revolt was supported by Peter III of Aragon, leading to a war that cost Charles control of the island and weakened his power.

Charles I died at Foggia, leaving his son Charles II a reduced kingdom. The loss of Sicily and the ongoing war with Aragon ended his dreams of a Mediterranean empire, and the Angevin dynasty never recovered its former power.