MANFRED, King of Sicily. - Born ca. 1232, died 26 February 1266. Natural son of Frederick II and of a marchioness Lancia of Lombardy. He studied in Paris and in Bologna. He married first Beatrice of Savoy and second Helen, daughter of Comnenus, despot of Epirus. After his father's death he became prince of Taranto and regent of the Kingdom of Sicily until the descent of Conrad IV. The latter vainly sought to remove him, for at his death (1254) the nobility drew even more closely to M. Excommunicated by Innocent IV, who, before recognizing Conradin's rights of succession, demanded open submission to the Church and recognition of its rights, he attempted the struggle, then came to terms until he was absolved and restored to his fiefs (27 September 1254), accepting the condition of vicar of the Church. However, since grave suspicions weighed upon him, he sought to clear himself with the Pope, but then fled to the Saracens of Lucera, who proclaimed him their lord (2 November 1254). Having succeeded in assembling a strong army, he defeated the papal forces. He governed for two years in the name of Conradin, his nephew; but, when the news of the latter's death was then artfully spread, he assumed the title of king and was crowned at Palermo on 11 August 1258, promising thereafter to preserve the power for Conradin and his successors.
He founded the city of Manfredonia in Apulia. He skillfully took advantage of the new Italian political life by forming alliances within and outside Italy. He fought against Thomas of Savoy and the marquis William of Montferrat; he took part in the crusade proclaimed against Ezzelino da Romano and gave his daughter Constance in marriage to the firstborn son of King Peter of Aragon. Aiming to enlarge his dominion by profiting from the Italian discords, he knew how to intervene in the struggles between Guelphs and Ghibellines in Tuscany, and the victory of Montaperti (4 November 1260) marked the apogee of his power. But once the Guelph forces in Italy were revived, Urban IV offered the crown of Sicily to Charles of Anjou. When the latter descended (1265) into Italy, M. withdrew to Benevento, and fell in battle (26 February 1266). Buried at the foot of the bridge of Benevento, he was removed from there because he had died excommunicated, and cast beyond the borders of the Kingdom along the Garigliano. Dante, while acknowledging his « gravissimi peccati », showed great pity for his life so cruelly cut short (Purg., III, 103 ff.). M. loved letters, music and poetry in the manner of the troubadours. There remain by him some letters, two of which are inserted in the Miscellanea of E. Baluze (ed. Mansi, Lucca 1761), and a continuation of Frederick II's treatise on hunting.
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Innocenzo Giuliani