Charles I of Anjou, also known as Charles of Anjou, was a highly influential historical figure in medieval Europe. Born in 1226 in Paris and dying in Foggia in 1285, he was the son of Louis VIII of France and Blanche of Castile. His life and achievements were notable for several reasons, including his rise to power in various areas of Europe.
During his lifetime, Charles acquired several noble titles, including:
- King of Sicily from 1266 to 1282: He conquered the Kingdom of Sicily following the Battle of Benevento, after defeating and deposing Manfred of Sicily, the last representative of the Hohenstaufen dynasty in Italy.
- King of Naples from 1266 until his death: He founded what would become the Kingdom of Naples, formally separating it from the Kingdom of Sicily after the Sicilian Vespers in 1282.
- Count of Provence and Forcalquier from 1246 until his death: He inherited these titles through his marriage to Beatrice of Provence.
Charles of Anjou had a significant impact on the political landscape of his time, both in Italy and in Europe:
- His victory at the Battle of Benevento in 1266 allowed him to consolidate his house's control over Southern Italy, marking the end of the Hohenstaufen influence in the region.
- He participated in the Seventh Crusade, demonstrating his commitment to Christianity against the Muslim world.
- A violent popular uprising that broke out in Sicily in 1282, known as the Sicilian Vespers, dramatically reduced his control over the island, leading to the division of the kingdom into two entities: the Kingdom of Naples and the Kingdom of Sicily (the latter under the control of the Crown of Aragon).
Charles of Anjou's legacy was complex. On one hand, he established a dynasty that would control Naples for centuries; on the other, his aggressive policies and tendency to centralize power caused tensions and conflicts, as highlighted by the Sicilian Vespers.
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