In 1281 Pope Martin IV authorised Charles to launch a crusade against the Byzantine Empire. They tried to channel his ambitions towards other territories and assisted him in acquiring claims to Achaea, Jerusalem and Arles through treaties. Charles's victories secured his undisputed leadership among the Papacy's Italian partisans (known as Guelphs), but his influence on papal elections and his strong military presence in Italy disturbed the popes. In 1270 he took part in the Eighth Crusade organized by Louis IX, and forced the Hafsid Caliph of Tunis to pay a yearly tribute to him. His victory over Manfred's young nephew, Conradin, at the Battle of Tagliacozzo in 1268 strengthened his rule.

He annihilated Manfred's army and occupied the Regno almost without resistance.

Pope Urban IV declared a crusade against the incumbent Manfred of Sicily and assisted Charles in raising funds for the military campaign.Ĭharles was crowned king in Rome on 5 January 1266. This kingdom included, in addition to the island of Sicily, southern Italy to well north of Naples and was known as the Regno. In 1263, after years of negotiations, he accepted the offer of the Holy See to seize the Kingdom of Sicily from the Hohenstaufens. Charles forced the rebellious Provençal nobles and towns into submission and expanded his suzerainty over a dozen towns and lordships in the Kingdom of Arles. Two years later Louis IX persuaded him to renounce the county, but compensated him by instructing Margaret to pay him 160,000 marks. Shortly after he returned to Provence in 1250, Charles forced three wealthy autonomous cities- Marseilles, Arles and Avignon-to acknowledge his suzerainty.Ĭharles supported Margaret II, Countess of Flanders and Hainaut, against her eldest son, John, in exchange for Hainaut in 1253. He accompanied Louis during the Seventh Crusade to Egypt. Charles received Anjou and Maine from his brother, Louis IX of France, in appanage. His attempts to restore central authority brought him into conflict with his mother-in-law, Beatrice of Savoy, and the nobility. He acquired Provence and Forcalquier through his marriage to their heiress, Beatrice. The youngest son of Louis VIII of France and Blanche of Castile, Charles was destined for a Church career until the early 1240s. In 1272, he was proclaimed King of Albania and in 1277 he purchased a claim to the Kingdom of Jerusalem. He was Count of Provence (1246–85) and Forcalquier (1246–48, 1256–85) in the Holy Roman Empire, Count of Anjou and Maine (1246–85) in France he was also King of Sicily (1266–85) and Prince of Achaea (1278–85). Charles I (early 1226/1227 – 7 January 1285), commonly called Charles of Anjou, was a member of the royal Capetian dynasty and the founder of the second House of Anjou.

Crusader kings 2 ambitions