Frederick III of Sicily

Frederick III of Sicily (1272–1337) was the third son of Peter III of Aragon and Constance II. In 1291 he became regent of Sicily for his brother James II. When James handed the island to the Church and the Angevins in 1295, the Sicilians refused to go back to French rule and crowned Frederick king at Palermo in 1296.

He held out against Angevin and papal armies, defeating an invasion in 1299. The Peace of Caltabellotta in 1302 recognised him as king for life and married him to Eleanor of Anjou, though the crown was nominally to return to the Angevins.

He strengthened the Sicilian parliament and renewed the war with Naples in 1313 with Emperor Henry VII's backing. He died at Paternò in 1337, and his son Peter II succeeded him regardless.