Manfred of Sicily

Manfred (1232–1266) was the last Hohenstaufen king of Sicily, the natural son of Emperor Frederick II and Bianca Lancia. He took the regency for his nephew Conradin in 1254.

After negotiating with Pope Innocent IV, he fled to Lucera and, with Muslim allies, defeated a papal army at Foggia that December. Excommunicated by successive popes, he had himself crowned king at Palermo in 1258 and championed the Ghibellines.

Pope Urban IV called in Charles of Anjou. Charles defeated and killed Manfred at the Battle of Benevento on 26 February 1266, seizing Sicily.