Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 63, No. 391, May, 1848Various
General
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 63, No. 391, May, 1848
Various
England -- Periodicals; Scotland -- Periodicals
Every thing seemed arranged, when unexpected obstacles arose. On the
one hand, Charles of Valois, having neither dominions nor crown,
obstinately resisted the transfer of his imaginary kingdom; on the
other, the Sicilians declared they would die to a man rather than
acknowledge the sovereignty of the house of Anjou. They summoned Don
Jaime to renounce his project, and when he persisted in it, they
raised to the throne the Infante Frederick, at first with the title of
Lord of Sicily, afterwards with that of King. This prince proved
worthy of the national choice. In vain did Boniface VIII. assail him
in turn with flattery and menace; the new king of Sicily remained
faithful to his people. By a strange concurrence of circumstances, he
found himself opposed in arms to his brother Jaime of Arragon, now the
ally of his father-in-law, Charles II., who had recovered his liberty
and returned to his dominions. In spite of his own and his subjects'
valour, Frederick III. was at first nearly overcome. The house of
Anjou would have reconquered Sicily, but for the defection of the
fickle King of Arragon, who abandoned his allies and returned home,
carrying with him the contempt of all parties. After various changes
of fortune, a definitive treaty of peace was concluded between the
belligerents, under the auspices of Rome. By its conditions, Frederick
III. was to retain the crown of Sicily for his life, with the title of
King of Trinacria, invented to avoid infringement on the rights of
Charles II., who kept the title of King of Sicily, with the reversion
of the dominions for himself and his direct heirs, after the death of
Frederick, who married Eleanor, youngest daughter of Charles. The
basis of this treaty was manifestly unstable, its very letter was soon
effaced: and Frederick, disdaining the singular title of King of
Trinacria, soon resumed his rightful one. There were thus two kings of
Sicily, on this and that side the straits, and from that period dates
the term, the Two Sicilies.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account