Infante Fadrique of Castile
Encyclopedia
Infante Frederick of Castile (1223–1277), born in Guadalajara, was a younger son of St. Ferdinand III, King of Castile
by his first wife, Elisabeth of Hohenstaufen
.
After the conquest of Seville, unhappy under the rule of his brother Alfonso
, he may have participated in the rebellion of his brother Henry in 1255; in any case, he was exiled from Castile
in 1260 and joined Henry as a knight errant in Tunis
serving under Sultan Al Mustansir against his enemies. Later, he joined the service of King Manfred of Sicily
, and fought at the Battle of Benevento
(1266). He escaped the defeat there and returned to Tunis. An anti-Angevin revolt in Sicily
in 1267 provided an opportunity for him to cross over again, and he helped raise the island for Conradin
, while Enrique (now Senator of Rome) also declared for Conradin in Rome. He fought on in Sicily with Frederick Lancia after the defeat of Conradin in the battle of Tagliacozzo and the imprisonment of Enrique in Canosa di Puglia, but they were forced to surrender at Girgenti in 1269. However, they were allowed to escape to Tunis again rather than being imprisoned. There they served the Tunisians against the soldiers of the Eighth Crusade
(1270). In 1274 he married Catherine Komnenos Dukás (1248–1294) daughter of the Despot of Epirus Nikephoros Komnenos Dukás.
In 1272, he was reconciled with Alfonso, returned to Castile, and became one of his advisors. However, he involved himself in a plot regarding the succession and was secretly executed by Alfonso in 1277.
Ferdinand III of Castile
Saint Ferdinand III, T.O.S.F., was the King of Castile from 1217 and León from 1230. He was the son of Alfonso IX of León and Berenguela of Castile. Through his second marriage he was also Count of Aumale. He finished the work done by his maternal grandfather Alfonso VIII and consolidated the...
by his first wife, Elisabeth of Hohenstaufen
Elisabeth of Hohenstaufen
Beatrice of Swabia was Queen of Castile and Leon as the wife of King Ferdinand III...
.
After the conquest of Seville, unhappy under the rule of his brother Alfonso
Alfonso X of Castile
Alfonso X was a Castilian monarch who ruled as the King of Castile, León and Galicia from 1252 until his death...
, he may have participated in the rebellion of his brother Henry in 1255; in any case, he was exiled from Castile
Kingdom of Castile
Kingdom of Castile was one of the medieval kingdoms of the Iberian Peninsula. It emerged as a political autonomous entity in the 9th century. It was called County of Castile and was held in vassalage from the Kingdom of León. Its name comes from the host of castles constructed in the region...
in 1260 and joined Henry as a knight errant in Tunis
Tunis
Tunis is the capital of both the Tunisian Republic and the Tunis Governorate. It is Tunisia's largest city, with a population of 728,453 as of 2004; the greater metropolitan area holds some 2,412,500 inhabitants....
serving under Sultan Al Mustansir against his enemies. Later, he joined the service of King Manfred of Sicily
Manfred of Sicily
Manfred was the King of Sicily from 1258 to 1266. He was a natural son of the emperor Frederick II of Hohenstaufen but his mother, Bianca Lancia , is reported by Matthew of Paris to have been married to the emperor while on her deathbed.-Background:Manfred was born in Venosa...
, and fought at the Battle of Benevento
Battle of Benevento
The Battle of Benevento was fought near Benevento, in present-day Southern Italy, on February 26, 1266, between the troops of Charles of Anjou and Manfred of Sicily. Manfred's defeat and death resulted in the capture of the Kingdom of Sicily by Charles....
(1266). He escaped the defeat there and returned to Tunis. An anti-Angevin revolt in Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
in 1267 provided an opportunity for him to cross over again, and he helped raise the island for Conradin
Conradin
Conrad , called the Younger or the Boy, but usually known by the diminutive Conradin , was the Duke of Swabia , King of Jerusalem , and King of Sicily .-Early childhood:Conradin was born in Wolfstein, Bavaria, to Conrad...
, while Enrique (now Senator of Rome) also declared for Conradin in Rome. He fought on in Sicily with Frederick Lancia after the defeat of Conradin in the battle of Tagliacozzo and the imprisonment of Enrique in Canosa di Puglia, but they were forced to surrender at Girgenti in 1269. However, they were allowed to escape to Tunis again rather than being imprisoned. There they served the Tunisians against the soldiers of the Eighth Crusade
Eighth Crusade
The Eighth Crusade was a crusade launched by Louis IX, King of France, in 1270. The Eighth Crusade is sometimes counted as the Seventh, if the Fifth and Sixth Crusades of Frederick II are counted as a single crusade...
(1270). In 1274 he married Catherine Komnenos Dukás (1248–1294) daughter of the Despot of Epirus Nikephoros Komnenos Dukás.
In 1272, he was reconciled with Alfonso, returned to Castile, and became one of his advisors. However, he involved himself in a plot regarding the succession and was secretly executed by Alfonso in 1277.