Editing Charles II of Naples (section)

==Early life==

Born in 1254, Charles was the son of [[Charles I of Anjou]] and [[Beatrice of Provence]].{{sfn|Small|2004|p=213}}{{sfn|Dunbabin|1998|p=43}} He was the sole heir of his father's vast dominion.{{sfn|Dunbabin|1998|p=117}} By the time of Charles's birth, his father had seized [[County of Provence|Provence]] and [[County of Forcalquier|Forcalquier]] (in the [[Holy Roman Empire]]), [[County of Anjou|Anjou]] and [[County of Maine|Maine]] (in France), and the [[Kingdom of Sicily]] (a fief of the [[Holy See]]).{{sfn|Small|2004|p=212}} In the 1270s, his father also proclaimed himself [[King of Albania]] (in reference to his conquests along the Eastern coast of the [[Ionian Sea]]), partially asserted his claim to the [[Kingdom of Jerusalem]], and inherited [[Principality of Achaea|Achaea]] (in the [[Peloponnese]]).{{sfn|Small|2004|p=212}} Charles's mother died in 1267, but his father's determination to keep his empire intact deprived Charles of his maternal inheritance during his father's lifetime.{{sfn|Dunbabin|1998|p=43}}

Charles I arranged a double marriage alliance with [[Stephen V of Hungary]] in 1269.{{sfn|Dunbabin|1998|p=90}}{{sfn|Engel|2001|p=107}} Stephen's daughter, [[Mary of Hungary, Queen of Naples|Maria]] was engaged to Charles, and Charles's sister, [[Elizabeth of Sicily, Queen of Hungary|Isabelle]] to Maria's brother, [[Ladislaus IV of Hungary|Ladislaus]].{{sfn|Engel|2001|p=107}} Charles fell seriously ill in late 1271.{{sfn|Dunbabin|1998|p=185}} To encourage prayers for his recovery, his father donated Charles's wax sculptures to churches frequented by pilgrims in the whole kingdom.{{sfn|Dunbabin|1998|pp=185, 230}} After Charles recovered, his father made a pilgrimage at the shrine of [[Saint Nicholas]] in [[Bari]] and sent gifts to the sanctuary of [[Mary the Virgin]] at [[Rocamadour]].{{sfn|Dunbabin|1998|pp=185, 230}}

Charles was dubbed with his brother, [[Philip of Sicily|Philip]], count of Taranto and some 100 Italian and French noble scions at the feast of [[Pentecost]] in 1272.{{sfn|Dunbabin|1998|pp=184, 200}} On this occasion, his father Charles I granted him as appanage the [[Principality of Salerno]], a fief customarily held by the heirs apparent to the throne by the previous royal house the Hauteville.{{sfn|Dunbabin|1998|pp=184, 200}} The grant to Charles further stipulated that he could not claim more territories as a prince, thus keeping the area of Provence under direct royal rule.{{sfn|Dunbabin|1998|p=185}}