Editing Pope Innocent IV (section)

==Later politics==
Despite other concerns, the later years of Innocent's life were largely directed to political schemes for encompassing the overthrow of [[Manfred of Sicily]], the natural son of Frederick II, whom the towns and the nobility had for the most part received as his father's successor. Innocent aimed to incorporate the whole [[Kingdom of Sicily]] into the [[Papal States]], but he lacked the necessary economic and political power. Therefore, after a failed agreement with [[Charles of Anjou]], he invested [[Edmund Crouchback]], the nine-year-old son of King [[Henry III of England]], with that kingdom on 14 May 1254.

In the same year, Innocent excommunicated Frederick II's other son, [[Conrad IV|Conrad IV, King of Germany]], but the latter died a few days after the investiture of Edmund. Innocent spent the spring of 1254 in Assisi and then, at the beginning of June, moved to [[Palace of the Popes in Anagni|Anagni]],<ref>Potthast, p. 1268.</ref> where he awaited Manfred's reaction to the event, especially considering that Conrad's heir, [[Conradin]], had been entrusted to Papal tutelage by King Conrad's testament. Manfred submitted, although probably only to gain time and counter the menace from Edmund, and accepted the title of [[papal vicar]] for southern Italy. Innocent could therefore enjoy a moment in which he was the acknowledged sovereign, in theory at least, of most of the peninsula. Innocent overplayed his hand, however, by accepting the fealty of the city of [[Amalfi]] directly to the Papacy instead of to the Kingdom of Sicily on 23 October. Manfred immediately, on 26 October, fled from [[Teano]], where he had established his headquarters, and headed to [[Lucera]] to rejoin his Saracen troops.<ref>Bartholomaeus Capasso, ''Historia diplomatica Regni Siciliae inde ab anno 1250 ad annum 1266'' (Neapoli 1874), p. 82.</ref>
 
Manfred had not lost his nerve,<ref>Giuseppe di Cesare, ''Storia di Manfredi, re di Sicilia e di Puglia'' I (Napoli: Raffaele di Stefano 1837), pp. 49–101.</ref> and organized resistance to papal aggression. Supported by his faithful Saracen troops, he began using military force to make rebellious barons and towns submit to his authority as Regent for his nephew.