Editing Conradin (section)

==Political and military career==
Having assumed the title of [[King of Jerusalem]] and [[King of Sicily|Sicily]], Conradin took possession of the [[Duchy of Swabia]] in 1262, and remained for some time in his duchy.<ref name=EB1911/> Conradin's first invitation to [[Italy]] came from the [[Guelphs and Ghibellines|Guelph]]s of [[Florence]]: they asked him to take arms against Manfred, who had been crowned [[Kingdom of Sicily|king of Sicily]] in 1258 on a false rumor of Conradin's death. Louis refused this invitation on his nephew's behalf. In 1266 count [[Charles I of Naples|Charles I of Anjou]], called by the new pope [[Pope Clement IV|Clement IV]], defeated and killed Manfred at [[Battle of Benevento|Benevento]], taking possession of southern Italy: envoys from the [[Ghibelline]] cities went then to Bavaria and urged Conradin to come and free Italy. Count Guido de Montefeltro representing [[Henry of Castile the Senator|Henry of Castile]], Senator of Rome, offered him the support of the eternal city. Pledging his lands, Conradin crossed the [[Alps]] and issued a manifesto at [[Verona, Italy|Verona]] setting forth his claim on Sicily.<ref name=EB1911/>

Notwithstanding the defection of his uncle Louis and of other companions who returned to Germany, the threats of [[Pope Clement IV|Clement IV]], and a lack of funds, his cause seemed to prosper.<ref name=EB1911/> Proclaiming him King of Sicily, his partisans, among them Prince Henry of Castile, both in the north and south of Italy took up arms. Rome received his envoy with enthusiasm; and the young king himself received welcomes at [[Pavia]], [[Pisa]] and [[Siena]]. In September 1267 a Spanish fleet under [[Frederick of Castile]], and a number of knights from Pisa, and Spanish knights soldiering from Tunis, disembarked in the Sicilian city of [[Sciacca]], and most of the island rebelled against the [[County of Anjou|Angevin]] rule. Only [[Palermo]] and [[Messina]] remained loyal to Charles. The revolt spread to [[Calabria]] and [[Apulia]]. In November of the same year the Pope [[excommunication|excommunicated]] him. His fleet won a victory over that of [[Charles I of Anjou]], and in July 1268, Conradin himself entered Rome to a great and popular reception.
[[File:Enthauptung Konradins.jpg|thumb|Execution of Conradin by [[Giovanni Villani]], ''[[Nuova Cronica]]'', 14th century]]
Having strengthened his forces, he marched towards [[Lucera]] to join the [[Muslim_settlement_of_Lucera|Siculo Muslims]]<ref name=EB1911/> troops settled there since the time of his grandfather. On 23 August 1268 his multinational army of Italian, Spanish, Roman, [[Emirate of Sicily|Siculos]] and German troops encountered that of Charles at [[Battle of Tagliacozzo|Tagliacozzo]], in a hilly area of central Italy. The eagerness of Conradin's forces, notably that of the Spanish knights led by Infante Henry of Castile who mounted a triumphant charge and captured the Angevin banner, initially appeared to have secured victory. But their inability to see through Charles' [[ruse de guerre|ruse]] allowed the latter to ultimately emerge victorious once the elite of his army, the veteran French knights he had hidden behind a hill, entered the battle to the surprise of the enemy. Escaping from the field of battle, Conradin reached Rome, but acting on advice to leave the city he proceeded to [[Torre Astura|Astura]] in an attempt to sail for [[Sicily]]. However, upon reaching his destination he was arrested and handed over to Charles, who imprisoned him in the [[Castel dell'Ovo]] in [[Naples]], together with the inseparable [[Frederick I, Margrave of Baden|Frederick of Baden]]. On 29 October 1268 Conradin and Frederick were beheaded.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://www.grin.com/document/180488 |title=Die Hinrichtung Konradins von Hohenstaufen – Reaktionen der Zeitgenossen und Rezeption der Nachwelt  |publisher=   Grin  |author=Lukas Strehle |date=19 October 2011 |access-date=28 February 2020 }}</ref><ref name="Benjamin2010"/><ref name="Kleinhenz2004"/>