Manfred's defeat ended Hohenstaufen rule in the Italian Peninsula and secured the Kingdom of Sicily for Charles I of Anjou.
Key Facts
- Date
- 26 February 1266
- Location
- Near Benevento, Southern Italy
- Outcome
- Charles I of Anjou victorious; Manfred killed
- Dynasty ended
- Hohenstaufen rule in the Italian Peninsula
- Conflict context
- Guelph–Ghibelline conflict
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
The papacy, opposed to Hohenstaufen dominance in Italy, backed Charles of Anjou as a counterweight to King Manfred of Sicily. This rivalry between Guelph and Ghibelline factions set the stage for a direct military confrontation over control of the Kingdom of Sicily.
On 26 February 1266, the forces of Charles I of Anjou clashed with those of Manfred of Sicily near Benevento in southern Italy. Manfred's army was defeated in the engagement, and Manfred himself was killed on the battlefield, leaving his kingdom without its ruler.
Charles I of Anjou seized the Kingdom of Sicily following his victory, extinguishing effective Hohenstaufen power in the Italian Peninsula. The battle elevated the Capetian House of Anjou to a dominant position in southern Italian politics and reshuffled the balance of power between Guelphs and Ghibellines.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Charles I of Anjou.
Side B
1 belligerent
Manfred of Sicily.