Frederick III of Sicily
The defiant Aragonese prince who became King of Sicily, fiercely defending its independence against Angevin and papal forces for over forty years.
1272–1337 (age 65)·King of Sicily from 1295 to 1337·Birthday: December 13
Biography
Frederick III of Sicily was a ruler born of rebellion. The third son of Peter III of Aragon, he arrived on the island during the War of the Sicilian Vespers, the bloody uprising against French Angevin rule. When his brother James, the king, abandoned Sicily for Aragon, the Sicilian parliament turned to Frederick, crowning him king in 1295 against the wishes of the Pope and his own family. His long reign became a struggle for survival, fending off invasions from Naples and navigating papal excommunication. The Peace of Caltabellotta in 1302 finally granted him the title 'King of Trinacria,' a grudging recognition of Sicilian autonomy. At home, Frederick proved a capable administrator, issuing the Constitutiones Regales which strengthened parliamentary power and laid a foundation for Sicilian law. His rule was less about glory and more about the gritty, determined preservation of a separate Sicilian identity.
#1 When Frederick Was Born
The biggest hits of 1272
Frederick's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1272Born
1277Started school
1285Became a teenager
1288Could drive
1290Could vote
1293Turned 21
1302Turned 30
1312Turned 40
1322Turned 50
1332Turned 60
1337Died at 65
Key Achievements
- Crowned King of Sicily by the island's parliament in 1295, securing its independence from Angevin rule.
- Successfully defended Sicily during the long War of the Sicilian Vespers, leading military campaigns personally.
- Secured the Peace of Caltabellotta in 1302, which recognized his title and Sicily's de facto independence for his lifetime.
- Issued significant constitutional reforms, the Constitutiones Regales, which enhanced the power of the Sicilian parliament.
Did You Know?
He was excommunicated by Pope Boniface VIII for accepting the Sicilian crown against papal wishes.
His official title under the peace treaty was 'King of Trinacria,' an ancient name for Sicily, to appease his Angevin rivals.
He married Eleanor of Anjou, daughter of the King of Naples, as part of a political settlement.
His 42-year reign is one of the longest in Sicilian history.
“Sicily will be Sicilian, or it will be nothing at all.”
