Kirchenakte1266-1268 · 2 years
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Naples 1268: The young Hohenstaufen Conradin, excommunicated by Clement IV, is beheaded by Charles of Anjou, the pope's vassal
Clement IV invested Charles of Anjou with Sicily in 1265. When the young Hohenstaufen Conradin marched into Italy, the pope excommunicated him in November 1267. After his defeat Conradin was handed over to Charles, tried at Naples as a traitor and beheaded on 29 October 1268. The Britannica considers it improbable that the pope was responsible for the execution; the Catholic Encyclopedia writes that he remained faithful to Charles.
- Period
- 1266-1268 (2 years)
- Country
- Italy
- Institutions
- Holy See
- Category
- Crusade, Murder
- Level of evidence
- B two independent scholarly sources · what does this mean?
- Persons
- Conradin (last of the Hohenstaufen)
Clement IV (Pope)
Charles of Anjou (King of Sicily)
What happened to the people
Who was affected? Victims and numbers
- After his defeat Conradin was seized at Astura, handed over to Charles, tried at Naples as a traitor and beheaded with Frederick of Baden on 29 October 1268. With his death the Hohenstaufen house became extinct.
Evidence: Cambridge University Press (Wikisource), Artikel Conradin
„At Naples he was tried as a traitor, and on the 29th of October was beheaded“
Conradin, in: Encyclopædia Britannica (1911), Bd. 6, Artikel Conradin. Original
Background
Course of events
- On 26 February 1265 Clement IV invested Charles of Anjou with the kingdom of Sicily.
Evidence: Cambridge University Press (Wikisource), Artikel Clement IV
„On the 26th of February he invested Charles of Anjou with the kingdom of Sicily“
Clement (Clement IV), in: Encyclopædia Britannica (1911), Bd. 6, Artikel Clement IV. Original
Response of the Church
- When Conradin appeared in Italy the pope excommunicated him and his supporters, according to the Britannica in November 1267. According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, Clement remained faithful to Charles and prophesied that the youth was being led like a lamb.
Evidence: Cambridge University Press (Wikisource), Artikel Conradin
„In November 1267 he was excommunicated“
Conradin, in: Encyclopædia Britannica (1911), Bd. 6, Artikel Conradin. Original Evidence: Robert Appleton Company / The Encyclopedia Press (Wikisource), Artikel Pope Clement IV
„Clement remained faithful to Charles and prophesied that the gallant youth“
Pope Clement IV, in: Catholic Encyclopedia (1908), Bd. 4, Artikel Pope Clement IV. Original - The Britannica considers it improbable that the pope was in the remotest degree responsible for the execution. It writes that he opposed generous humanity to Charles's cruelty.
Evidence: Cambridge University Press (Wikisource), Artikel Clement IV
„but it is improbable that he was in the remotest degree“
Clement (Clement IV), in: Encyclopædia Britannica (1911), Bd. 6, Artikel Clement IV. Original
Scholarly literature and reference works
- Reference work
Cambridge University Press (Wikisource): Conradin, in: Encyclopædia Britannica (1911), Bd. 6, 1 January 1911. Original (retrieved 31 Oct 2026) - Reference work
Cambridge University Press (Wikisource): Clement (Clement IV), in: Encyclopædia Britannica (1911), Bd. 6, 1 January 1911. Original (retrieved 31 Oct 2026) - Reference work
Robert Appleton Company / The Encyclopedia Press (Wikisource): Pope Clement IV, in: Catholic Encyclopedia (1908), Bd. 4, 1 January 1908. Original (retrieved 31 Oct 2026)
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Last changed on 31 October 2026. Is something missing or wrong? Suggest an addition or correction.