Manfred, King of Sicily

Born in 1232, the illegitimate son of Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II, Manfred began as regent for his young nephew Conradin in 1254, putting down revolts across the Kingdom of Sicily. He crushed a papal army at Foggia that December, then four years later dropped the pretense and claimed the throne outright. Three popes excommunicated him in turn; Pope Alexander IV declared a Crusade against him in 1255 that went nowhere, but Urban IV found a buyer in Charles of Anjou. On 26 February 1266, Manfred died at the Battle of Benevento, and Charles walked into Sicily as its new king.