Marriage and the politics of friendship : the family of Charles II of Anjou, King of Naples (1285-1309)
This thesis aims to reassert the importance of the supranational dynasties of Europe in medieval history by considering the so-called Angevins of Naples, and specifically Charles II (1285-1309), whose matrimonial policies led to the end of the first phase of the Sicilian War and to the peace of Caltabellotta (1302). In particular, the study emphasizes the fact that the Angevins were part of the Capetian French royal house and thus refocusses the role of the Capetians within Christendom at that time, as their previous historiography has concentrated on their role within France. It investigates the the part that the various marriage combinations played in the Sicilian peace process and how they connected with Charles II's internal family strategies, demonstrating how his plans to keep most of the patrimony for his primogenitus was compromised by deals that meant that large parts of the inheritance had to be passed to daughters instead. The following chapter shows how Charles was prepared to relegate other dynastic interests to achieve these deals and how his unbalanced provision for his sons led to conflict within the dynasty. Moving on to a discussion of the legal side of marriage, the thesis discusses how
Davies, Stephen Rhys
Medieval Naples
Marriage and the politics of friendship : the family of Charles II of Anjou, King of Naples (1285-1309). This thesis aims to reassert the importance of the supranational dynasties of Europe in medieval history by considering the so-called Angevins of Naples, and specifically Charles II (1285-1309), whose matrimonial policies led to the end of the first phase of the Sicilian War and to the peace of Caltabellotta (1302). In particular, the study emphasizes the fact that the Angevins were part of the Capetian French royal house and thus refocusses the role of the Capetians within Christendom at that time, as their previous historiography has concentrated on their role within France. It investigates the the part that the various marriage combinations played in the Sicilian peace process and how they connected with Charles II's internal family strategies, demonstrating how his plans to keep most of the patrimony for his primogenitus was compromised by deals that meant that large parts of the inheritance had to be passed to daughters instead. The following chapter shows how Charles was prepared to relegate other dynastic interests to achieve these deals and how his unbalanced provision for his sons led to conflict within the dynasty. Moving on to a discussion of the legal side of marriage, the thesis discusses how
marriage politics friendship family charles king aim reassert importance dynasty europe medieval history consider so_called specifically charles_ii whose policy_lead end first_phase sicilian war peace particular study emphasize fact part french royal house thus role within christendom time previous historiography concentrate role_within france investigates part various marriage combination play sicilian peace process connect charles_ii internal family strategy demonstrate plan keep patrimony compromise deal mean large_part inheritance pass daughter instead follow show charles prepare relegate dynastic interest achieve deal provision son lead conflict within dynasty moving discussion legal side marriage discus