749:
first line and swiftly overwhelmed. It is not known whether they acted rashly or if they were ordered to do so by
Manfred but the German knights and men-at-arms who formed his first battle crossed the bridge and moved up to attack the Provençal cavalry. The Germans had at first the upper hand. They enjoyed a slight numerical advantage, were heavier men on heavier horses and their armor was quite impenetrable to the strokes of their opponents. They slowly but effectively pushed the Provençals before them and Charles felt compelled to commit his second battle to aid the first. Accordingly, the French knights charged and with them his 400 Italians as well. Outnumbered, the Germans still held out gallantly; they seemed invulnerable to the French swords as their armor kept repelling all blows. But the enemy had soon discovered the weak point of their equipment. According to the chronicle of
757:
they had been cut to pieces and they themselves were now in a precarious situation as
Charles had already ordered his third battle to charge them. While some did so from the front, others swept round their flanks and beset them from the rear. Shaken in spirit by the sight of what the French had done to the Germans, they made a very poor resistance; seeing themselves about to be surrounded, they broke and attempted to flee but most were slain. Realizing defeat was imminent, most of the nobles in Manfred's third corps deserted, leaving the king to his fate. Manfred was now left with a choice himself: death or instant flight. His undaunted spirit led him to take the first alternative. After exchanging the royal
736:, the heir of the county of Flanders. In addition, the invaders numbered 400 Italian men-at-arms of the Guelf faction led by the Florentine Guido Guerra. It is unknown where exactly they stood; apparently they were not in the reserve but struck in with the second line at the moment of contact. Charles ordered his men-at-arms to have a couple of foot soldiers behind them whose task would be to aid the horsemen of his army in case they were dismounted and to slay those of the enemy who were overthrown. The rest of the infantry and crossbowmen were thrown in front of the line to skirmish with their Saracen counterparts.
753:, some sharp-eyed French knight noted that the new plate armor, which was still in its infancy, did not protect their armpits when the arm was lifted to strike. Closing in and wedging themselves between the somewhat shaken ranks of the German heavy cavalry, the shorter and more acutely pointed blades of the French horsemen were much more effective in close quarters than the German longswords. In a few minutes, a considerable number of Germans were mortally wounded. Overwhelmed and broken, the whole corps was practically annihilated.
663:
of the enemy. For the rest he trusted the fighting strength of his German knights and
Saracen horsemen. He did not take the field against him until January 1266, when Charles' main army had crossed the Alps. Alarmed by the ease with which many towns and castles surrendered to the French and by desertions among his followers, Manfred sought to bring Charles to battle as swiftly as possible, fearing further treachery. Charles attempted to turn Manfred's position at
724:. Behind them was the second battle, which consisted of 1,000 knights and men-at-arms from Southern and Central France under the personal command of Charles; their chiefs were the Count of Vendôme, the Bishop of Auxerre, Guy de Monfort, Peter de Beaumont and Guy de Mello. Finally, the third battle consisted of men from Northern France and
756:
The tide had now evidently turned against
Manfred. The long time spent crossing the narrow bridge meant a very wide space arose between his first corps, which had prematurely charged, and his second, which he had deployed to assist them. By the time Manfred's second battle arrived to aid the Germans,
748:
The battle began in the morning when
Manfred sent his Saracens forward. Charles' infantry and crossbowmen advanced to meet them but were driven back by the foot-archers and light cavalry. The Saracens, however, having left themselves exposed in the open were charged by Provençal sergeants of Charles'
662:
in May 1265, but was temporarily halted by the need to obtain financing for his military operations. Manfred, however, instead of vigorously taking countermeasures, spent his time hunting. He obviously assumed that the
Ghibellines in the northern Italian cities would already have stopped the advance
708:
Charles' army consisted of 600 mounted knights, 2,400 men-at-arms and mounted sergeants, 600 crossbowmen, 3,900 heavy infantry and 4,500 light infantry, totalling around 12,000 men. It was probably above all the prospect of loot that prompted numerous French nobles to come to Lyon, where
Charles had
762:
saw the French give little quarter; only a few prisoners were taken, the most notable being
Giordano Lancia and his cousin, Count Bartolommeo. The river was at the back of the fugitives and only the bridge was safe; those who tried to swim the flooded Calore in their heavy mail were mostly drowned.
761:
with his friend
Tebaldo Annibaldi to whom he had also given his royal armor prior to the battle as not to attract too much notice in the mêlée, Manfred closed up with the few faithful of his followers left and rode straight into the midst of the enemy. He found the death that he sought. The battle
739:
Charles had the advantage of leading an army which was practically homogeneous; save the few
Italians, all were vassals of the French and Provençal crowns. In addition, beyond the low esteem in which both sides held their foot-soldiery, Charles' horsemen were fairly equal to each other in military
696:
and Galvano of Anglona. The second battle consisted of around 1,000 Italian mercenary cavalry and 300 to 400 Saracen light horsemen, commanded by his uncle Galvano Lancia. The third battle consisted of the barons of Manfred's kingdom, and numbered 1,400 knights and men-at-arms, under his personal
777:
The destruction of Manfred's army marked the collapse of Hohenstaufen rule in Italy. The remainder of the Kingdom of Sicily was conquered almost without resistance. Settled in his new kingdom, Charles awaited the coming of Conradin, the last hope of the Hohenstaufen, in 1268, and met him at the
29:
687:
archers set up in the fore. Behind them was his first battle, the best of his troops, consisting of 1,200 German mercenary knights and men-at-arms, not wearing the usual mail-shirt and gambeson of the 13th century, but
622:
house of Hohenstaufen over their rule in Italy. At the time of the battle, the Hohenstaufen ruler of the Kingdom of Sicily (which included Sicily and southern Italy) was Manfred, illegitimate son of
769:
planted a colony of some 35,000 Saracens near Lucera. For many decades, this colony had provided the German emperors with 5,000 archers per year. The unit was wiped out at Benevento.
323:
646:
determined to take the Kingdom from him, and in 1263, concluded a secret treaty with Charles, promising him the Sicilian throne. After Pope Urban's death in October 1264,
533:
526:
374:
511:
384:
765:
Only 600 of Manfred's 3,600 heavy cavalrymen managed to escape death or capture. Also, the Saracens had fought as mercenaries for Holy Roman Emperors since
1182:
868:
369:
976:
A Global Chronology of Conflict: From the Ancient World to the Modern Middle East [6 volumes]: From the Ancient World to the Modern Middle East
359:
316:
1085:
Gravett, Christopher and Turner, Graham. "German Medieval Armies: 1000–1300." Osprey Military Men-at-Arms 310. (Oxford: Osprey Military, 1997) p. 38
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command. Manfred stayed with the Italo-Norman noblemen and they did not form his reserve for nothing. He distrusted them.
721:
184:
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1251:
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which wrecked his supply line; but Manfred had intelligence of his move and waited in a strong position across the
623:
750:
733:
476:
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Manfred's forces enjoyed a slight numerical superiority and a strong defensive position across the Calore.
1307:
1302:
1220:
394:
766:
729:
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Manfred's army was composed of very heterogeneous elements. His infantry was essentially composed of
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579:
421:
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138:
111:
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692:, the armor which was just beginning to come into fashion. They were commanded by his cousin
521:
471:
212:
626:. However, the rightful heir to the kingdom was Frederick's legitimate 14-year-old grandson
506:
481:
461:
406:
1074:
The Sicilian Vespers: A History of the Mediterranean World in the Later Thirteenth Century
8:
550:
543:
175:
1282:
894:
725:
713:
668:
575:
436:
1137:
A History of the Art of War: The Middle Ages from the Fourth to the Fourteenth Century
1103:
A History of the Art of War: The Middle Ages from the Fourth to the Fourteenth Century
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A History of the Art of War: The Middle Ages from the Fourth to the Fourteenth Century
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A History of the Art of War: The Middle Ages from the Fourth to the Fourteenth Century
843:
A History of the Art of War: The Middle Ages from the Fourth to the Fourteenth Century
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John France (2003), "Property, Warfare, and the Renaissance of the Twelfth Century",
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143:
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knights and sergeants commanded by Marshal of France Hugh of Mirepoix and
152:
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65:
638:
since 1254, took advantage of a false rumor of Conradin's death and
717:
627:
28:
16:
Battle between the troops of Charles of Anjou and Manfred of Sicily
582:. Manfred's defeat and death resulted in Charles' conquest of the
758:
684:
639:
291:
Only 600 of the 3,600 armored cavalrymen escaped death or capture
130:
740:
worth, something Manfred did not have the luck to benefit from.
635:
664:
566:
was a major medieval battle fought on 26 February 1266, near
69:
659:
1037:
The Hutchinson Dictionary of Ancient and Medieval Warfare
1034:
Connolly, Peter; Gillingham, John; Lazenby, John (2016).
1033:
598:. The engagement was part of the conflict which pitted
331:
1238:
Spaulding, Oliver Lyman and Hoffman Nickerson (1993).
675:, which could only be crossed by a single bridge.
650:continued his predecessor's support for Charles.
1264:
1211:
262:1,000–1,400 Italo-Norman knights and men-at-arms
259:1,200 German mercenary knights and men-at-arms
1003:Armies of the Medieval Italian Wars 1125–1325
802:Armies of the Medieval Italian Wars 1125–1325
317:
1076:, (Cambridge University Press, 2000), 92–94.
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1095:
1093:
1091:
1068:
1066:
1064:
835:
833:
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829:
324:
310:
1183:"The Age of Wars of Religion, 1000–1650"
1120:
1088:
1061:
999:
869:"The Age of Wars of Religion, 1000–1650"
798:
712:His cavalry was also divided into three
1288:Battles involving the Kingdom of Sicily
826:
243:2,400 men-at-arms and mounted sergeants
1265:
972:
1278:13th century in the Kingdom of Sicily
1006:. Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 39.
952:. Tales End Press. pp. 556–557.
805:. Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 39.
630:, living with his uncle and guardian
586:, effectively ending the rule of the
305:
1133:
1099:
945:
918:
839:
716:. The first battle consisted of 900
678:
1298:Wars of the Guelphs and Ghibellines
722:Philip of Montfort, Lord of Castres
709:assembled his army in autumn 1265.
618:had long been in conflict with the
13:
594:and marking the rise of the royal
14:
1319:
1180:
866:
294:Annihilation of the Saracen corps
1140:. Tales End Press. p. 559.
1106:. Tales End Press. p. 558.
925:. Tales End Press. p. 556.
846:. Tales End Press. p. 560.
703:
624:Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor
265:1,000 Italian mercenary horsemen
27:
1174:
1154:
1079:
895:"Battle of Benevento | Summary"
283:Unknown but comparatively light
1027:
993:
966:
939:
912:
887:
860:
792:
667:by a perilous crossing of the
1:
785:
609:
268:300–400 Saracen light cavalry
1293:Military history of Campania
1240:Ancient and Medieval Warfare
772:
7:
1163:The Haskins Society Journal
1000:Esposito, Gabriele (2019).
973:Tucker, Spencer C. (2009).
799:Esposito, Gabriele (2019).
10:
1324:
1221:Cambridge University Press
1205:
653:
33:Battle of Benevento, from
1040:. Routledge. p. 39.
979:. ABC-CLIO. p. 286.
767:Frederick II Hohenstaufen
743:
632:Louis II, Duke of Bavaria
344:
277:
229:
168:
122:
44:
26:
21:
574:, between the forces of
899:Encyclopedia Britannica
596:Capetian House of Anjou
336:Guelphs and Ghibellines
1134:Oman, Charles (2012).
1100:Oman, Charles (2012).
946:Oman, Charles (2012).
919:Oman, Charles (2012).
840:Oman, Charles (2012).
728:under Grand Constable
634:. Manfred, acting as
271:10,000 Saracen archers
169:Commanders and leaders
780:Battle of Tagliacozzo
401:Reign of Frederick II
278:Casualties and losses
161:House of Hohenstaufen
91:41.13417°N 14.77333°E
1217:The Sicilian Vespers
730:Gilles de Trasignies
642:the throne in 1258.
189:Gilles de Trasignies
564:Battle of Benevento
87: /
22:Battle of Benevento
1308:Charles I of Anjou
1244:Barnes & Noble
694:Giordano d'Anglano
578:and those of King
576:Charles I of Anjou
517:Henry VII campaign
255:13,500–14,000 men
213:Giordano d'Anglano
185:Philip of Montfort
96:41.13417; 14.77333
1303:Conflicts in 1266
1187:www.goodreads.com
1147:978-1-62358-003-2
1113:978-1-62358-003-2
1072:Steven Runciman,
986:978-1-85109-672-5
959:978-1-62358-003-2
932:978-1-62358-003-2
873:www.goodreads.com
853:978-1-62358-003-2
751:Andrew of Hungary
734:Robert of Béthune
679:Ghibelline forces
592:Italian Peninsula
584:Kingdom of Sicily
580:Manfred of Sicily
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539:War of the Bucket
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287:Most of the army
223:Theobald Anibaldi
220:Count Bartholomew
196:Manfred of Sicily
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492:Sicilian Vespers
477:Colle Val d'Elsa
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570:in present-day
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1230:0-521-43774-1
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1189:. p. 759
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875:. p. 759
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451:-Frederick II
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350:-Frederick II
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39:Nuova Cronica
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1191:. Retrieved
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1051:. Retrieved
1036:
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1017:. Retrieved
1002:
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975:
968:
948:
941:
921:
914:
902:. Retrieved
898:
889:
877:. Retrieved
872:
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842:
816:. Retrieved
801:
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776:
764:
755:
747:
738:
711:
707:
699:
682:
673:River Calore
657:
613:
588:Hohenstaufen
563:
561:
466:
448:
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446:
400:
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380:Monte Porzio
347:
346:
333:Wars of the
286:
254:
235:
217:Count Galvan
201:
194:
174:
151:
150:
129:
128:
123:Belligerents
62:River Calore
38:
1053:3 September
1019:4 September
904:4 September
818:4 September
604:Ghibellines
472:Tagliacozzo
385:Alessandria
240:600 knights
236:12,000 men
153:Ghibellines
94: /
1267:Categories
786:References
610:Background
507:Campaldino
482:Roccavione
462:Montaperti
407:Cortenuova
82:14°46′24″E
79:41°08′03″N
1283:Benevento
773:Aftermath
718:Provençal
669:Apennines
568:Benevento
551:Gamenario
544:Zappolino
467:Benevento
395:Calcinato
110:Decisive
66:Benevento
1215:(2000).
726:Flanders
628:Conradin
620:Imperial
602:against
437:Fossalta
230:Strength
57:Location
1206:Sources
1193:31 July
1169:: 73–84
879:31 July
759:surcoat
714:battles
685:Saracen
654:Prelude
640:usurped
600:Guelphs
534:Soncino
527:Brescia
457:Cassano
442:Cingoli
427:Viterbo
412:Brescia
390:Legnano
370:Carcano
360:Spoleto
355:Tortona
202:†
131:Guelphs
114:victory
64:, near
1250:
1227:
1144:
1110:
1044:
1010:
983:
956:
929:
850:
809:
744:Battle
636:regent
616:Papacy
512:Lastra
422:Giglio
417:Faenza
198:
112:Guelph
107:Result
665:Capua
497:Forli
487:Desio
432:Parma
375:Milan
365:Crema
70:Italy
1248:ISBN
1225:ISBN
1195:2020
1142:ISBN
1108:ISBN
1055:2019
1042:ISBN
1021:2019
1008:ISBN
981:ISBN
954:ISBN
927:ISBN
906:2019
881:2020
848:ISBN
820:2019
807:ISBN
732:and
660:Rome
614:The
562:The
449:Post
49:Date
348:Pre
37:'s
1269::
1246:.
1242:.
1223:.
1219:.
1185:.
1167:11
1165:,
1122:^
1090:^
1063:^
897:.
871:.
828:^
782:.
606:.
1256:.
1233:.
1197:.
1171:.
1150:.
1116:.
1057:.
1023:.
989:.
962:.
935:.
908:.
883:.
856:.
822:.
325:e
318:t
311:v
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