Peter II of Sicily
| Peter II of Sicily | |
|---|---|
 Peter kneeling before Christ, from a mosaic in the cathedral of Messina | |
| King of Sicily | |
| Tenure | 25 June 1337 - 15 August 1342 |
| Predecessor | Frederick III of Sicily |
| Successor | Louis, King of Sicily |
| Born | 1304 |
| Died |
15 August 1342 Calascibetta |
| Burial | Cathedral of Palermo |
| Spouse | Elisabeth of Carinthia |
| Issue |
Louis of Sicily Frederick IV of Sicily Constance of Sicily Eleanor, Queen of Aragon Beatrice, Electress Palatine Euphemia of Sicily Violante of Sicily John of Sicily Blanche, Countess of Amphurias |
| House | House of Barcelona |
| Father | Frederick III of Sicily |
| Mother | Eleanor of Anjou |
Peter II (1304 – 8 August 1342) was the King of Sicily from 1337 until his death, although he was associated with his father as co-ruler from 1321. Peter's father Frederick III of Sicily and his mother was Eleanor, a daughter of Charles II of Naples. His reign was marked by strife between the throne and the nobility, especially the old families of Ventimiglia, Palizzi and Chiaramonte, and by war between Sicily and Naples.[1]
Contemporaries regarded Peter as feeble-minded. Giovanni Villani, in his Nuova Cronica, calls him "vitually half-witted" (quasi un mentacatto) and Nicola Speciale, in his Historia Sicula, calls him "pure and simple" (purus et simplex).[1]
Under Peter, the Neapolitans conquered the Lipari Islands and took the cities of Milazzo and Termini in Sicily itself.[1] He died after a short illness on 8 August 1342[1] in Calascibetta and was buried in the cathedral of Palermo. He was succeeded by Louis, his eldest son, who was only five years old.
Marriage and Children
He married Elisabeth of Carinthia, with whom he had nine children:
- Constance (1324 – October 1355), regent of Sicily from 1352 to 1354, unmarried
- Eleanor (1325–1375), married Peter IV of Aragon, mother of Martin II of Sicily
- Beatrice (1326–1365), married Rupert II, Elector Palatine, mother of Rupert of Germany.
- Euphemia (1330–1359), regent from 1355 to 1357, unmarried
- Louis of Sicily (1338 - 1355), succeeded his father
- Frederick IV (1341 - 1377), successor of Louis
- Violante (born 1334), died young
- John (1342 – 22 June 1353), died young[2]
- Blanche (1342–1373), married Count John I of Empúries, but had no issue
Ancestry
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References
- 1 2 3 4 Philip Grierson and Lucia Travaini, Medieval European Coinage: With a Catalogue of the Coins in the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, vol. 14 (Italy), part 3 (South Italy, Sicily, Sardinia) (Cambridge University Press, 1998), p. 268.
- ↑ SICILY, Medieval Lands
| Peter II of Sicily Born: July 1305 Died: 15 August 1342 | ||
| Preceded by Frederick II |
King of Sicily 1337–1342 |
Succeeded by Louis |