Charles I of Anjou

Charles I of Anjou (1226-1285) was a significant French nobleman and the younger brother of King Louis IX of France. He is best known for founding the Anjou dynasty and becoming the King of Sicily, which he acquired through conquest in the late 13th century. His reign marked an expansion of French influence in Southern Italy and was characterized by conflict with the Hohenstaufen dynasty and the Papacy. Charles I's rule also contributed to cultural developments in the region, but his aggressive policies led to tension with local populations and rival powers, shaping the political landscape of the time.