Beatrice of Provence - Queen of Sicily

Queen of Sicily

Beatrice's sister Margaret, the new Queen of France, publicly offended her in 1259, by not seating her at the family table; she claimed because Beatrice was not a queen like her sisters, she could not sit with them. Margaret had hoped to provoke her sister in treacherous behaviour so she would have a valid reason to invade Provence. Beatrice "with great grief", went to Charles and he reportedly told her " Be at peace, for I will shortly make thee a greater Queen than them".

When the new Pope granted Charles the Kingdom of Sicily, he had to defeat the Hohenstaufen claimant, Manfred of Sicily. Another contender to win the throne of Sicily was Beatrice's nephew, Edmund Crouchback, but it soon became clear that Charles was the more promising candidate. In order to achieve his goal, Charles needed an army and Beatrice helped her husband raise one. She called on all her knights as well as the young men of France, and according to the later historian Angelo di Costanzo she pledged all her jewels, to make sure they joined her husband's army:

"Beatrice, to aid him (Charles) in the gratification of her ambition, sold all her jewels and personal ornaments, and expended her private treasure in collecting round her standard, not only her own vassals, but the chivalric youth of France, who were attracted to her service not less by her personal solicitations than by her rich gifts."

Charles went first to Rome, and Beatrice followed with the remaining army through the treacherous Alpine passes, during autumn. It took them nearly six weeks to reach Rome, but once both Charles and Beatrice were in Rome, they were crowned by the Pope King and Queen consort of Sicily, on 6 January 1266. As soon as the coronation festivities had ended, Beatrice stayed in Rome with a small force to hold the city, whilst Charles rode out to the battle of Benevento. After her husband's victory, she chose the castle of Melfi as their residence.