CHAPTER II

Summary

Manfred was in Foggia at the time when Charles made his entry into Rome. On May 24 he thence issued a lengthy manifesto to the Romans, in which he said that he was the descendant of glorious emperors, who had ruled the world; that he was even justified in aiming at the imperial crown, but that the avaricious Church had made war upon him in his country and, after having been defeated there, had summoned Count Richard and the King of Castile to the empire. In order to defend his rights he had again subjugated Tuscany and the Marches; he was greater, both in wealth and power, than other princes, since he ruled over nearly the whole of Italy, over the sea as far as Tunis and Sardinia, as also over the greater part of Romania. Nevertheless the Pope had summoned the Count of Provence against him. To punish this arrogance he had sent his troops into S. Peter's patrimony, where they had been received by Peter of Vico. The avaricious Church endeavoured to prevent his restoration of the empire, although she denied the fact, and resembled a widow who in public weeps the death of her husband, but secretly rejoices because she has succeeded to his property. Manfred further told the Romans, that the Church strove to annex the empire, and persecuted Frederick's race, in order to reign over all kings and countries, and that she traced her right to supremacy from the valueless donation of Constantine.