Uprising in Sicily against Angevin rule leads to the Sicilian Vespers conflict.

In 1282, tensions between the Sicilian population and their Angevin rulers reached a boiling point, leading to the infamous Sicilian Vespers uprising. The Angevins, who had taken control of Sicily a few decades earlier, were resented by the locals for their harsh taxation and oppressive rule. The spark that ignited the rebellion occurred during a religious celebration on Easter Monday. A French soldier reportedly harassed a Sicilian woman, leading to her husband retaliating by killing the soldier. The incident quickly escalated, with Sicilian civilians rising up against their Angevin oppressors. The uprising spread like wildfire across the island, with the Sicilian population targeting Angevin officials and soldiers. The rebellion was characterized by its brutality, as thousands of French nationals were massacred in the streets. The Sicilian Vespers marked a significant turning point in the history of Sicily, as it effectively ended Angevin rule on the island. In the aftermath of the uprising, the Sicilians sought support from Peter III of Aragon, who had a claim to the Sicilian throne. Peter III seized the opportunity and launched a military campaign to support the Sicilian rebels. The Angevins were eventually defeated, and Peter III was crowned the king of Sicily, establishing the Aragonese dynasty on the island. The Sicilian Vespers uprising had far-reaching consequences, not only for Sicily but for the broader political landscape of Italy and the Mediterranean. The event weakened the Angevin presence in the region, paved the way for Aragonese dominance in Sicily, and highlighted the deep-seated animosity between the Sicilian population and their foreign rulers. The rebellion also had implications for the broader concept of sovereignty and self-determination, as it underscored the importance of local autonomy and resistance against external oppression. The Sicilian Vespers uprising remains a symbol of Sicilian identity and resilience, commemorated to this day as a key moment in the island's history. #Sicily #AngevinRule #Rebellion #AragoneseDynasty #SelfDetermination