Created by Lawrence V. Mott

The War of the Sicilian Vespers involved virtually every Mediterranean and European country in a smoldering conflict that spanned twenty years. The conflict and its outcome fundamentally changed the course of history in the Mediterranean and yet it has been generally neglected by historians and is not even mentioned in most western civilization textbooks.

The war was fought primarily between the Crown of Aragon and Angevin France, which was supported by the papacy, for the control of the Kingdom of Sicily. Yet the conflict would also involve at different times the Byzantine Empire, Genoa, Venice, Castile, England, the Holy Roman Empire and various kingdoms of North Africa. The war was unusual in the fact that every major battle was either fought at sea or involved an amphibious force.

The following pages are a summary of the origins of the war and its conduct. This site is intended for the use of individuals wishing to know more about this overlooked event in medieval history.

Sections

Origins of the War of the Sicilian Vespers – Links to pages discussing the origins of the war.

The War of the Sicilian Vespers – A narrative of the war and its consequences.

Information about the War – A chronology of the war, maps and an annotated bibliography.

The Catalan-Aragonese Fleet – A discussion of the composition and organization of one of the most successful fleets in history.

Important Persons – Links to pages discussing some of the persons who played an important role in events before and during the war.