Sicilian Vespers

The Sicilian Vespers is the name given to a rebellion in Sicily in 1282 against the rule of the Angevin king Charles I, who had taken control of the island with Papal support in 1266.

The event is so named because the start of the evening prayer service of vespers on Easter Monday was used as the signal for the massacre of Sicily's French inhabitants which began the insurrection.

Taking advantage of the revolt, king Peter III of Aragón launched a successful invasion, becoming also Peter I of Sicily.

Charles remained in control of the mainland Kingdom of Naples until his death in 1285, and his heirs continued to reign there until Peter's successors reunited the two territories in 1442.