Son of Louis VIII and Blanche of Castile. After his marriage, his brother the King of France Louis IX made him Count of Anjou and Count of Maine (1246-1285), thereby creating the second Angevin dynasty (after that of the Plantagenêts). In 1248, he took part in the Seventh Crusade. In 1266 Charles of Anjou was invested with the Kingdom of Sicily by Pope Clement IV. Charles of Anjou took possession of the two parts (insular and peninsular) of the Kingdom of Sicily, but he was driven out of the island part in 1282. Charles of Anjou also received the fictitious titles of King of Albania (1272) and King of Jerusalem (1278-1285).
Brother of Lothair, on the death of his nephew Louis V, the kingdom was without an heir. An assembly dismisses Charles claims in favor of Hugues Capet. But Charles has many supporters, he seizes Laon by trickery, where he is proclaimed king. Arnoul the successor of Adalbéron delivers Reims to him. B