here - Nobility Associations

Hohenstaufen from the Imperial and Sicilian thrones, leading to the new chapter of
Angevin domination in Southern Italy.
Saved the life of Corrado (Caputo) of Antioch
In the Holocaust of the partisans of the Hohenstaufen unique among the Ghibelline
leaders to save his life was Corrado of Antioch, the only surviving male of the
House Hohenstaufen, the survival of which a decisive contribution was given by
two important hostages remained in the hands of his family. In the castle of
Saracinesco, in fact, his wife and mother-in-law of Corrado, even when the
enterprise had become desperate because to the pressure of events, they were able
to hold the two Guelphs princes in their prisons Matteo e Napoleone. Now, the
brother of the prisoners, the powerful and influential Cardinal Giangaetano Orsini,
thought to profit from falling prey to Corrado to obtain the release of the brothers
and, therefore, put pressure on Pope Clement IV to intervene with Charles of
Anjou, so that they utilize Corrado d 'Antioch for a hostage exchange.
So it happened, towards the middle of September 1268 the two Orsini were freed
and Charles of Anjou, who agreed to save the lives of Corrado provided, that the
Pope himself would take him into custody and he controlled his movements,
Corrado was then handed over to Pope Clement IV. On November 29, 1268, the
Pope ceased to live, Corrado then had to reside in Viterbo at the papal court,
"detemptus curialiter" that is held nicely in "long prison", until March 1272, when
the new pope, Gregory X, after having made him swear allegiance to the Church,
freed him from custody and of the excommunication that his predecessor had
inflicted.
Corrado, almost certainly returned to his castle of
Anticoli or Saracinesco. In that same March 1272, died
in prison of Bologna, King Enzo of Sardinia, the last
surviving son of Frederick II and, therefore, uncle of
Corrado. Enzo, a few days before he died, in his will,
appointed his nephew Corrado of Antioch of the title
and the county of Molise: that gesture went well beyond
its immediate meaning, constituting in fact, a clear
indication given to the last person still capable of
reaffirming the greatness of the house of Swabia. Very
rare example of loyalty and attachment to the imperial
cause, Corrado of Antioch "was always until he died of the Ghibelline party and
enemy of the popes" (F. Gregorovius). The will, drawn up in bologna 6 March 1272
by the notary Tommasino Armnini, was preserved in the State Archives of Bologna,
but disappeared from the middle of the nineteenth century. For some, this will was
The Hohenstaufen Dynasty - Page 187 of 200