The Fall of Outremer
Succession Woes
Another reason little was done with regard to Outremer is that the crown itself was in such an uncertain state. Queen Plaisance, who was well regarded by everyone, died in 1261. There were two claimants, both young boys. The elder boy was chosen as Regent and became Hugh III (remember that Conradin was still technically king, but that his rights were not activated until he personally came to the Holy Land, which he'd not yet done). For the time being, the younger acquiesced, even though theoretically he had the better claim. Since both were mere boys, his parents in effect became the regents for the Regent. Hugh's claim to be King of Cyprus was undisputed. His claim to be King of Jerusalem was disputed (or soon would be), but could not be a real claim unless Conradin yielded his rights.
Three years earlier, however, in 1258, Emperor Frederick II's illegitimate son Manfred had moved to lay claim to his father's titles and crowns. Manfred was an adult whereas Conradin was a child, and Manfred was a vigorous leader. If he could make good his position in Italy, he might well lay claim to the Kingdom of Jerusalem as well.
The papacy itself was soon deeply embroiled in the issue of succession, for also in 1261 the Patriarch of Jerusalem was elected to the papal throne, becoming Pope Urban IV. He was as opposed to the Hohenstaufen clan as his forebears had been and it was he who brought Charles of Anjou (brother of Louis IX) into Sicily. The offer was downright mercenary: if Charles could destroy the Hohenstaufen, then he could become the King of Sicily.
Charles accepted the offer eagerly. He took a French army into southern Italy and defeated Manfred in 1265. Manfred died on the battlefield. Conradin was thirteen by then and getting close to being a threat himself. The remaining Hohenstaufen supporters gathered around him and the war in southern Italy continued. In 1268, Charles defeated a second Hohenstaufen army. Conradin was captured, held for a time, and then executed. He was sixteen.
These events meant that the papacy was utterly absorbed during these years. In England Henry III was struggling to keep control of his own throne. In France, Louis IX was actually preparing for another crusade, for he did indeed recognize that the situation was perilous. But the Empire could offer nothing and, as we have already seen, the Italians were a disruptive force. With no strong hand in Outremer, the various factions continued to squabble in the face of the enemy.