Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1864-01-07
SiciIian Yespers.

Conrad Van Hohenstafen, the first of
the Suabian EmperorS, was elected in ll3S.
lie was the head of the secular party in
Italy, as opposed to the temporal preten-
sions of the Church. Conrad had inherit
ed the property of Waiblingcn, from
which he took his family name. The Ba-
varian House of Welt took the opposite
side, and in behalf of the Church. The
Italians changed the words "Wclf" and
"Waiblingen to GWelphs and Ghibclines,
the former being the partisans of the
church's temporal dominion, and the latter
the partisans of the Emperor. This is the
origin of the terms "Guclph" and "Ghi-
bcline," which make so distinguished a
figure in Church history.
The controversy between these parties
continued with Conrad's successors, until
the Ghibeline faction had been prescribed,
banishcd and suppressed in several of the
Italian cities. The Emperor, Frederick
II, occupied his thirty-eight years reign
in trying to restore it to power, and at his
death left two sons, Conrad and Manfred.
The former was elected king of the Rom
ans; Pope Innocent ", tried to rob him
of his imperial dignity, but he established
himself in the kingdom of Naples, and
after two years, died, leaving son to the
guardianship of his uncle Manfred, and
the Pope. To deprive this child of his
kingdom, the Pope melted the Neapoh-
tans to throw off the yoke, and form d rc-
public under the protection of the Church.
He also sent agitators into Sicily, and
stirred up the revolt from the house Of
Suaba, rejecting Conradine, the young
king. Manfred, however, raised an army,
assumed the regency, and was recognized
as the head of the Ghibclincs.
To make head against the resolute Nam
fred, the Pope sent to several countries
offering to give away the kingdom of Na=
pies. After having been rejected by two
powerful mobiles, the bauble was accepted
by Charles, Count of Anjou, brother OF
St. Louis of France, who marched an
army to take possession of his dominions.
Manfred offered battle, but was killed,
and Charles, the French Count, took pos
session of the kingdoms of Naples and
Sicily. Once in authority, the French
man became tyrant, broke faith with his
ally the Pope, laughed at the Pontiffs cS-
postulations, and crushed the country and
people under the most remorseless dcspot-
ism. Armed Frcnchmen were everywhere
lordihg over the Ncapolitans and Sicilians,
insulting them in their domestic relations,
and exhibiting the utmost brutality. At
length revolution began to mature, under
direction of John Procida, and soon after
came the memorable '"Sicilian Vespcrs,
which it is our object to explain. 10
The people of Palermo had assembled
at the church of San Spirito, on Easter
Tuesday, March 3lst, 1882. They had
been disarmed by the French tyrants, who
followed them to the church, on pretense
of keeping order. About the time for
vespers, and while the people were walk
ing about in the cool of the evening, q
French soldier seized young woman,
thrust his hand into her bosom, and at
tempted to kiss her. A young Sicilian
knocked down the Gallo rufian, took his
sword from him and shouting death to
the French!" cut him to pieces. Revolu-
ton was instantly ahame. The Sicilians
ran with whatever arms they could get,
overpowered and slew every one of the
Frenchmeh-abdut 200. The news flew
from Palermo to other cities, and every
where the Sicilians rose and slew their
Gallo masters, the while committing the
dreadful excuses of people reused to
the frenzy of lions. death to the French"
resounded everywhere, and at length
Charles the tyrant fled to escape the fury
OF the insurgents. Peter of Aragon was
invited to the throne of Sicily, which be-
came kingdom separate from Naples.
In one month, commencing at Vespers in
Palermo, the Sicilians had nd the king
dom of the despotic Gauls. n {.