Originally, southern Italy was owned by the Staufer dynasty under Friedrich II. The popes however claimed suzerainty and also felt threatened by the Staufers. So they looked for help from outside, and in 1266 Charles of Anjou came to power in Naples-Sicily after defeating and killing regent Manfred. 1268 Konradin, last descendant of Friedrich II, was killed by Charles. Craving for more power, he also made the French start the Seventh Crusade against Tunis in 1270 (Palestine was originally planned, but Charles thought Tunis was better - it certainly was closer to his new lands in Italy), which ended in a defeat and king Louis IX's death. 1272, he additionally conquered the area of Albania. But in 1282 he suffered a defeat in the Sicilian Vespers. All French on the island were killed, Sicily