Blasco II Alagona (died 23 October 1355), called Blasco the Younger, was a nobleman in fourteenth century
Sicily
Sicily (Italian language, Italian and ), officially the Sicilian Region (), is an island in the central Mediterranean Sea, south of the Italian Peninsula in continental Europe and is one of the 20 regions of Italy, regions of Italy. With 4. ...
.
Early life and family
Born in Sicily in the late 13th century, he was the grandson and successor of
Blasco the Elder.
The family originated in
Alagón.
Career
Blasco was very close to the ruling house, also of Aragonese origin, and received many favours from them. The
Alagona family was the most powerful in
Catania
Catania (, , , Sicilian and ) is the second-largest municipality on Sicily, after Palermo, both by area and by population. Despite being the second city of the island, Catania is the center of the most densely populated Sicilian conurbation, wh ...
at first and then eastern and eventually, under Blasco II, all of Sicily. In 1320,
Frederick II of Sicily ceded the
Castle of Aci, expropriated from Margherita, descendant of the
Admiral
Admiral is one of the highest ranks in many navies. In the Commonwealth nations and the United States, a "full" admiral is equivalent to a "full" general in the army or the air force. Admiral is ranked above vice admiral and below admiral of ...
Roger of Lauria
Roger of Lauria (''c''. 1245 – 17 January 1305), was a Calabrian knight who served the Crown of Aragon as admiral of the Aragonese navy during the War of the Sicilian Vespers. He was probably the most successful and talented naval tacticia ...
, to Blasco. In 1326, Blasco defended the city of
Palermo
Palermo ( ; ; , locally also or ) is a city in southern Italy, the capital (political), capital of both the autonomous area, autonomous region of Sicily and the Metropolitan City of Palermo, the city's surrounding metropolitan province. The ...
from the
Angevins. While there,
Beltrando del Balzo pillaged Aci.
During the reign of
Peter II, Blasco was the
Grand Justiciar of the realm.
Giovanni of Randazzo
John, Duke of Randazzo (1317–1348) was duke of Randazzo, Athens, and Neopatria, Count of Malta and regent of Sicily (1342–1348).
The fourth son of Frederick III of Sicily and Eleanor of Anjou, he was the most powerful nobleman in Sicily d ...
, brother of Peter, appointed him
regent
In a monarchy, a regent () is a person appointed to govern a state because the actual monarch is a minor, absent, incapacitated or unable to discharge their powers and duties, or the throne is vacant and a new monarch has not yet been dete ...
for his nephew, the young
King Louis King Louis may refer to:
Kings
* Louis I (disambiguation), multiple kings with the name
* Louis II (disambiguation), multiple kings with the name
* Louis III (disambiguation), multiple kings with the name
* Louis IV (disambiguation), multiple king ...
. As regent, Blasco was opposed by
Matteo Palizzi
Matteo is the Italian form of the given name Matthew. Another form is Mattia. The Hebrew meaning of Matteo is "gift of god". Matteo can also be used as a patronymic surname, often in the forms of de Matteo, De Matteo or DeMatteo, meaning " escend ...
, lord of
Tripi
Tripi is a town and ''comune'' in the Metropolitan City of Messina, Sicily, southern Italy. It is located on the site of Abacaenum, an ancient Sicel town.
Public transport
Railways
''Novara-Montalbano-Furnari railway station'' is on the Palerm ...
and
Saponara
Saponara ( Sicilian: ''Sapunara'') is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Metropolitan City of Messina in the Italian region Sicily, located about east of Palermo and about west of Messina.
Saponara borders the following municipalities: Messina ...
and vicar of the realm.
Death and legacy
He was killed in a revolt of
Messina
Messina ( , ; ; ; ) is a harbour city and the capital city, capital of the Italian Metropolitan City of Messina. It is the third largest city on the island of Sicily, and the 13th largest city in Italy, with a population of 216,918 inhabitants ...
in 1355. He was succeeded by his son
Artale I.
References
14th-century Sicilian people
1355 deaths
Regents of Sicily
Year of birth unknown
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