Slavic plunderers land near Siponto on the Adriatic in 646.

Aiulf personally leads his forces against the intruders, but his horse falls into a pit dug by the Slavs around their camp and he is surrounded and killed.

Radoald, who succeeds him with the support of King Rothari, knows the Slavic language and induces the invaders to depart.

Manfred, King of Sicily, is a considered an illegitimate son of the late emperor Frederick II, but his mother, Bianca Lancia (or Lanzia), is reported by Matthew of Paris to have been married to the emperor while on her deathbed.

Having initially borne his mother's surname, Manfred had studied in Paris and Bologna and shared with his father a love of poetry and science.

Frederick himself appears to have regarded Manfred as legitimate, and by his will had named him as Prince of Taranto and appointed him as the representative in Italy of his half-brother.

At Frederick's death, Manfred, although only about eighteen years old, has acted loyally and with vigor in the execution of his trust.

The reign is in turmoil, mainly due to riots spurred by Pope Innocent.

Manfred has been able to subdue numerous rebel cities, with the exception of Naples.

When his legitimate brother Conrad IV appears in 1252 in southern Italy, disembarking at Siponto, Manfred quickly and generally acknowledges his authority.