The Sicilian Vespers
“Lord God, since it has pleased you to ruin my fortune, let me go down in small steps.”
- Charles of Anjou, when he was informed of the massacre of the French inhabitants of Sicily in April 1282. This is known as the Sicilian Vespers, since it began at the start of Vespers, the sunset prayer that marked the beginning of the night vigil on Easter Monday (30 March). Coincidentally, it occurred shortly after the Palm Sunday rising of Prince Dafydd of Wales against Charles's nephew-in-law Edward I.
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