The return of the fallen king

Chapter 14: A view from below (1)

<< "When the words come, they are merely empty shells without the music. They live as they are sung, for the words are the body and the music the spirit.">>

--Hildegard von Bingen

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Frederick II, ''stupor mundi ''or "Wonder of the World," as he was known, was a monarch like many others, with the same background and possibilities; but, despite their similar beginnings, the effects of their reigns were vastly different.

The difference between him and dozens of previous and successive monarchs was that his name remained etched in the hearts of his subjects long after his death; people remembered his character with tranquility and gratitude, and how could they not?

Frederick II was a man of the little citizenry ; the majority of his reign was devoted to developing amenities for his loyal people, such as windmills, canals, and bridges.

In overall terms, he was a brilliant leader who committed his life to serving his people, and as a result, the people of South Italy remembered him with appreciation and admiration. Frederick II's commitment to his people extended beyond infrastructure development. He also implemented policies that promoted education and cultural advancement, leaving a lasting impact on the intellectual growth of his subjects. His patronage of scholars and artists fostered a flourishing cultural environment that continued to thrive even after his passing.

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His sympathies, however, were not limited to Christians;

Jews and Muslims, who were rejected by the majority of Europe, found refuge in his reign. He built many settlement where Jews and Muslims could find peace.

And in one of the many Muslim communities constructed by the ''stupor mundi", a little girl was walking through a garden full of fruit trees while shouting a name.

''Naasir, Naasir!'' she yelled repeatedly. "Come here now! Our mother and father are calling for you."

A young boy descended from one of these three, attempting to scare his younger sister.

tiny girl shouted in fear , causing the young boy to chuckle gleefully.

In response, the small girl Fatima, pouted and kicked him in the shin. Nasir slipped down while touching his shin to lessen the discomfort he felt.

''Mother and Father instructed me to call out for you; return or I'll kick you again." spoke the girl while already throwing back her leg.

"All right , all right , I'm coming," Naasir said. He quickly stood up and brushed off the dirt from his pants before making his way towards Fatima. As he approached her, he couldn't help but admire her determination and feistiness, secretly proud of his little sister's spirit.

Taking his younger sister's hand, he led her through the community where they had resided since they were born. Girifalco was the name of the settlement, and it was surrounded by strong walls that protected its residents. Girifalco, like many other Muslim towns like the biggest one called Butera, was a true safe haven where Muslims and Jews alike could flee persecution.

Because they were never abused or punished by their ruler, or at least not on an unacceptable level, they fought for their country as competent and immensely devoted foot archers., at least the muslim, while for the jews they helped their kingdom by being merchants doctors and accountants.

Their lord's faith in them was directly reflected in his troops since they made up the majority of the warriors he could call on. Their archers' abilities were well-known across Europe, and they took pride in it.

Going back to Naasir and Fatime however they finally returned home, exhausted by the long walk home. As they opened the door to their house, Naasir saw his two parents waiting anxiously for them.

''Father, Mother, you summoned me?" Naasir entered his home and beckoned his parents.

His parents screamed their boys' names when they heard his voice: "Naasir! Fatima! Come here and get inside the house ''.

The two were perplexed by their father's tone, who was normally a very calm guy, and realizing that something had gone wrong, they obeyed without saying anything. As they hurried inside, Naasir and Fatima exchanged worried glances, unsure of what awaited them. Their parents led them to the another room where a somber atmosphere hung heavy in the air.

''What happened, Father?'' Naasir queried, concerned by his father's abrupt shift in demeanor from his regular self.

A message arrived from Naples; however, the envoy was presumably sent by our new king, a Frenchman named Charles, rather than Manfred.

'New king?What the hell is he talking about' thought Naasir as his parents hid from them the outcome of the battle of Benevento and the change in kingship

''What did he say to our leader ?'' Naasir inquired, his voice tense understanding that many events happened that complicated the political situation. Naasir's father sighed heavily before answering, "The envoy delivered news of Manfred's defeat and death in battle. Charles has claimed the throne and now rules over Naples. He was sent to talk to our elder who informed him that he '' he had to bend the knee, or else we'd face mass execution." Before proceeding, his father stated, ''However, the elders believe that the French are simply biding their time and that once their authority is established, they may persecute us. Our lives are dependent on Allah's choice alone ."

The elders' only hope was to pray to Allah asking him to help them in making the right decision and to shield them from the sufferings they thought would come with French control. It was a perilous and desperate situation, but not all was lost because there was still one king on whom they might have pinned their hopes.

Naasir remained perplexed after hearing the final sentence stated by his father. The father whose name was Halib clarified the significance after seeing his son's face.

''It appears that the blood of our kingship still flows in one other descendant of the house ; Conrad is his name, and our elders want to contact the last of our king's blood in order to convince him to reclaim his birthright and to let him know he will have the full support of his Muslim subjects, just like all the other kings before him that we served,''.

The elders believed they were correct to approach Conradin because he was their sole hope of retaining their autonomy and way of life. They thought he would be willing to battle for them and their survival in exchange for their willingness to place their trust in him and shed their blood in his name. The elders were aware of Conradin's lineage and the historical significance it held among their Muslim subjects. They believed that by rallying behind him, they could restore the unity and strength of their kingdom, ensuring a prosperous future for all.

Nonetheless there was no need for that , for soon they would find out that the young king did not need any type of eloquence to be convinced, since he always desired to gain back his throne and the recent events were the perfect opportunity for him to do that.