An incident between French soldiers and a Sicilian wedding party would lead to a massive revolt on the island of Sicily. Known as the War of the Sicilian Vespers, this struggle would determine dominance in the Mediterranean Sea. In this issue we tell the story of the war on land and sea, and the rivalry between Peter of Aragon and Charles of Anjou. 

Theme: The War of the Sicilian Vespers

• Jona Lendering, 'Causes for the War of the Sicilian Vespers - Pope against king'.
• Marc DeSanits, 'Ships of the 13th century Angevin navy - Of oars and men'.
• Arnold Blumberg, 'An unjust and unneccessary enterprise - The crusade against Aragon'.
• Robert Holmes, 'Italian and Sicilian armies, ca. 1282-1302 - Men of the setting sun'.
• William E. Welsh, 'Charles of Anjou - Papal strongman'.
• Daniel Mersey, 'Dueling knights, ca. 1282 - Pageantry in plaster'.
• Alberto Raúl Esteban Ribas, 'Peter of Aragon versus Charles of Anjou - The Challenge of Bordeaux'.

Features:

• Richard Kroes, 'A battle revisted - Karbala'.
• David Balfour, 'A queen and an empress at odds - The War of the Two Matildas'.
• Jonathan Sneddon, 'The Siege of Caerlaverock Castle - The gateway to England'.
• Mike Ingram, 'The Battle of Shrewsbury - A brave defiance'.
• Murray Dahm, 'Medieval warfare in film - King Arthur'.
• Sidney Dean, 'William Wallace and Robert the Bruce - Scottish profiles in leadership'.