ITALY. Napoli (Regno). Roberto I il Saggio (the Wise) d'Angiò. 1309-1343. AR gigliato. 3.89 gm. 25 mm. As King of Sicily and Jerusalem. King seated facing on leonine throne, holding lis-tipped scepter and globus cruciger, rosette at breast; + ROBERTUS· DEI·GRA· IERL' E SICIL' REX / Ornate cross fleury, lis in each quarter; + HONOR· REGIS· IUDIEIU· DILIGIT. Biaggi 1634. MEC 14, 700. Very Fine; attractively toned; well centered and well struck on a full round flan.

Born to Charles II le Boiteux (the Cripple) and Maria of Hungary, Robert I d'Anjou was the hostage of Pedro III de Aragon during the Sicilian Vespers. Upon the death of his brother Charles Martel, he became heir to the Sicilian crown, marrying Yolanda the daughter of Jaime II de Aragon in order to obtain it. Robert faced opposition by the Sicilian barons, however, and lost Sicily. Angevin rule was then limited to the southern part of peninsular Italy. Nicknamed "the peace-maker of Italy" because of the numerous changes he enacted in Naples, he changed his capital from a dirty seaport to an elegant medieval city.