Alfonso Fadrique

Who was Alfonso Fadrique?

Don Alfonso Fadrique was the eldest and illegitimate son of Frederick II of Sicily. He served as vicar general of the Duchy of Athens from 1317 to 1330.

He was first proclaimed vicar general by his father in 1317 and sent off to govern Athens on behalf of his younger half-brother Manfred. He arrived in Piraeus with ten galleys later that year, but Manfred had died and was succeeded by another brother, William II. In the year of his arrival, Fadrique married Marulla, the daughter of Boniface of Verona, thus allying himself with the chief lord of Euboea. By this marriage, also, he acquired rights to the castles of Larmena, Carystus, Zetouni, and Gardiki.

Over the next two years, Fadrique warred with the Republic of Venice and stormed the city of Negroponte with Turks after Boniface of Verona died. In 1318, John II Comnenus Ducas, the Epirote sebastokrator of Ypati died and Fadrique invaded Thessaly. He took possession of his castles at Zetouni and Gardiki and conquered Neopatria, Siderocastron, Loidoriki, Domokos, and Pharsalus. He conquered the palace of the Ducae at Neopatria and took the title of Vicar General of the Duchy of Neopatria. He built a tower at Neopatria.