In the 13th century, Sicily became the heartland of the Hohenstaufen empire of Frederick II of Sicily. Frederick and the pope bitterly disagreed on issues of papal authority, and his rule resulted in a flare-up of the centuries long conflict between the pro-pope Guelphs and pro-imperial Ghibellines.
In the 13th century, Sicily was at the center of the Hohenstaufen empire led by Frederick II of Sicily. Frederick and the pope had sharp disagreements about papal authority, which reignited a long-standing conflict between pro-pope Guelphs and pro-imperial Ghibellines.