The contemporary chronicler Jamsilla claimed that the death of Frederick II did not immediately provoke the disturbances usual on the death of princes. But within a short time, a covert conspiracy spread from the Apulian towns to Capua and Naples, followed by open rebellion with the formation of a league of certain magnates hostile to Berthold of Hohenburg, the principal German leader serving Frederick in Italy. Frederick had left both the empire and the kingdom to his oldest surviving son, Conrad, then still in Germany, so provision was made for the government of the kingdom to be carried on until Conrad should return by his younger brother, Manfred, whose mother's family of Lancia were prominent in Italy and able to help the eighteen-year-old prince. Though well educated and admired, Manfred had no military experience and did not at first inspire confidence or respect. He acquired these by prompt and audacious confrontation with the dissident towns of Andria, Foggia and Barletta, while Hohenburg dealt with Avellino. Manfred then made a brave but unsuccessful attempt to take Naples and Capua. The disaffection of the kingdom was not merely a spontaneous reaction against Frederick's system of government. Innocent IV had already attempted to infiltrate the kingdom with his agents to recover what he claimed were the lawful rights of the papacy.