The giant helm fell on his head, killing him, when he was on his way to the church to get married. The death is so surreal that Manfred is furious – not sad because his son is dead, but because his son's death leaves him with no hope for another heir from his wife- Hippolita, because she cannot have any more children. .
"In the midst of their senseless guesses, a young peasant, whom rumour had drawn thither from a neighboring village, observed that the miraculous helmet was exactly like that on the figure in black marble of Alfonso the Good, one of their former princes, in the church of St. Nicholas" (Chapter I, The Castle of Otranto). That is another sign from above that Manfred must stop trying to descent another prince to rule Otranto from his bloodline. He is keeping a secret kept for generations, a secret between his grandfather, his father and Alfonso the Good. It is curious that the author compares Alfonso to a noble saint- like man, a true believer, when on the other side is Manfred represented as a person, who neglects the church. What is more, there is Theodore, who looks like Alfonso, as Matilda notices later. Even Manfred is puzzled by that fact - actually he thinks he is seeing the ghost of Prince Alfonso. Those are some early signs that Manfred's bloodline might not be the true possessor of the castle. The prophecy says "that the castle and lordship of Otranto should pass from the present family, whenever the real owner should be grown too large to inhabit it"(Chapter I, The Castle of Otranto). Although most of the peasants do not understand what that prophecy means, Manfred does, perfectly. .
The true heir of Otranto must be in a good relationship with the church and the people. Manfred is no such character; he is in no good relations with the clergy of Otranto, especially with Jerome. Conrad and Matilda were the only children that Manfred had and now when Conrad is dead he does not see any comfort of having a daughter - she cannot be the prince of the castle and Manfred desperately needs an heir.
