Roger II of Sicily A Ruler between East and West

Although many studies have addressed important aspects of medieval southern Italy, this was the first work for nearly ninety years to be devoted specifically to the life and reign of King Roger II, the founder of the kingdom of Sicily. The book provides a comprehensive introductory narrative of the reign and a clear, scholarly analysis of its culture and of the development of royal government. The kingdom created by the Norman Roger of Hautville in the first half of the twelfth century was a monarchy with highly developed absolutist ideas, an elaborate bureaucracy, a reasonably well-filled treasury, and a mixed cultural heritage reflected by the presence of Arabs and Greeks at court. Based on many years of research in archives and libraries across Europe, the book offers a valuable overview of one of the most striking periods in south Italian and European history.

List of illustrations; Foreword to the German edition; Preface to the German edition; Preface to the English edition; List of abbreviations; Chronology; Maps; Genealogy tables; Introduction. Roger II: a controversial ruler; 1. The inheritance; 2. From count to king; 3. The new kingdom; 4. Between east and west; 5. Epilogue: the kingdom of Sicily after Roger II; 6. Conclusion. A multicultural ruler; Medieval authors; Bibliography; Index.

This book provides a clear, scholarly narrative of the epic reign of the 'Norman' king Roger II, founder of the kingdom of Sicily, during the early twelfth century. It was the first work for almost ninety years to be devoted specifically to Roger's life and reign.