The Norman Kingdom of Sicily [Paperback]

This new book is the first to examine the Sicilian rule and achievements of Roger II and his descendants.An introductory account of the kingdom of Sicily established in 1130 by Roger II, a Norman king, and ruled by him, his son and grandsons until 1194 when the kingdom was conquered by his son-in-law, Henry VI of Hohenstaufen.An introductory account of the kingdom of Sicily established in 1130 by Roger II, a Norman king, and ruled by him, his son and grandsons until 1194 when the kingdom was conquered by his son-in-law, Henry VI of Hohenstaufen.This book is an introductory account of the kingdom of Sicily established in 1130 by Roger II, a Norman king, and ruled by Roger, his son, and grandsons until 1194 when the kingdom was conquered by his son-in-law, Henry VI of Hohenstaufen. The period covered does, however, extend from 1130 to 1266, when the kingdom passed from the Hohenstaufen heirs to Charles of Anjou, which is roughly as long and as coherent as the Norman monarchy of England between 1066 and 1204.List of abbreviations; Note on coinage; Map of Sicily and southern Italy; Acknowledgements; Introduction; Part I. The Normans and the Monarchy: 1. Southern Italy and the Normans before the creation of the monarchy; 2. The establishment of the kingdom; Part II. The Kingdom: 3. The material resources of the kingdom; 4. The religious communities of the kingdom; 5. Intellectual and artistic aspects of the kingdom; 6. The ordering of society; Part III. The Monarchy: 7. The kings in their kingdom; 8. Royal government and administration; 9. The kingdom's defences and its enemies; Part IV. The Norman Legacy: 10. The kingdom in disarray; 11. The kingdom revitalised; 12. The kingdom betrayed; Index. There is much of value about governmental administration, for example, that is not available elsewhere or is scattered through various books and articles. This volume will be useful to students. The International History Review Matthew's treatment of political life ilS$