Roger II of Sicily

Roger II was the first king of Sicily, reigning from 1130 to 1154. He unified Norman territories in Sicily and southern Italy into a powerful Mediterranean kingdom.

Kingdom of Sicily: A medieval state founded by Roger II that united Sicily and territories in southern Italy under one crown. It was the political structure Roger built and governed as king.
Norman conquest of southern Italy: The eleventh-century expansion that established Norman rule across much of southern Italy. It created the territorial and political foundations inherited by Roger.
Robert Guiscard: A Norman leader who conquered much of southern Italy and became duke of Apulia and Calabria in the eleventh century. His conquests established the Norman power that Roger later consolidated.
Cappella Palatina: The royal chapel in Palermo's Norman Palace, built under Roger II and decorated with Byzantine, Islamic, and Latin Christian art. It embodies the courtly culture fostered under Roger's rule.
Assizes of Ariano: A body of laws and administrative measures promulgated by Roger II at Ariano in 1140. These measures expressed his effort to standardize royal authority and law.
Norman conquest of Sicily: The campaign by Norman forces that wrested Sicily from Muslim rule between 1061 and 1091. Roger inherited the island conquered by his father and uncle.
William I of Sicily: Roger II's son and successor, who ruled Sicily from 1154 to 1166. He inherited the kingdom Roger had established.
Tabula Rogeriana: A world map and geographical work completed by Muhammad al-Idrisi for Roger II in 1154. Roger's patronage produced a major work of medieval geographical scholarship.
Palermo: A city on Sicily's northwestern coast that became the capital of the Norman kingdom of Sicily. Roger made Palermo the center of royal government and court life.
Roger I of Sicily: A Norman count who led the conquest of Sicily and ruled it from 1071 until his death in 1101. Roger II succeeded his father as count of Sicily.

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