Roger II of Sicily: A Ruler between East and West (Cambridge Medieval Textbooks)

This is a scholarly and up-to-date narrative of the epic reign of the "Norman" King Roger II, the founder of the kingdom of Sicily during the first half of the twelfth century. It is a thoughtful analysis of the kingdom's mixed east-west culture and the development of its royal government; the most advanced in twelfth-century Europe. Although many recent studies have addressed important aspects of medieval southern Italy, this is the first work in nearly ninety years to be devoted specifically to Roger's life and reign. "Although many recent studies have addressed important aspects of medieval southern Italy, this is 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 and up-to-date 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"--Jacket Although many recent studies have addressed important aspects of medieval southern Italy, this is 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 and up-to-date analysis of its culture and of the development of royal government. The kingdom created by the Norman Roger of Hauteville 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. 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. Devoted to the life and reign of King Roger II, the founder of the kingdom of Sicily, this text provides an introductory narrative of his reign and a scholarly and up-to-date analysis of its culture and of the development of royal government