Roger II of Sicily: A Ruler between East and West

Description

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.

"...considerable descriptive powers of Houben...I hope this text is read widely...This translation is another great contribution by Graham Loud...He and Diane Milburn are to be commended." Louis I. Hamilton, Rutgers University, Canadian Journal of History "Thoroughly researched and worthwhile..." Catholic Library World "The book's unique historiographical position and high quality should recommend it to medieval generalists and specialists alike." History "Greene's valuable study is more than sufficient to demonstrate that looking at Mediterranean history primarily as a clash of two discrete and hostile civilizations is more helpful for the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries than it is for the twelfth." International History Review "This short review does not do justice to the depth and substance of Houben's examination of this fascinating man and kingdom, which is at once learned, argumentative and readable. No small achievement." Journal of Church and State