William II, King of Sicily, called the Good

WILLIAM II, King of Sicily, called the Good. - B. in 1153, d. 18 Nov. 1189. At the age of 13 he succeeded his father W. I, remaining under the regency of his mother Margaret of Navarre until 1161. He had a large part in the disputes between the papacy and the Empire in Italy at the time of Frederick Barbarossa, showing himself openly favorable to the pontiff Alexander III, contributing in particular to bringing about the Peace of Venice of 1177, where the Emperor recognized his title of king.

His alliance was sought by the other great Italian powers, such as Genoa and Venice; Barbarossa himself tried to draw him to his side. When the negotiations for marriage with the daughter of the Byzantine emperor Manuel Comnenus, who had offered her to him, came to nothing, he married the princess Joan of England, daughter of Henry I. He aimed at a policy of expansion, aided by successful military expeditions especially against the Muslims and the Greek Empire: in 1171 he besieged Alexandria, in 1175 he occupied Tunis, in 1180 he concluded a 10-year peace with Abū Ja'qūb Jūsuf, and in 1181-82 he carried out raids on the Balearic Islands. In the turmoil of the Byzantine Empire at the death of Manuel Comnenus, he occupied Durazzo and Thessalonica. He took an interest in the Holy Places and took part in the preparations for the III Crusade, forcing Saladin in 1188, who was aiming at Tripoli, to withdraw. - See plate LXXXVIII.

Alberto Ghinato