Kingdom of Sicily
Malta, 1130–1816. Draft, not yet reviewed
The Kingdom of Sicily was a state that existed in Sicily and the southern Italian Peninsula as well as, for a time, in North Africa, from its founding by Roger II of Sicily in 1130 until 1816. The lands that Roger II united included the Maltese Archipelago, which was conquered from the Arabs of the Emirates of Sicily. In 1530, in an effort to protect Rome from Ottoman invasion from the south, Charles V, as king of Spain and Sicily, gave the islands of Malta and Gozo to the Knights Hospitaller in perpetual fiefdom.
Seat of power: Palermo
Rulers
Peter III of Aragon
King of Sicily, 1282–1285
At the invitation of some rebels, he conquered the Kingdom of Sicily and became King of Sicily in 1282, pressing the claim of his wife, Constance II of Sicily.
Portrait of Peter III of Aragon: Villani, Public domain, file
Frederick III of Sicily
King of Sicily, 1295–1337
He was confirmed as king by the Peace of Caltabellotta in 1302. His reign saw important constitutional reforms: the Constitutiones regales, Capitula alia, and Ordinationes generales.
Portrait of Frederick III of Sicily: Unknown Master, Public domain, file
Maria, Queen of Sicily
queen regnant, 1377–1401
After her father's death in 1377, she ascended the Sicilian throne. Her government, however, was effectively taken over. Starting in 1377, the Kingdom of Sicily was ruled by four Vicars.
Portrait of Maria, Queen of Sicily: Di Benedetto, Public domain, file
Martin I of Sicily
King of Sicily, 1401–1409
He ruled Sicily jointly with Maria until her death at Lentini on 25 May 1401. At that time, he repudiated the Treaty of Villeneuve and ruled Sicily alone.
Portrait of Martin I of Sicily: Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, file
Martin of Aragon
King of Sicily, 1409–1410
He was King of Aragon, Valencia, Sardinia and Corsica and Count of Barcelona from 1396 and King of Sicily from 1409. He failed to secure the accession of his illegitimate grandson, Frederic, Count of Luna, and with him the rule of the House of Barcelona came to an end.
Portrait of Martin of Aragon: Unknown authorUnknown author, CC BY-SA 4.0, file
John II of Aragon
King of Sicily, 1458–1468
John was also King of Sicily from 1458 to 1468. He was King of Aragon from 1458 until his death in 1479.
Portrait of John II of Aragon: Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, file
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Victor Amadeus II of Savoy
King of Sicily, 1713–1720
He was rewarded with the Kingdom of Sicily in 1713, but he was forced to exchange this title for the poorer Kingdom of Sardinia in 1720.
Portrait of Victor Amadeus II of Savoy: Martin van Meytens, Public domain, file
Charles III of Spain
King of Sicily, 1734–1759
At the age of 18, he led Spanish troops in a bold and almost entirely bloodless march down Italy to seize the Kingdom of Naples and Kingdom of Sicily and enforce the Spanish claim to their thrones. He was also King of Sicily from 1735 to 1759.
Portrait of Charles III of Spain: Anton Raphael Mengs, Public domain, file
Culture
- Mdina then continued to serve as the capital of Malta until the arrival of the Order of St. John in 1530, who established their capital at Birgu instead.
- Mdina remained the centre of the Maltese nobility and religious authorities, and property largely continues to be passed down in families from generation to generation.
- In 1130, Roger II convened the Curiae Generales in the Royal Palace in Palermo to proclaim the first King of Sicily, which could be considered the first parliament in the modern sense.
Picture
Mdina is a fortified city in the Western Region of Malta which was the island's capital from antiquity to the medieval period.
Image: Frank Vincentz, CC BY-SA 3.0, file
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Sources
Text adapted from the Wikipedia articles listed as sources, CC BY-SA 4.0.