THE NATURE OF THE MONARCHY

Twelfth-century European kings on their accession normally entered into an acknowledged kingly role; Roger II was different in that he had to define and make his own way. The idea of the king who sets out to shape the destinies of his subjects has appealed to historians since the Enlightenment made royal innovators attractive. It is, however, unlikely that Roger II either appreciated his opportunity or gloried in his powers of innovation. If anything, he preferred to play down novelties and win respect by claiming ancient precedents for his monarchy. To take root, the monarchy needed to establish itself by disturbing existing authorities as little as possible, dealing with avowed enemies, but not provoking new ones. The very title assumed by Roger and his successors, ‘King of Sicily, of the duchy of Apulia and of the principality of Capua’, signalled that older entities had been united by the monarchy, not submerged.

In Roger's lifetime, his sons were assigned the titles of the former mainland rulers and discharged the responsibilities that went with them. The oldest of them, also Roger, was made duke of Apulia. He issued documents, held courts, received the submission of Naples in 1139 and waged war in the 1140s. Though he died before his father in 1149, he left a (bastard) son, Tancred, who did eventually become king. By 1149, the only one of Roger II's sons still alive was William. He in turn became duke of Apulia.