TY - JOUR

T1 - Richard, bishop of Syracuse and archbishop of Messina (d. 1195), and the History of the Tyrants of Sicily

AU - Hagger, Mark

PY - 2024/4/1

Y1 - 2024/4/1

N2 - This article reconsiders the agenda and authorship of the Liber de regno Sicilie or History of the Tyrants of Sicily by way of a detailed study of its content. The History comprises one of the very few detailed sources for the kingdom of Sicily under Kings William I (1154–1166) and William II (1166–1189), and while it only covers part of the period in question (1154–1169), it is of fundamental importance for what it tells us about the politics, characters, and society of the day, and particularly for its insights into the treacherous world of Sicilian court politics. It was clearly the work of an insider, or a well-connected observer. But none of the suggestions as to the author’s identity so far advanced has achieved a scholarly consensus. This article highlights the unexpectedly prominent position given to Richard, bishop-elect of Syracuse, throughout the narrative, and uses the outline of Richard’s career, the positive construction of his actions, and the explanation and apology that lies beneath the report of his deeds, to argue that either Richard himself, or someone who was part of his retinue and shared his experiences, was the author. That identification also permits some suggestions to be made as to the purpose of the History and the possible contemporary audiences to whom it made its case.

AB - This article reconsiders the agenda and authorship of the Liber de regno Sicilie or History of the Tyrants of Sicily by way of a detailed study of its content. The History comprises one of the very few detailed sources for the kingdom of Sicily under Kings William I (1154–1166) and William II (1166–1189), and while it only covers part of the period in question (1154–1169), it is of fundamental importance for what it tells us about the politics, characters, and society of the day, and particularly for its insights into the treacherous world of Sicilian court politics. It was clearly the work of an insider, or a well-connected observer. But none of the suggestions as to the author’s identity so far advanced has achieved a scholarly consensus. This article highlights the unexpectedly prominent position given to Richard, bishop-elect of Syracuse, throughout the narrative, and uses the outline of Richard’s career, the positive construction of his actions, and the explanation and apology that lies beneath the report of his deeds, to argue that either Richard himself, or someone who was part of his retinue and shared his experiences, was the author. That identification also permits some suggestions to be made as to the purpose of the History and the possible contemporary audiences to whom it made its case.

KW - Sicily

KW - chronicles

KW - Medieval Chronicles

KW - Medieval History

KW - rulership

U2 - 10.1111/1468-229X.13390

DO - 10.1111/1468-229X.13390

M3 - Article

SP - 3

EP - 33

JO - History

JF - History

SN - 0018-2648

ER -