Roger II of Sicily

• Italian Peninsula (c. 500-1500)
• Historical Sociology & Anthropology
• Kinship & family
• Political & institutional history (c. 500-1500)
• Social history (c. 500-1500)
• Cultural & intellectual history (c. 500-1500)
• Late Middle Ages (c. 1300-1500)

“In conclusione, ci troviamo di fronte ad un volume complesso ed articolato, ma al contempo agile ed estremamente intuitivo dal punto di vista della scrittura: se da un lato vengono affrontati temi di per sé poco noti o del tutto inediti nell’ambito della trattazione storica dell’Italia meridionale normanna, dall’altro la struttura schematica e la suddivisione in macro-aree tematiche che coinvolgono i singoli capitoli fanno di questa monografia un nuovo punto di riferimento per gli studi storici del Mezzogiorno medievale.” (Raffaele Iula, in Kaklas, 2, 2020, p. 226)

“The volume makes particularly valuable contributions to the study of the affiliations and political alliances Roger sought to form at the last several years of his reign and the ways in which those the artistic program of the kingdom communicated those affiliations.” (Joshua C. Birk, in The Medieval Review, 06/04/2021)  

“Taken overall, this is a fascinating study which has been scrupulously researched and does indeed enhance our understanding of: Roger II himself, the image he sought to project, and his wider network of alliances (…) The book itself is also filled with detailed sections of context which help round-out the significance of Roger’s actions and policies (…) For these reasons, Roger II of Sicily makes an illuminating contribution to discussion on this remarkable ruler, but just as importantly this study helps to deepen our understanding of Roger’s place at the centre of the Mediterranean’s cultural and political networks.” (Nicholas Morton, in Al-Masaq, 33/1, 2021, p. 97)

“(…) the author opens up interesting new approaches for the study of twelfth-century Sicilian kingship. This is therefore a stimulating book, and worthy of scholars’ attention, but not all the arguments carry conviction.” (G. A. Loud, in Speculum, 96/3, 2021, p. 833)

“(…) there is no doubt that Hayes sets forth detailed, carefully considered insights and intriguing (…) hypotheses about the motivations and self-image of Roger II of Sicily, one of the most alluring figures of the entire medieval era.” (Lindsay Diggelmann, in Parergon, 38/1, 2021, p. 227)

“Insgesamt stellt Dawn M. Hayes somit in einem sorgfältig aufgebauten und in der Thesenbildung klaren Buch die interessante Frage nach den Motiven Rogers II. Bei der Wahl seiner Ehefrauen, bei seiner Verehrung für den Heiligen Nikolaus von Bari und bei seiner Frankreich- und Byzanzpolitik, neigt aber in der Quellenauswertung zu eher postulierten als gesicherten Schlussfolgerungen und zu einer Fixierung auf den Herrscher und letztlich dessen Staatsräson, die forschungsgeschichtlich überholt erscheint. So werden die neuen Kapitel sicher Diskussionen anregen.” (Richard Engl, in der Historischen Zeitschrift Heft 316/1, 2023, p. 231)

“Dawn Marie Hayes has written a highly original and thought-provoking book about Roger II and his world (…) her book will be essential reading alongside the more traditional biographies – the old ones by Caspar and Curtis, or the new ones by Houben, Aubé and Cantarella.” (DAVID ABULAFIA, in Journal of Ecclesiastical History, 73, 2022, p. 141-142)

« En conclusion, l’ouvrage de D. M. Hayes constitue un apport original qui, en mobilisant le contexte géostratégique et politique de la Méditerranée du xiie siècle, éclaire sous un angle nouveau nos connaissances sur le premier souverain sicilien. » (Aurélie Thomas, dans Cahiers de civilisation médiévale, 267/2024)