George of Antioch

George of Antioch (c. 1090 - 1151) was a Byzantine admiral in the service of Roger II of Sicily. Born in Antioch, he moved to Sicily in 1110. Thanks to his bilingualism (Greek and Arabic) and knowledge of the Mediterranean, he served as an ambassador to the Fatimid court. He rose to the rank of Amir in 1127 and contributed to the submission of Puglia and Calabria. In 1133, he obtained the title of Amiratus Amiratorum. He conquered Jerba in 1135 and Tripoli in 1146, consolidating Sicilian influence in North Africa. He sacked Corfu in 1147 and fought against Byzantium. His expedition in 1148 culminated in the incorporation of Ifriqiya (present-day Tunisia) into the Kingdom of Sicily. He died in 1151, leaving an architectural legacy, including the church of Santa Maria dell'Ammiraglio in Palermo. His diplomatic and military skill marked the zenith of the Kingdom of Sicily under Roger II.