Roger II

Roger II of Sicily (1095-1154), known as Roger II the Norman, was the Grand Count of Sicily from 1105, Duke of Apulia from 1127, and the first King of Sicily from 1130 until 1154. Belonging to the Altavilla dynasty, he is considered the founder of the independent Kingdom of Sicily. He unified the Norman conquests of southern Italy, Sicily, and Malta under a single kingdom, established a centralized and efficient government, and founded the Sicilian Parliament, one of the oldest in the world. Roger II contributed to the enrichment of Palermo, designated as the capital, with refined architectural works now recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, thus solidifying his historical and cultural legacy.