Queens of Sicily 1061-1266

This is the first compendium of scholarly biographies of the queens of Sicily until 1266. The multicultural Kingdom of Sicily encompassed the island itself and nearly half the Italian peninsula. In addition to the biographies, this 744-page volume includes numerous genealogical tables, detailed maps, a timeline, a lengthy bibliography, the queenly coronation rite, over 700 detailed endnotes, the lengthiest example of early court poetry (written in Sicilian around 1235), the text of the kingdom's first general legal code (of 1140), and details on treasures such as the oldest reginal crown conserved in southern Italy (shown on the cover). The result of the author's research in several countries, this monumental volume is a defining reference but also an interesting read. It adds much to the discussion of the history of Europe's medieval women.