The Crusades, the Genoese and the Latin East - DSpace at ...

Another major consequence of Henry's death, however, was the outbreak of a power
struggle in Sicily. David Abulafia discussed this troubled period in Sicily's history in The Two
Italies, in Frederick II, A Medieval Emperor and in his article on `The Kingdom of Sicily under
the Hohenstaufen and Angevins. "27 Abulafia demonstrated how the problems in Sicily had a
complex history that went back long before the events of 1197. Furthermore, the question of
Sicily involved the papacy and Germany as well as Sicily. Many people had claims in Sicily and
the death of its lords often brought tension and wars to the island. Thus, the death of Tancred in
1194 led to the conquest of Sicily by Henry VI, who was joined by his seneschal, Markward von
Anweiler, as well as Genoese and Pisan contingents. 128
Henry's own death in 1197 followed by
his wife's death in 1198 resulted in more tension in Sicily. `Pope Innocent Ill-took on the
functions of guardian of the boy king (Frederick II)' but Markward von Anweiler, who
functioned as a regent of Sicily, rejected the pope's claims: `Innocent attempted to tame
Markward, and even threatened a crusade against Markward in 1198-9; had this occurred it would
have been the first "political crusade" launched against the Christian enemies of the Church. 9129
Genoa was trapped between these powers, on the one hand, it had been in good terms with
Markward for many years but, on the other hand, there were many reasons to keep the pope
happy, as will
be demonstrated
in the following paragraphs.
Unfortunately, the Genoese annals do not provide details of how the pact between Genoa
and Sicily had evolved. The impression is that it was partly based on positive experience and
steady relations between the commune and the German seneschal Markward von Anweiler.
Markward was an extraordinary figure in the diplomatic sphere of the late twelfth century. Marc
Bloch wrote about him that `few men stand out so prominently as the uncouth figure of the
seneschal Markward of Anweiler, who died regent of Sicily. '130 Genoa assisted Markward and his
lord, Emperor Henry VI, to conquer Sicily in 1194.131 In return for their help, Henry VI promised
the Genoese many privileges. Otobono Scriba wrote about these privileges that: `ipse imperator
multa maximaque promisit et iuravit. 1 132
David Abulafia noted that this privilege was primarily `a
127 David Abulafia, The Two Italies, Economic Relations between the Norman Kingdom of Sicily and the
Northern Communes (Cambridge, 1977); David Abulafia, Frederick II, A Medieval Emperor
(Harmondsworth, 1988); David Abulafia, `The Kingdom of Sicily under the Hohenstaufen and Angevins',
in David Abulafia (ed. ), The New Cambridge Medieval History, vol. 5 (Cambridge, 1999), pp. 497-521.
128
David Abulafia, The Two Italies, p. 206f; David Abulaf ia, `The Kingdom of Sicily under the
Hohenstaufen and Angevins', p. 499.
129
David Abulafia, `The Kingdom of Sicily under the Hohenstaufen and Angevins', pp. 500-501.
130
Marc Bloch, Feudal Society, trans. L. A. Manyon (London, 1962), vol. 2, p. 343.
131
Thomas C. van Cleve, Markward ofAnweiler and the Sicilian Regency: A Study of Hohenstaufen Policy
in Sicily during the Minority of Frederick 11 (Princeton, 1937), pp. 42-3.
'32 Ann. Ian., vol. 2, pp. 38-39. See privileges in I Libri lurium, vol. 1/2, no. 286, pp. 28-35 and I Libri
Iurium vol. I/1, no. 253, pp. 365-66.
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