William II of Sicily

William II, known as the Good, was the king of Sicily from 1166 until his death in 1189. His character, as portrayed by historical sources, is somewhat vague. He was not known for military prowess and preferred a secluded, pleasure-filled life within his palace in Palermo. Nevertheless, his rule was characterized by an ambitious foreign policy and effective diplomacy. He supported the papacy and secretly allied with the Lombard cities, managing to challenge Frederick Barbarossa, the Holy Roman Emperor.

William’s moniker ‘the Good’ emerged posthumously, reflecting not so much his personal virtues but rather the relative peace and stability of his reign compared to the periods before and after. He was the contemporary originator of his numeral. William ascended to the throne as a child under the regency of his mother and advisors, and he took full control of the government in 1171. His reign saw important diplomatic and marital alliances, as well as military campaigns in Egypt and the Byzantine Empire, though these did not result in lasting conquests.