1169–1171: The Cathedral Canons of Cefalù on the Significance of their Cathedral in the Norman regnum Sicilie

Abstract

Shortly before William II acceded the throne of Sicily (r. 1166–1189, self-governing from 1171 onwards), the cathedral chapter of Cefalù turned to the king, asking him to transfer the remains of his grandfather, Roger II (r. 1130–1154), to Cefalù. As the first king of the newly founded regnum Sicilie, Roger II had initiated the foundation of the diocese of Cefalù in 1131. The design of its magnificent cathedral is often cited as an example of the so-called Arab-Norman architectural style, which is said to visualise the island’s multicultural heritage. This article argues that the ultimately unfinished project of Cefalù’s cathedral also reflects internal tensions between high-ranking Latin dignitaries and shifting priorities in the representation of royal power.