How to Lead, Even in Defeat Vol

How to Lead, Even in Defeat In 827 A.D., the Mediterranean island of Sicily became part of the growing Islamic empire. For nearly three hundred years it remained under Islamic rule. Then, in 1090, it was reconquered by the Normans. The founder of the Norman kingdom of Sicily was Roger II (10951154). In 1110 he succeeded his brother as count of Sicily and in 1130 was crowned king. Although he belonged to a nation of conquerors, and it was the Muslims whom he had defeated, he still retained a high respect for Arabs and Islam. His coronation mantle was designed by Muslim artists, and had Arabic inscriptions woven into it. After his coronation, he decided that he would like to have a chart showing the full extent of the Norman Empire. He chose a Muslim cartographer, AI-Idrisi, to design this chart, for he was the greatest expert in the field. AI-Idrisi then went on to prepare an atlas for the king, consisting of seventy maps and extensive geographical data. Originally written in Arabic, the first European edition of this atlas was published in 1619.

NORMAN KINGDOM OF SOUTHERN ITALY AND SICILY, 1130