Julie Anne Taylor

After the Norman conquest of Sicily in the 11th century, a substantial Muslim population remained on the island, which was largely allowed to maintain their religion, Arabic language, and internal autonomy as long as they paid their taxes and fulfilled other obligations to the crown.

In the early 13th century, however, a series of Muslim rebellions caused Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor and King of Sicily, to deport the Muslim population from the island to Lucera on the Italian mainland. While presumably traumatic for the deportees, from Frederick's point of view the operation was a great success: not only did the rebellions cease, but the Lucerine colony became an important asset for the crown, providing taxes, soldiers, and various kinds of skilled workers.

Frederick's association with Muslims provided a point of attack for his Papal opponents, but ironically, when the Papal-sponsored Charles of Anjou finally wrested the kingdom of Sicily from Frederick's heirs in 1266-8, he left the colony intact, despite it having rebelled against him in 1268. Its value to the crown evidently outweighed any charges of hypocrisy that might be thrown at him.

His son and successor Charles II eventually calculated differently, and had the colony dismantled and the Muslim population sold into slavery in 1300. He appears to have been acting out of a mixture religious sentiment and a desperate need for cash: in forgoing future tax income in favour of a windfall from selling the Muslims and seizing their possessions, he was effectively liquidating an asset.

Taylor's book then tells this story in greater detail. It's definitely an academic rather than popular history, but for all that I found it a good and fairly quick read. It definitely helped, though, that I was reasonably familiar with 13th century Italy already.… (más)