Richard, bishop of Syracuse and archbishop of Messina (d. 1195), and the History of the Tyrants of Sicily

Abstract

This article reconsiders the agenda and authorship of the Liber de regno Sicilie or History of the Tyrants of Sicily by way of a detailed study of its content. The History comprises one of the very few detailed sources for the kingdom of Sicily under Kings William I (1154–66) and William II (1166–89), and while it only covers part of the period in question (1154–69), it is of fundamental importance for what it tells us about the politics, characters, and society of the day, and particularly for its insights into the treacherous world of Sicilian court politics. It was clearly the work of an insider, or a well-connected observer. But none of the suggestions as to the author's identity so far advanced have achieved a scholarly consensus. This article highlights the unexpectedly prominent position given to Richard, bishop-elect of Syracuse, throughout the narrative, and uses the outline of Richard's career, the positive construction of his actions, and the explanation and apology that lies beneath the report of his deeds, to argue that either Richard himself or someone who was part of his retinue and shared his experiences was the author. That identification also permits some suggestions to be made as to the purpose of the History and the possible contemporary audiences to whom it made its case.