A Portrait of Constance of Sicily

to Henry VI, son and successor of Frederick Barbarossa. When in I i89 her nephew, William II, died, the kingdom of Sicily came to Constance, as to the last surviving legitimate descendant of the Hauteville dynasty. Though, in fact, Sicily came under the direct rule of her German husband, Constance considered herself, and was considered by the majority of the Sicilians the real sovereign. She was even suspected of encouraging rebellious movements against her husband. In 1191 Constance spent several months at Salerno, while Henry VI besieged Naples, which was in revolt. After his return to Germany, however, the mob of Salerno attacked her palace and the Empress was eventually brought a prisoner to Sicily. Henry soon had her released and in I194 took a cruel vengeance on the treacherous citizens of Salerno. On the