William II, called the Good, was king of Sicily from 1166 to 1189. From surviving sources William's character is indistinct. Lacking in military enterprise, secluded and pleasure-loving, he seldom emerged from his palace life at Palermo. Yet his reign is marked by an ambitious foreign policy and a vigorous diplomacy. Champion of the papacy and in secret league with the Lombard cities, he was able to defy the common enemy, Frederick Barbarossa. Recent scholarship has also stressed that the relative stability of William's reign on the mainland rested less on the disappearance of aristocratic power than on a continuing political settlement in which counts, lesser barons, and royal military officers remained central to the governance of Apulia and the Terra di Lavoro. In the Divine Comedy, Dante places William II in Paradise. He is also referred to in Boccaccio's Decameron.
King William II of Sicily ("the Good") (born 1153)
On November 11, in the year 1189, King William II of Sicily ("the Good") (born 1153). This event is recorded as a Notable Deaths event in the history of November 11, a notable event in this corner of history.
1 notable person is associated with this event, including William II of Sicily. Learn more below.
Key Facts
- This event took place on November 11, 1189 (AD era).
- It is categorised as a Notable Deaths event in recorded history.
- Referenced in 1 Wikipedia article.
- 1 notable person is recorded as involved in or associated with this event.
- Wikipedia source last updated on 7 April 2026.
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