House de Hauteville campaign until the creation of an Empire
After the death of Duke Robert 'the Fox' of Puglia, his domain would be divided between his two sons in 1071, Bohemond would become Duke of Puglia and Roger would become Duke of Calabria at the age of 5. In the following years, Bohemond would take the Duchy of Calabria from his brother, starting a rivalry between the supporters of the two brothers for the following decades. In the year 1090, Bohemond would become King of Sicily with the approval of Pope Benedict XI.
Roger had shown himself to be a political opponent in Bohemond's court, but not strong enough to create a situation. Until the 1st Crusade would begin in 1097, and two years later in 1099, Roger would be supported by his brother to become Advocate of the Holy Sepulchre, especially since it was Bohemond's troops that did most of the work in the incursion into the Holy Land, the Pope and other lords did not have enough power to question him. Bohemond would eventually die in 1111, his son Robert would become the new King of Sicily, while Roger would found the House de Jerusalem, a Cadet House of de Hauteville.
After losing territories on the Italian peninsula to the Holy Roman Emperor and the Emperor in Constantinople, the now Re Guido succeeded in conquering parts of the African coast around Tunis, and in the Crusade against the heretical Waldensians. His cousin Tancred would be the first King of Aquitaine after the Crusade, but he would end up dying 3 months later, with these lands passing to the Sicilian crown.
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The Siciliani Coronation of 1141
The territories of Re Vicenzo in 1175, the Kingdom of Aquitaine was by law elective since its foundation by the Crusaders.
Re Vicenzo spent most of his life conquering the small lords in Aquitaine, while helping his wife, the Queen of Navarre, in her wars against the Muslims. Further east, Vicenzo fought against Ragusa, Ancona and the Holy Roman Emperor himself to free his land from commercial control mainly by the Republic of Pisa and Genoa, prioritizing the Republic of Gaeta, founded by the King. And so far, the Sicilians have been successful in fending off a Jihad by the Sultan of Egypt to take all the North African territories under Sicilian rule.
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Founding of an Empire
With the undeniable might of the Sicilian kingdom and the flourishing of this people as the justification, Gerardo have named himself Imperatore of Sicilia. No one dares question his power in the earthly domain.
But even now many are whispering of the boldness, and perhaps even the presumption, of naming himself as such. Are he deserving of such a title? Is that not for God to decide? What does the Holy Father say? Without Papal blessing, it may be difficult to convince even his own loyal subjects of his right to call himself Imperatore. I'm sure Papal approval is a mere formality...
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