Family
Roger's first marriage was in 1117 to Elvira of Castile, a daughter of King Alfonso VI of Castile. When she died, rumors flew that Roger had died as well, as his grief had made him a recluse. They had six children:
- Roger (b. 1118 – d. 12 May 1148), heir, Duke of Apulia (from 1135), possibly also Count of Lecce;
- Tancred (b. 1119 – d. 1138), Prince of Bari (from 1135).
- Alfonso (b. 1120/1121 – d. 10 October 1144), Prince of Capua (from 1135) and Duke of Naples;
- A daughter (d. young, 1135);
- William (b. 1131 – d. 7 May 1166), his successor, Duke of Apulia (from 1148);
- Henry (b. 1135 – d. young).
Roger's second marriage was in 1149 to Sibylla of Burgundy, daughter of Hugh II, Duke of Burgundy. They had two children:
- Henry (b. 29 August 1149 – d. young);
- Stillborn child (16 September 1150).
Roger's third marriage was in 1151 to Beatrice of Rethel, a grandniece of King Baldwin II of Jerusalem. They had one daughter:
- Constance (b. posthumously, 2 November 1154 – d. 28 November 1198), who married with the Emperor Henry VI, later King of Sicily in his right.
Roger also had five known illegitimate children:
—By a daughter of Hugues I, Count of Molise:
- Simon, who became Prince of Taranto in 1144.
—With unknown mistresses:
- A daughter, wife of Rodrigo Garcés (later Henry, Count of Montescaglioso), perhaps son of King García Ramírez of Navarre;
- A daughter, wife of the napolitan noblemen Adam;
- Clenenza, married Hugues II, Count of Molise;
- Adelisa (d. aft. 1184/87) married firstly Joscelin, Count of Loreto, and secondly Robert of Bassonville, Count of Loritello;
- Marina, married the great admiral Margaritus of Brindisi.
Read more about this topic: Roger II Of Sicily
Famous quotes containing the word family:
“A poem is like a person. Though it has a family tree, it is important not because of its ancestors but because of its individuality. The poem, like any human being, is something more than its most complete analysis. Like any human being, it gives a sense of unified individuality which no summary of its qualities can reproduce; and at the same time a sense of variety which is beyond satisfactory final analysis.”
—Donald Stauffer (b. 1930)
“The family is constantly changing, as each member changes. Some changes we recognize as developments, and the pleasure they bring usually makes us more adaptable. Some changes threaten, or disappoint other members, who may try to resist the change, or punish someone for changing.”
—Terri Apter (20th century)
“The family: I believe more unhappiness comes from this source than from any other—I mean the attempt to prolong family connection unduly, and to make people hang together artificially who would never naturally do so.”
—Samuel Butler (1835–1902)