William of Capparone was a

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captainNeveux, François (2008). ''A brief history of the Normans: the conquests that changed the face of Europe''. Robinson. of Palermo who came to power as the

regent A regent (from Latin : ruling, governing) is a person appointed to govern a state '' pro tempore'' (Latin: 'for the time being') because the monarch is a minor, absent, incapacitated or unable to discharge the powers and duties of the monarchy ...

Sicily (man) it, Siciliana (woman) , population_note = , population_blank1_title = , population_blank1 = , demographics_type1 = Ethnicity , demographics1_footnotes = , demographi ...

and guardian of future emperor Frederick II in 1202 after the death of Markward von Anweiler. He held the post for the next four years until 1206. He was called the Great Captain. William was probably supported by Pisans, for he dates certain instruments of Fredericks with the Pisan system. He certainly did not have the support of the

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family, of which the young Frederick was a scion. He was opposed also by

Pope Innocent III Pope Innocent III ( la, Innocentius III; 1160 or 1161 – 16 July 1216), born Lotario dei Conti di Segni (anglicized as Lothar of Segni), was the head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 8 January 1198 to his death in 16 ...

, who tried to arrange a favourable marriage for Frederick to put him under somebody else's influence. William's dictatorship in Sicily is shown in that it is known that he expelled Urso, Bishop of Agrigento, from his diocese (for the second time) for refusal to take an oath of fealty. In Spring 1204, the pope's legate began negotiating for peace and the recognition of the pope's representatives. Capparone never fulfilled his end of the deal, however, and peace was ultimately not obtained. In 1206, William was finally removed from power and replaced by the chancellor Walter of Palearia. William still held the royal palace, however. With the aid of Diepold, Count of Acerra, he was eventually dislodged, as were his Pisan friends. The Genoese gained ascendancy in Sicilian trade thereafter.

References

Sources

*''Gesta Innocentii III''. *{{cite book, first=Donald, last=Matthew, title=The Norman Kingdom of Sicily, publisher=

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, year=1992 12th-century births 13th-century deaths Italian politicians