Roger II of Sicily dies at Palermo on February 26, 1154 and is buried in the Cathedral of Palermo.

He is succeeded by his fourth son, William, who had grown up with little expectation of ruling.

The deaths of his three older brothers Roger, Tancred, and Alfonso between 1138 and 1148 had changed matters, though when his father dies William is still not well-prepared to take his place.

On assuming power, William keeps the administration that had guided his father's rule for his final years.

Only the Englishman Thomas Brun is removed, and the chancellor Maio of Bari is promoted.

The real power in the kingdom is at first exercised by Maio, a man of low birth, whose title ammiratus ammiratorum is the highest in the realm.

Maio continues Roger's policy of excluding the nobles from the administration, and seeks also to curtail the liberties of the towns.

The barons, always chafing against the royal power, are encouraged to revolt by Pope Adrian IV, whose recognition William has not yet sought, by the East Roman Emperor Manuel I Komnenos, and by the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick I, who had had canceled his plan to invade Sicily when Roger died.

Continuing his father’s ambitions, William offers peace to Manuel, is refused, and then makes peace with Venice, thus depriving Constantinople of a war fleet.