Roger II of Sicily, having succeeded his brother Simon as Count of Sicily, is ultimately able to raise the status of the island to a kingdom in 1130, along with his other holdings, which include the Duchy of Apulia and Calabria and the Maltese Islands.

During this period, the Kingdom of Sicily is prosperous and politically powerful, having becoming one of the wealthiest states in all of Europe; even wealthier than the Kingdom of England.

Immigrants from Northern Italy and Campania have arrived in significant numbers during this era.

The island’s tongue has became Latinized and its churches Roman Catholic, in contrast to the Orthodox practices when controlled by Constantinople.

The Antipope Anacletus II, whom Roger has supported, enthrones him King of Sicily on Christmas Day 1130.

Roger's elaborate royal mantle bears the date 528 of the Islamic calendar (1133-34 CE), and therefore could not be used for his coronation.

(It will later be used as coronation cloak by the Holy Roman Emperors and is now in the Imperial Treasury (Schatzkammer) in Vienna.)