Overseas campaigns of Normans of Sicily against North Africa and their maritime power (483-548/1091-1154)

In the middle of XIth century, Normans started invasion of Sicily without wasting any time after being successful in their rebellion in South Italy where they have been gathering since the beginning of the century. Before the rebellion, Normans were paid mercenaries of Scandinavian origin who served to political powers including the Byzantine Empire. While the oldest of Hauteville Brothers, Duke of Apulia, Calabria and Sicily Robert Guiscard (451-478/1059-1085) who had become an independent power was directly targeting at the Byzantine throne; Roger I (463/464-494/1071-1101), another member of the family, started conquest of Sicily which was politically unstable under Islamic rule. Roger I's rather modest conquest was going to be decisive in dynasty's future simultaneously with Robert Guiscard's ambition directed at the throne of Byzantine Empire. Being the main power in Central Mediterranean as a kingdom with Roger II (524-548/1130-1154), Normans conquered Ifrīḳiya from Zīrīds and local Muslim powers during his reign. By the third quarter of XIIth century, costs of North Africa between Tunisia and Tripoli were under the reign of Normans who were under influence of Arabic culture and administration style. The research will study the campaign of Sicilian Normans on North Africa, naval wars, landings, their fleets and armies, shipyards, their weapons and ships in the light of Islamic and Western resources.