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Birth:          ABT 1075 
Death:          16 Apr 1118 

Notes
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adelaide_del_Vasto
Adelaide del Vasto (Adelasia, Azalaïs) (c.?1075 – 16 April 1118) was countess of Sicily 
as the third spouse of Roger I of Sicily, and Queen consort of Jerusalem by marriage 
to Baldwin I of Jerusalem. She served as regent of Sicily during the minority of her son 
Roger II of Sicily from 1101 until 1112.
Family[edit]

She was the daughter of Manfred del Vasto (brother of Boniface del Vasto, marquess 
of Western Liguria, and Anselm del Vasto). Her uncle held much political clout in the 
region of Liguria–a document relating the deeds of Roger I described him as “that most 
renowned marquis of Italy.” [1] Her father's family was of Frankish descent of a branch 
of the Aleramici, sharing a common descent from Aleramo of Montferrat with the 
Marquesses of Montferrat. Her brothers founded the lines of the Marquesses of 
Saluzzo, of Busca, of Lancia, of Ceva, and of Savona.

Her paternal grandparents were Teto II del Vasto, and his wife Bertha of Turin, 
daughter of margrave Ulric Manfred II of Turin.

Countess consort of Sicily[edit]

She married Roger I in 1089, as his third wife, while her sister married Roger's 
illegitimate son Jordan. Roger I died in 1101, and Adelaide ruled as regent of Sicily for 
her young sons Simon and Roger II. Adelaide herself was quite young when she 
became regent; she was only about 26 years old at the time.[2] During her tenure, the 
emir Christodulus rose to preeminence at the court and Palermo was settled as the 
capital of the realm.

Almost immediately after Adelaide assumed the position of regent, rebellions broke out 
in parts of Calabria and Sicily.[3] The writings of the Norman monk Orderic Vitalis 
recount that Adelaide put an end to these episodes of insurgency with severity.[4] The 
use of great force in suppressing such rebellions, however, did not tarnished her 
reputation as a ruler. In fact, Abbot Alexander of Telese’s history of Roger I describes 
Adelaide as “a most prudent woman, [she] exercised the cares of the government and 
ruled over the county.” [5] A Greek and Arab charter from 1109 describes Adelaide as 
“the great female ruler, the malikah of Sicily and Calabria, the protector of the 
Christian faith.” [6]

Adelaide’s older son, Simon, was enthroned when he reached the appropriate age 
(around 8 or 9 years old) but died in 1105, leaving Adelaide regent again until Roger II 
reached his majority in 1112.[7] Adelaide’s second son, Roger II, took control over 
control of the kingdom in 1112, but there is evidence that Adelaide continued to play 
a central role in the governing of the island as her signature can still be seen on 
official documents even after 1112.[8]

Adelaide, and Roger II after her, chose to rule with the help of local officials, rather 
than importing a retinue of foreign advisors recognizing the great advantage in their 
familiarity with the island, its people and its cultures.[9] Similarly, she was careful to 
donate generously to the local Greek monasteries on Sicily as a way of currying favor 
with the pre-existing religious authorities.[10]

Either through her influence or under her regency, her brother Henry del Vasto was 
granted Paterṇ and Butera. Henry (Enrico) was married to Flandina daughter of Count 
Roger I. of Calabria and Sicily.

Queen consort of Jerusalem[edit]

Meanwhile, in Jerusalem, after the death of Baldwin's first wife Godehilde during the 
First Crusade, Baldwin married an Armenian noblewoman traditionally known as Arda. 
Arda was useful in an alliance with the Armenians while Baldwin was Count of Edessa, 
but when he became King of Jerusalem in 1100 he seemed to have little use for an 
Armenian wife, and Arda was forced into a convent around 1105.

In 1112 a new marriage was sought for the king. Arnulf of Chocques, Latin Patriarch 
of Jerusalem, suggested that Baldwin marry Adelaide, as Roger II was now old enough 
to rule Sicily alone. Baldwin sent ambassadors to Sicily, and somewhat hastily agreed 
to any terms which Adelaide might have; Adelaide demanded that their son, should 
they have one, inherit Jerusalem, and if they had no children, the kingdom would pass 
to her own son Roger II. Adelaide brought with her an enormous amount of badly 
needed money, as well as some Muslim archers and a thousand other Sicilian soldiers.

Adelaide was already well into middle age and no new heir was immediately 
forthcoming. The king was blamed for a bigamous marriage (as Arda was still alive) 
and the Patriarch Arnulf was deposed. Pope Paschal II agreed to reinstate him in 
1116, provided that he annul the marriage between Baldwin and Adelaide. Baldwin 
agreed, after falling ill and assuming that renouncing his sin of bigamy would cure him. 
In 1117 the annulment was performed at Acre, and Adelaide sailed back to Sicily.

Adelaide died on 16 April 1118 and was buried in Patti. Roger II was outraged at the 
treatment of his mother and never forgave the Kingdom of Jerusalem. Almost thirty 
years later, Roger still refused to give assistance to the Crusader states during the 
Second Crusade. William of Tyre wrote of the impact of the incident: “Adelaide’s son 
was angered beyond measure, because she had been sent back. He conceived a 
mortal hatred against the kingdom and its people. Other Christian princes in various 
parts of the world, either by coming in person or by giving liberal gifts, have amplified 
our infant realm. But he and his heirs at the present time have never become 
reconciled to us to the extent of a single friend word. Although they could have 
relieved our necessities by council and aid far more easily than other prince, yet they 
have always remembered their wrongs and have unjustly avenged upon the whole 
people the fault of a single individual.” [11]

Parents
DEL VASTO Manfredo (ABT 1055 - )
----- ----- ()

Siblings
DEL VASTO Adelaide (ABT 1075 - 16 Apr 1118)

Marriage To OF SICILY Roger I (ABT 1031 - 22 Jun 1101)
    m. 1087 

Notes

Parents
DE HAUTEVILLE Tancred ( 970 - )
OF NORMANDY Fredesende (Fredestina) (ABT  995 - 1057)

Children by OF SICILY Roger I ABT 1031 - 22 Jun 1101
____ Roger II (Ruggero II) (22 Dec 1095 - 26 Feb 1154)

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