 | After Roger II died in 1154, the throne passed to his fourth son, known to history as William the Bad. When he died in 1166, his son, only 11 years old, took the throne as William II. Known as “William the Good”, his reign of 23 years was remembered as a golden age of peace and prosperity.
William II died in 1189 without an heir, and Tancred of Lecce, an illegitimate grandson of Roger II, seized the throne. He was nicknamed “the Monkey King” because of his short stature and unattractive appearance. On his rare gold tari, the Arabic inscription is “King Tancred the Victorious through Allah” | 
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