The country between Markward's base at Trapani and the regency's capital: the coastal plain of Castellammare and Partinico, the Muslim market town of Alcamo, Calatafimi and the passes toward Monreale.
Markward landed at Trapani in October 1199 and, in the Federiciana's words, won large parts of the island through continuous fighting; by spring 1200 he was besieging Palermo, so his army and his Muslim allies must have crossed and lived off this country during the winter. Neither side can farm it in peace that winter. The Federiciana (Monreale) says the war between Markward with his Saracen allies and the pope's army devastated the Monreale lands, and that the Muslims of the estate had revived their revolt after Constance's death.
How things stand that morning
Raided and fought over; holders of the small castles and villages not pinned.
Sides
- markward
- muslims
- sicily
Who raids here
Markward's Germans and Grasso's crews from Trapani; the Muslims of Iato and the mountains coming down from the south-east; the regency's men from Palermo and Carini.
Anchoring castles
Trapani and Monte San Giuliano (Markward); Iato (the Muslims); Carini, Monreale and Palermo (the regency).
Last campaign
Continuous fighting since the landing in October 1199 (Federiciana); the siege of Palermo follows in spring 1200.
What the year holds
What happened next, if nothing in play changes it. Each event carries what it depends on and what would stop it.
- Spring 1200Markward's army crosses it to besiege Palermo.Depends on: His hold on the west. Stopped by: A defeat in the west.
Where the sources disagree
Evidence: No source read describes raiding in the winter itself; the belt rests on the October landing, the 'continuous fighting', the revived Muslim revolt on the Monreale estates since Constance's death, the devastation of Monreale's lands in the war, and the spring siege of Palermo.
On the map: Rough; drawn from the logic of the campaign, not from a document.
Sources and studies
- Marcovaldo di Annweiler, Enciclopedia Federiciana (Treccani)
- Gualtiero di Pagliara, Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani (Treccani)
- Markward von Annweiler (en.wikipedia)
- Monreale, Enciclopedia Federiciana (Treccani)
Last revised 4 November 2026. Published 4 November 2026. Suggest a correction on the OMNIA Discord.