The westernmost port of Sicily on its sickle-shaped spit, the usual crossing to Tunis and the stopover of Genoese and Pisan ships for North Africa.
Ibn Jubayr sailed home from here in 1185 and found Muslims and Christians living side by side. In October 1199 Markward came ashore here from William Grasso's ships, and the town is his base that winter.
Who holds it
- Name
- Markward of Annweiler, since his landing in October 1199 (continued hold inferred)
- Title
- Port and castle
- Since
- October 1199
- Confidence
- medium
Lord in 1200
Markward of Annweiler, who landed here in October 1199; formerly a royal port.
How things stand that morning
Held by Markward (inferred from the landing and his winter in the west).
Charter
A franchise for its port from Count Roger (1097) is claimed in local tradition (it.wikipedia).
Council
No commune; the royal officers have given way to Markward's.
Communities
Muslims and Christians (Ibn Jubayr, 1185); Genoese and Pisan merchants (consulates mentioned in it.wikipedia, undated); Jews (not pinned for 1200).
Walls and castle
Walls and the castle at the landward end of the spit (medieval form not dated); Monte San Giuliano (Erice) above the plain.
Trade and crafts
The Africa crossing, salt pans, tuna fisheries, coral and fishing (not pinned for 1200), the Genoese and Pisan stopovers.
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.
- After 21 July 1200Its holder depends on Markward's fortunes after Monreale.Depends on: The battle. Stopped by: Nothing likely in play
Places of note
- Port of Trapani: Markward's landing, October 1199
Where the sources disagree
Evidence: The landing is documented (en.wikipedia, Dizionario Biografico); the town's institutions in 1200 are not.
On the map: Near land about 6 km round the town.
Primary sources for Markward
Chronicles, registers, sagas and inscriptions written in or near 1200 that cover this entry. Each has its own page with editions, translations and where to read it.
- Annals of Montecassino; Annals of Ceccano (Fossanova) (12th and early 13th centuries; Ceccano to 1217). Two sets of annals from either side of the papal and Sicilian frontier. Read online
- Chronicle of Richard of San Germano, Richard of San Germano (first version about 1216, enlarged to 1243). The fullest southern narrative of the Hohenstaufen kingdom, written by a notary on the border of the Terra di Lavoro. Read online
- Chronicle of Otto of St Blasien, Otto of St Blasien (about 1209 to 1210). A Swabian continuation of Otto of Freising written from the Staufen side. Read online
- Chronicle of Sicard, bishop of Cremona, Sicard of Cremona (about 1210 to 1213). A universal chronicle whose last part is a well-placed eyewitness account by a Lombard bishop who served emperors and popes. Read online
- The Deeds of Innocent III, Anonymous (a curial official, perhaps Peter of Benevento) (about 1208 to 1209). The curia's own account of the pontificate's first decade, with letters copied in. Read online
- The Registers of Pope Innocent III for 1199 to 1201, Innocent III and the papal chancery (22 February 1199 to 21 February 1201). The pope's outgoing letters for the year, in his chancery's own copy, touching nearly every realm in the atlas. Read online
- Book in honour of the Emperor, or On Sicilian affairs, Peter of Eboli (1195 to 1197). An illustrated verse account of Henry VI's conquest of Sicily, preserved in a single manuscript made at the imperial court. Read online
Sources and studies
- Markward von Annweiler (en.wikipedia)
- Guglielmo Grasso, Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani (Treccani)
- Storia di Trapani (it.wikipedia)
- Ibn Jubayr, Travels (Rihla), on Sicily December 1184 to January 1185 (en.wikipedia summary; details from the text as generally known)
Last revised 4 November 2026. Published 4 November 2026. Suggest a correction on the OMNIA Discord.