ROGER I., Count of Sicily and Calabria, and the founder of the Norman dynasty in these countries, was the youngest of the twelve valiant sons of Tancred de Hauteville, rand was born in Normandy about 1031. Hearing of the wondrous success of his brothers (see GCisonMD), who had some time before departed to follow their fortunes, and had by this time gained possession of the greater part of southern holy, Roger set out in 1058 to join them. On his arrival, he was deputed by his brother Robert to conquer Calabria, an achievement which was speedily executed. In 1060 he set out on an expedition against Sicily, then ruled by a number of Saracen chiefs; but he confined himself in this and the following expedition to predatory attacks ou Messina and its neighborhood. He then took and fortified Messina, making it the base of his future operations, and being joined by Robert, the two, at the head of their small band, performed a variety of almost .miraculons exploits. They were gradually joined by the Christian inhabitants, especially when their success had given the latter room to hope for freedom from their Moslem masters; and iu 1072, Palermo, the capital and chief stronghold of the Saracens, was yielded to the invaders. Roger was then invested by his brother with the crown of Sicily, under the title of count ; but it was not till 19 years afterward that he suc ceeded in thoroughly supplanting the Saracens, owing to the repeated re-enforcements they received from Africa. Roger had previously divided the country into fiefs, which
he now distributed among his chief barons, whose relations to their subjects were regu lated by him with justice and moderation. He had, in 1062, received from Robert his fair share of Calabria, to which, on the death of the latter, he added (1085) a number of towns wrested from Roger and Btihemond, Robert's two sons. He was now the chief of the Hauteville family; and the fame of his exploits, and the greatness of his power, made his alliance be courted by the first princes of Europe. It was at this time he took the title of "grand count," to distinguish him from his vassals; and in 1098, he received from pope Urban IL, in recompense for his fidelity to the holy see, the privileges of refusing at his pleasure papal legates admission to his teiritory, and of appointing bishops. The last acts of his life were the building and endowing of churches and mon asteries, among others the cathedral of Messina (1097). he died at Mileto in Calabria, July 11, 1101.