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BELLS
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A SURNAME IN HISTORY
For years I have wondered who my ancestors were, and if perhaps they played a significant role in history. For most people tracing ancestral origins is futile beyond a few generations back. My research into the surname of Alaimo might have been just as futile if had not fortune favored me in that the name Alaimo is rare, and that those with the surname Alaimo are either of Spanish or Sicilian descent. This is because the family tree split into two distinct branches almost 800 years ago.
My research found that one Roberto Alaimo left Spain early in the 13th century and moved to Sicily. He was the first Alaimo in Sicily, and as such he is no doubt the patriarch of the Alaimo’s of Sicily.
I have divided this research into three sections. Section I is a brief history of Sicily up to the end of the 12th century, and those events in other places that are relevant to its history.
Section II is focused on 13th Century Sicily. This is when Baron Roberto Alaimo entered into the annals of history.
Section III contains trivia about other Alaimo’s in the history of Sicily after the 13th century. There is also a brief overview of Sicilian Castles as well as details of the Coat of Arms of Baron Roberto Alaimo de Lentini.
I have titled this history Vesper Bells for two reasons. The first is that the known early history of the Sicilian Alaimo’s begins and ends in the 13th Century. The second is because an Alaimo played a significant and dramatic role in the War of the Vespers that began when the vesper bells in Palermo rang out on March 30th, 1282 A. D.
The War of the Vespers although on the surface appears to be nothing more then a localized revolution, was a war that shook the foundations of many monarchies and empires in Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East. To begin it was a war where the nobility and the common person were singular in purpose. They wanted freedom from oppression and defied the most powerful monarch in Europe as well as defied the Roman Popes of that era who excommunicated all Sicilians during the war years. It was a war fought by a group of ethnically diverse people who were Arab and Moor, Christian and Jew, Norman and Greek, native Sicilian and even Spanish. They fought together in the melting pot of the Mediterranean known as Sicily.
They fought for freedom and in so doing their struggle caused the weakening of King Charles of Anjou, the beginning of the end of the Papacy's strength and influence in secular events, the saving of the Byzantine Empire from invasion, and it even involved the churches of Scotland and Poland because one pope had to tap the financial resources of these churches because of this revolution.
SECTION IHISTORYSICILY
Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean. Its location and size has played a significant role in the history of the region and beyond. Since ancient times Sicily has been a major seaport for merchant and military fleets. Its strategic location is just north of Africa and halfway between Jerusalem and Spain. The control of Sicily was important to the control of the Mediterranean.
ISLANDS OF ANCIENT SICILY
THE BEGINNING
729 B. C. in Sicily the Greeks built a walled city that they named Leontini. It commanded a strategic overview of the fertile plains of Catania through which the river San Leonardo flowed. In this area wheat fields, citrus orchards, and olive trees abounded.
254 B. C. the Romans conquered Sicily. Leontini became a city of Rome. For the next 800 years Sicily remained in the Roman Empire. ANNO DOMINI
200 A.D. two centuries before this time, Jesus Christ was born and died in Israel. Christianity by now had spread through the provinces of Rome. This period of time has become to be known as the Pax Romania. Rome had conquered most of Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East. Wars did exist, but they were border wars and not ones of conquest by the Roman Empire. Rome was at its zenith of glory and power.
300 A. D. the Roman Empire was in decline.
364 A. D. the Roman Empire under Emperor Valentinian formally split into two. The eastern part of the empire became known as the Byzantine Empire and was ruled from Constantinople.
400 A. D. marked the beginning of the age when Europe and the Middle East became subject to repeated attacks from eastern hordes such as the ones lead by Attila the Hun. It is also in this time that the Roman Empire ceased to exist as such.
552 A. D. in this year Sicily became part of the Byzantine Empire.
629 A. D. the newly founded religion of Islam began to spread from Arabia. Under the teachings of Mohammed its fervent converts began to conquer the lands to the east and west of them. This militaristic spread of Islam directly affected the Byzantine Empire, which possessed the lands that Islam was spreading through. Islam spread across North Africa to the lands of the Berbers/Moors (Morocco). Islam at the same time swept through Jerusalem but was halted from spreading north by the forces of the Byzantine Empire.
668 A. D. Syracuse (Syracusa) for a time became the capital of the Byzantine Empire. This was because of threats of invasion to Constantinople.
712 A. D. Islamic Arabs had managed to conquer the lands that we now know as Spain up to the borders of modern day France. A few pockets of Christianity managed to survive. For the next 700 years the Christian forces fought back. Their struggle was known as the Reconquista (Reconquering). It is during these years that the Spanish language received a tremendous influx of Arabic words. Amongst the new words are three interconnected words of note to this story.
COTTONWOOD TREES
The poplar tree is also known as the cottonwood. There are three Arabic words for the cottonwood. They are Alamo, Alamos, and Alameda. Alamo is a single cottonwood tree. The second word is Alamos. It is the multiple of Alamo. The last word is Alameda. It is a word that describes a road, or an area that is lined by cottonwood trees. Alaimo and Alaimos are the alternate spellings of Alamo and Alamos. On an unrelated historical note the mission in Texas commonly known as ‘The Alamo’ received it’s titled because it was built near a grove of cottonwood tress. Cottonwood in Arabic is spelled الحور قطني and poplar is spelled شجر الحور؛ الحور. CRUSADES
800 A. D. on Christmas day of this year Pope Leo III in Rome crowned Charlemagne as the first Holy Roman Emperor. In the years prior to this crowning, Charlemagne had kept the Moors of Spain from spreading north into France. It is in the time of Charlemagne that knighthood came into being and heraldry began.
831 A. D. the Moors invaded Sicily thus beginning the end of the rule of the Byzantine Empire. The Moors brought with them lemon and orange trees, cotton, and sugar cane as new crops to the island.
1060 A. D. Pope Gregory beseeched the Normans to rid Sicily of the Moors.
1065 A. D. King Ferdinand died in this year and a civil war broke out in his kingdom between the contenders of the throne. A knight named Rodrigo del Bivar is the general that leads the army of Prince Sancho to victory and the throne. Rodrigo del Bivar is destined to become the legendary El Cid.
1072 A. D. the Normans liberated Lentini. It takes another 19 years for them to liberate the rest of Sicily. Of note is that under the rule of the Normans the religions of Islam, Judaism, as well as Christianity flourished. Most women in public, whether Christian or Islamic, continued to wear abbas and veils by choice.
1091 A.D. the Moors no longer controlled any part of Sicily. Many of the Normans who had fought in this long campaign settled in Sicily and Sicily came fully under the influence of the Normans.
1095 A. D. the First Crusade was launched to retake the Holy Lands from the Islamic rulers.
1146 A. D. the Second Crusade was launched.
1154 A.D. King Roger II (Roger of Hauteville) died on February 26th from illness. His kingdom of Sicily first passed on to William I who is known as William the Bad.
1166 A.D. William I dies in Palermo and a relative William II known as William the Good ascends to the throne of Sicily.
1177 A.D. William II marries Joan the daughter of King Henry II of England.
1187 A. D. the Third Crusade began. It was lead by King Richard the Lion Hearted.
1189 A.D. King William II dies without an heir. Constance the daughter of Roger II assumes the throne as Queen of Sicily. She is known in history both as Constance of Hauteville and Constance of Sicily. She is at the time married to Holy Roman Emperor Henry VI a Hofenstaufen of Germany.
1194 A.D. Henry VI is crowned King of Sicily. In this year on December 26th Frederick II is born to Henry VI and Constance.
1197 A.D. Henry VI dies in Palermo from malaria.
1198 A.D. not yet four years old Frederick II is crowned as King of Sicily. His mother Constance died shortly thereafter leaving Frederick II under the guardianship of Pope Innocent III.
SECTION II
THE HERITAGE13th CENTURY
In the 13th century several noteworthy events took place in Europe that to greater and lesser extents effect the future political history of Europe and in turn the New World. This century produced one of the most brilliant kings known to Europe, and it produced two documents that planted the seeds for future generations to build the concepts of democracy upon. Last it produced a hero of Sicily, Count Alaimo de Lentini.
FREDERICK II
The dominant personality of this century was Frederick II who in his lifetime acquired renown as the Stupor Mundi. The translation of this Latin phrase is wonder or marvel of the world. Frederick II spoke 6 languages fluently, was knowledgeable in astronomy, astrology, physics, and architecture. He was a great friend of the mathematician Leonardi Fibonacci who introduced to Europe the Arabic concept of 0 and 10 in calculations. In addition Frederick II founded the University of Naples and built many cathedrals in Sicily, Italy, and Germany.
As an architect Frederick II displayed his genius in the construction of the Castle Del Monte. In 1996, UNESCO put the monument on its World Heritage list of Humanity, justifying the choice with the statement: “Castel del Monte possesses an exceptional universal value because of its perfect shape, the harmony and the blending of cultural elements coming from the North of Europe, the Islamic world and classic antiquity. It is a unique piece of medieval architecture, which reflects the humanism of its founder.” His humanism by modern standards ended there. In Germany he gave great privileges to the nobility whilst suppressing those of the Sicilian barons. In Germany he gave sanctions to the Catholic Church whilst in Sicily he made Jews wear distinctive clothing. He embraced Arab culture and learning going so far as to have a harem with eunuch guards. Yet he was wary of the Arabs that resided in Sicily.
Although history records that Frederick II considered himself to be more Sicilian then German and that he cared for Sicily more then Germany the truth might be that like other rulers of his time his primary concern was acquiring power and holding onto that power. For Frederick II that meant gaining power over the rest of the Italian peninsula with Sicily as his base of wealth. It is no coincidence then that at the height of his power Frederick II referred to himself as “Lord of the World”.
1204 A. D. the Fourth Crusade began.
1205 A.D. Constance of Aragon (Spain) who had been married to King Emmerich of Hungary returns to Spain as her husband died the year before and their son the heir to the throne died in this year.
1208 A.D. King Frederick II reaches the age of majority (14 years old) and assumes his role as King of Sicily.
1209 A.D. King Frederick II marries Constance of Aragon. She is the sister of Peter II of Aragon (Spain). Constance is ten years older then Frederick II. This marriage to Frederick II was arranged by Pope Innocent III. It is known that Constance of Aragon brought with her an entourage of 500 Spanish knights from Aragon, Castile and Leon which greatly strengthened the defenses of Sicily.
1210 A. D. John of Procida was born in Salerno, Sicily. He was destined to become the physician of King Frederick II, as well as physician and confidant of several popes. In later years he would become a conspirator in the War of the Vespers.
1212 A.D. marks the year that Christian Kings in Spain delivered a significant blow to the Moors and drove them further south and back towards Africa. Beginning in this year Constance of Aragon began to rule Sicily in the absence of King Frederick II whose duties would take him to Germany till 1220 A.D.
1215 A. D. King Frederick II is crowned King of Germany in this year. On June 15th at Runnymede in England, King John signed the Magna Charta. He was forced by his barons to sign the Magna Carta (Great Charter) or face a great rebellion. This document’s 63 articles gave specific rights to nobility and certain other persons in England including judgment by their peers, and taxation by the approval of the barons. It also placed limits on the monarchy by stating that the king was not above the law.
1218 A. D. the Fifth Crusade starts.
1220 A. D. on November 22nd King Frederick II of Germany and Sicily was crowned by Pope Innocent III as the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire.
1221 A. D. King Frederick II began to purge the barons of Sicily who had been defiant of his authority. Executions, deportations, and blinding of the opposition was not unusual.
1222 A.D. Constance of Aragon, who is now known as Empress Constance, dies.
1223 A. D. Frederick II in this year completed the purging of the defiant barons. In the past three years he enacted laws banning prostitution and gambling as well as requiring Jews to wear distinctive signs upon their clothing.
1227 A. D. King Frederick II sponsored a minor crusade to the Holy Lands. This crusade was some 12 years overdue as he had promised Pope Innocent III to undertake the crusade upon his coronation in 1215 A.D. The crusade was a bloodless one. King Frederick II was able to negotiate with those in control of Jerusalem to allow Christians into the city.
1232 A. D. Riccardo di Lentini finished building the fortress named Augusta. This fortress was one of many that King Frederick II had built for the defense of Sicily. Augusta was built about 20 miles east of Lentini.
1234 A.D. In the next two years there were minor rebellions and opposition by the barons and the people of Sicily to the manner of rule by King Frederick II.
1239 A.D. Riccardo di Lentini finished repairs to Vecchio Castello also known as Castrum Vetus. This fortress was on a hill named Tirone and is north of Lentini.
THE MYSTERY
Based on information from organizations that sell heraldic coats of arms representing various historic family names it is known that one Roberto Alaimo came from either, Castile, Leon, or Aragon in Spain during King Frederick II’s reign to Sicily and later became the Baron of Lentini.
These documents would make it appear that Roberto Alaimo came to Sicily by the invitation of King Frederick II. However it is known that Constance of Aragon brought with her to Sicily 500 knights from this very same region. It is a much greater probability that Roberto Alaimo arrived in Sicily at the bequest of and in employment of Constance of Aragon and not her husband King Frederick II.
The coat of arms, associated with Roberto Alaimo, is considered to be Italian and not Spanish in origin. This would suggest then that the coat of arms was awarded in Sicily and not in Spain. Which in turn then leads to the next question which is was Roberto Alaimo born in Spain or in Sicily?
It is stated in two commercially sold heraldic documents that Roberto Alaimo came from Spain. It is not stated if he came as a knight or a squire to a knight. In the War of the Sicilian Vespers by Michele Amari which was first printed 1842, and later in English in 1850 the author indicates that Count Alaimo was born in Sicily. The answer to this question is not known, but I offer that Michele Amari in writing the history of the War of the Vespers was trying to instill pride in his fellow Sicilians. Therefore it is very possible that he either assumed Count Alaimo was born in Sicily or romanticized this part of his historical account for political purposes.
With that question addressed we now address the true question which is, is Baron Roberto Alaimo one and the same as Count Alaimo of Lentini? There is evidence that does support that they are the same person:
01. Baron Roberto Alaimo lived during King Frederick II’s reign which began in 1208 A.D. and ended in 1250 A.D. and we know that he eventually became the Baron of Lentini.
02. The first recording of a Count Alaimo in my research is in 1240 A.D. when King Frederick II granted him lands near Lentini. Castle Hidria (modern spelling of the word is hydria, meaning water pitcher) was given to him by Frederick II.
03. The title baron includes counts and other higher titles of nobility and is it is sometimes used to refer to any noble. As an example, The Letter of the Barons was signed by Count Alaimo.
04. Assuming that Count Alaimo was born between 1200 A.D and 1220 A.D. he would have been at least 62 years old or as much as 82 years old in 1282 A.D. which then would qualify him for Michele Amari’s description of a “hale and valiant old man”. It is also known that Count Alaimo was much older then his second wife. In 1282 A.D. Macalda was 40 years old.
05. Of secondary interest is that John of Procida was known to be 72 years of age when the War of the Vespers began. At that age he was an active conspirator in the courts of Spain and Constantinople and he ultimately lived to the age of 89 years. Therefore Michele Amari’s description of Count Alaimo as being energetic is not without merit.
In the absence of any other knowledge it is probable that Baron Roberto Alaimo of Lentini is one and the same as Count Alaimo of Lentini.
COUNT ALAIMO
1242 A.D. It is believed that Macalda (Machalda) Scaletta (also known as Macalda Scaletta Lancia) was born in this year. Her father was the nobleman James Scaletta. She was of Norman descent and her family’s holdings were in Ficarra, Sicily. Ficarra is a small town near Messina. The Arabs originally built it and its original name was Fakhar meaning glorious. However some claim that the town’s name is based on the Sicilian word for a field of figs, Ficara.
1246 A. D. Jacopa da Lentini died in Lentini. He had been a notary for King Frederick II. He was also a poet who helped to originate the style of poetry known as the Italian sonnet. Baron Roberto Alaimo was also noted in his time as a competent poet.
1248 A. D. the Sixth Crusade begins. It is the last significant crusade.
1250 A. D. on the 13th of December King Frederick II died. A power struggle ensued immediately for the title of the King of Sicily. Manfred of Germany won out. For the next 16 years battles were fought, and plots boiled as many others vied for the title of King of Sicily.
1254 A.D. a rebellion in Sicily began against the rule of King Manfred. The rebellion obtained temporary success.
1256 A.D. after a significant defeat near Lentini the army of the rebels are defeated by the forces of King Manfred. Many of the leaders of this rebellion are forced to flee Sicily. Amongst them that enter into exile is Count Alaimo de Lentini.
1264 A. D. Guglemo D’Amico, the first husband of Macalda Scaletta, died. At the time of D’Amico’s death he was heavily in debt. The few mentions of Macalda in history describe her as eager to climb the social ladder, unscrupulous in her affairs, and a beautiful woman.
1266 A. D. on February 26th Count Alaimo fought alongside the French forces in the Battle of Benevento. The French forces were lead by King Charles of Anjou. Anjou was one of several French provinces that had a king. King Charles forces were successful in defeating King Manfred of Germany. King Manfred died in this battle, and shortly thereafter King Charles became King of Sicily as well as receiving other titles. King Charles had now become the single most powerful king in Europe.
1269 A. D. a minor rebellion against King Charles harsh rule took place in several parts of Sicily.
1274 A. D. on August 22nd Count Alaimo returned to Sicily. It is at this time that King Charles awarded Count Alaimo the title Justiciary of Principato and Benevento. It was possibly in this time period that King Charles of Anjou arranged for Macalda Scaletta to marry again. The king insisted that she and Count Alaimo of Lenteni marry. King Charles forced this marriage as he did many others in Sicily. At the time of the marriage Count Alaimo was considered to be one of the wealthiest men in Sicily. Macalda Scaletta was Count Alaimo’s second wife. The fate of his first wife is not known.
WAR OF THE SICILIAN VESPERS
1279 A. D. on October 29th Count Alaimo became the Secretary of Sicily. It is of interest to note that the document giving this title has the count’s name spelled as Alaymo. In this year at the age of 69 John of Procida the once physician of King Frederick II arrived in Sicily on a covert mission. He met with Count Alaimo, and the Barons Palmieri (Benedict) Abbate, and Gualtiero (Walter) Caltagirone. The purpose of which was to obtain from them a letter to the Spanish King Peter of Aragon imploring the king to assert his right to rule in Sicily. This was just the beginning of a conspiracy to stage a revolt against the French rule of Sicily. NOTE: Scholars have from time to time misread the signature of Count Alaimo and have recorded his name as Alajmo.
1280 A. D. John of Procida twice met with the barons of Sicily in secret. The first meeting took place in Trapani, and the second on the Island of Malta. From Emperor Michael of Byzantine he delivered a large quantity of gold to finance the revolt. Over the next two years the conspirator barons smuggled weapons into Sicily, and began arming the citizens in silence.
1282 A. D. King Charles of Anjou had increased the taxes dramatically, and was ruling the lands with a heavy hand. King Charles had at his ready a great fleet ready to sail to Constantinople for the purpose of invading it, and adding it to his lands and titles. This fleet was harbored in Messina. All around the island the garrisons of the 42 castles that the French occupied began confiscating horses, food, and livestock to feed the army that was preparing to leave Messina. This is a time that the poet Dante would immortalize in his masterpiece The Divine Comedy. In part III titled Paradise, in Song VIII verse 73 he refers to the Mala Lordship. This is King Charles of Anjou.
March 30th Easter Monday at the small church of Santo Spirito outside of the city walls of Palermo a group of drunken French soldiers crashed a festival and insulted a woman there. Her husband assaulted a French Sergeant named Drouet and killed him with a knife. In a few minutes the rest of the crowd killed the remaining soldiers as the first stroke of the vespers bell of the churches in Palermo began to toll. News of this spread quickly, and the citizens of Palermo rose up against the French. By the next morning two thousand French were killed. The revolution had begun.
April 5th the citizens of Lentini joined in the revolt. In the next few weeks all the people of Sicily rose up in revolt. It was estimated that thousands of French were massacred in this uprising. Of interest is how a Sicilian knew who was French and who was not. The word chick pea in Sicilian is pronounced ‘ciciri’ which the French could not pronounce but would utter ‘kikiri’ instead. In this way one determined who was French and who was not.
April 28th Messina fell and the French officials there that had not been slaughtered, fled by sea. The revolutionaries destroyed the remaining warships of King Charles.
May 22nd the revolution had begun by accident and prematurely. None the less the Barons of Sicily proceeded with their plans and signed a letter that was sent to Peter of Aragon requesting that he assert his right to rule over Sicily. Aragon was a Spanish province of which Peter was king. The primary authors of this letter were the barons Benedict Abbate, Giovana of Provinci, Gualtiero (Walter) Galtagirone, and Count Alaimo of Lentini. The significance of the Letter of the Barons is that this document asserted a principal that the people had a right to have voice in choosing their rulers. Historians credit this letter as equal in importance to the Magna Charta. SEIGE OF MESSINA
June was the beginning of the French counter attack that was launched against Messina. The French army consisted of well trained and armed men at arms as well as knights. Messina was defended by armed and determined citizens behind makeshift walls and barricades. It was at this time that Count Alaimo arrived in Messina alone and took charge of its defense.
Historians described Count Alaimo as a “hale and valiant old man, noble of blood and of fame, and of great experience in war”. Count Alaimo trained the citizens in weapon usage, and directed the building of walls and fortifications. It was said that his presence was everywhere.
Macalda Scaletta the wife of Count Alaimo was not idle in this time. She led the attack against Catania and seized the city from a small garrison of French soldiers. The French had been tricked into surrendering by Macalda. Upon their capture all of the French were executed.
August, the French with new forces prepared for their attack on Messina. Prior to this time small numbers of foreign nobles from both North Africa and other parts of Europe had arrived to support the revolution.
August 6th the first French assault began with a furious onslaught against the Monastery Salvatorre in Messina. Count Alaimo’s forces resisted this attack.
August 8th the French assaulted the heights of Mount Capperina. They were driven back by the men and women of Messina.
As a result of this battle a story began with the French soldiers and their Saracen mercenaries. They claimed that during the night assault on Mount Capperina a woman in white appeared on the walls and protected the city against the attack. It was believed that this image was the Virgin Mary blessing the defenders.
It was after this battle that the current pope tried to intervene on behalf of King Charles by sending Cardinal Gherardo of Parma to intervene. The cardinal in vain attempted to get the defenders of Messina to surrender to the French and submit to King Charles rule, even offering Messina special concessions and amnesty. Count Alaimo refused to surrender of the city. The recorded words of Count Alaimo to Cardinal Gherardo are “To Charles never. No father, these are idle dreams. So long as we have blood and weapons left, we will never again submit to the French”.
August 15th the French assaulted again, and lost.
August 30th King Peter of Aragon landed with his forces at Trapini. The revolt was now a European war.
September 2nd the French assaulted Messina again, and lost once more.
September 14th King Charles led a failed assault on Messina. After which he offered Count Alaimo ten thousand ounces of gold if he would surrender the city. It is reported that Count Alaimo gave a defiant answer vowing to fight to the death.
September 24th in a daring night attack lead by Count Alaimo the French garrison was killed in the Palace Arcivescovado where they were quartered. Two days later King Charles abandoned the battle of Messina. As the battle for Messina was being waged Ruggero (Roger) of Lauria the nephew of Macalda Scaletta led a small fleet of ships and waged a brilliant guerrilla war against the navy of King Charles.
October 2nd King Peter marched into a liberated Messina. On his first day there those Sicilian nobles who were jealous of Count Alaimo’s wealth and influence began trying to plot against the count. But even before King Peter arrived in Messina Macalda’s vanity began to show itself. Several times in several days she attempted to seduce the king who resisted her advances, and always kept himself in the company of witnesses when he was with her.
October 21st King Peter rewarded Count Alaimo by deeding him lands in Palazzolo, Buccheri, and the Mansion Odogrillo. This mansion was located in or near the town of Biscari which is now known as Acate. He also became the Protector of the Royal House. This title made him the protector of Sicily in the absence of King Peter.
1283 A. D. by April Constance, the wife of King Peter, had become the Queen of Sicily. She was by bloodline a proper choice for this title. In this year Count Alaimo gave to the Chiarmonte family the Odogrillo Mansion. Odogrillo is a corruption of the Arab Wayd-Ikrilu meaning River of Acrilla.
April 19th Count Alaimo was named by King Peter as the Grand Justiciar of Sicily.
1284 A. D. the war with the French was still ongoing. It now consisted of raids on the Italian peninsula and political maneuvers by King Peter and King Charles. By November 19th Count Alaimo left Sicily for Aragon. He was a political prisoner as a result of his questioning the fairness of the new rulers towards his fellow Sicilians. The intrigues of his wife did not help his cause. She was known to be jealous of Queen Constance, and treated the queen with arrogance and contempt. Macalda, who was pregnant by this time with a child by her husband, was imprisoned in the Castle Mategriffon in Messina. While there she often plated chess with Emir Margam ibn Sebir of Tunisia who was being held for ransom. My research has not discovered Macalda’s final fate.
1285 A.D. Mathew Scaletta was beheaded for treason on the 13th of January. He was the brother of Macalda. On January 7th King Charles died of illness. He was 58 years old. On November 10th King Peter died of illness. He was 46 years old. In Sicily his son James became the ruler of Sicily. In Spain Alfonso, the elder brother to James became king.
1287 A. D. Count Alaimo ransomed his release and the release of two of his nephews by convincing King Alfonso of his innocence. A condition of this release was a payment to King Alfonso of gold. James in Sicily learned of this ransom, and intervened. King James ordered Beltram de Cannelles to intercept Adenulf of Minco the nephew of Count Alaimo. This prevented the ransom from being delivered to King Alfonso. Beltram then sailed to Spain with Adenulf as his prisoner. Once in Spain he petitioned and convinced King Alfonso that Count Alaimo if free would murder King James, and their mother Queen Constance. King Alfonso released Count Alaimo and the second nephew into the custody of Beltram so that they might face trial in King James court.
On May 16th they captives and their captor sailed from Spain to Sicily. On June 2nd the galley that he traveled upon came into sight of the coast of Sicily. It was at this time that Beltram read to Count Alaimo the order of King James. Count Alaimo and his two nephews (Adenulf of Minco and John of Mazarino) were to be executed by drowning upon reaching the coast of Sicily. It is known that Count Alaimo accepted his execution with a fatalistic demeanor. NOTE: Another historical source states that Count Alaimo remained in a prison in Catalonia till his natural death.
Of the other two principal signers of the Letter of the Barons nothing is known of Giovana of Provinci, or Gualtiero (Walter) Galtagirone. Benedict (Palmiero) Abbate was executed.
1296 A.D. Frederick the youngest son of King Peter of Aragon was elected to be King by the populace of Sicily. This public support ousted the reigning King James.
1297 A.D. in Scotland an uprising for independence from the English begins. It is lead by Andrew Murray and William Wallace.
1299 A. D. John of Procida died. He was 89 years old.
RETROSPECT
The 13th century rebellions in Sicily in particular the War of the Sicilian Vespers had a common cause. That cause was the idea that the people of Sicily had a right to decide who would rule over them. It was the first revolution in history to affirm the unitary of a people and was the forerunner of European revolutions of the 19th century.
FIRST FLAG OF SICILY
The first flag of Sicily born of the War of the Vespers combined the gold of Palermo’s flag, and the red of Corleone’s flag with a gold eagle centered on it.
First Flag of Sicily
SECTION III
TRIVIA
14th CENTURY AND BEYOND
Noble titles are usually only inherited by the first born, usually the first born male. Consequently the other siblings of every generation although of noble birth had to seek out their own fortunes. Becoming learned persons, priests, doctors, and knights would be typical occupations that one of noble birth might seek. Nothing exact is known of the Alaimo family following Count Alaimo’s death. At the time of his death he was survived by children of his first marriage, and grandchildren. It is not known how many children he had by Macalda. Of these children by Macalda we know of two. Tomaso, who became the baron of Castelvetrano, and Alanfranco, who became the baron of San Basilio.
It is known that in the 15th century that an Alaimo was the baron of the Sicilian Island of Mozia. This is a small coastal island located near Marsala (derived from the Arab name for the city which was Marsa El Allah, the Port of God) in the Trapeni province.
MOZIA
No doubt the many heirs of Count Alaimo continued to thrive from his wealthy holdings and settled in different parts of Sicily. It is known that at least one moved to Malta and perhaps one even moved to the Island of Lampedusa, for here on the northern side of this island is Punta (Point) Alaimo.
Lampedusa is not the only place that bears a landmark with the Alaimo name. In Lentini a part of the city is known as Contrada Alaimo. Translated this means the Alaimo District. This area of the city was once part of the feudal holdings of the Alaimo family. In this same city is Via Conte Alaimo. Translated this is Count Alaimo Avenue.
Of the descendants of Baron Roberto Alaimo were many who made their mark in history. Amongst them are:
Born in 1590 A. D. in Regalbuto, Sicily was Marcantonio Alaimo. He became a doctor, and philosopher. In 1652 he authored a paper concerning the Plague in Europe. He died in 1662 A. D.
In the 17th century Giuseppe Alaimo was a known doctor, philosopher, and was a priest of the Catholic Church.
A Duel with Rapier and Main Gauche
Michele Alaimo from Lenteni was a renowned fencing champion.
In 1752 Francisco Alaimo sculpted two statues for the Madonna of the Chain, a church in Messina.
Born in Sicily in 1831 Carolina Alaimo became a known opera soprano.
In 1912 Eduardo Alaimo participated in the Olympics representing Italy in fencing.
Lieutenant Guiseppe Alaimo from Canicatti, Sicily fought in the Italian Army in World War I against the Austrians. He was awarded the Bronze Medal for heroism.
CACCAMO CASTLE IN NORTHEAST SICILY
Early Sicilian castles were of either Arab or Norman construction. However a castle of mixed construction would not have been unusual as castles frequently were upgraded, or expanded upon by their current occupants. An example of a pure Norman design is Caccoma Castle. Zisa Castle represents a pure Arab design.
CASTLE ZISA Baron Roberto Alaimo’s Castle Hidria was probably of mixed design. Details of its construction are not known, and the castle was likely ruined in the earthquake of 1693 A. D. and not rebuilt. This would have been in an era when castles decreased in importance.
CASTLE DESCRIPTORS
COAT OF ARMS
Coats of arms started as method as identifying knights on a field of battle. Quickly they developed a symbolic meaning as well. The colors chosen and symbols represented what the bearer of the coat of arms wished to say about himself or his family. A translation of the Alaimo coat of arms as created by Baron Roberto Alaimo is:
SHIELD: This shield is divided into three equal bands of color. This is known as the Military Shield, and represents honor.
EAGLE: Power.
BLUE: Truth and loyalty.
GOLD: Glory, splendor, or generosity.
SILVER: Obedience and peace.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
The research for this history was conducted over a two year period. Research via the internet was conducted by searching under a wide variety of topics, and now and then finding a piece of obscure information buried within a large volume of text. Not all of the many web sites that were in existence at the beginning of this study are currently available. Those that are listed below are available as of 11-23-03.
War of the Sicilian Vespers, by Michele Amari printed 1842, English version 1850.
The Sicilian Vespers, by Sir Steven Runciman printed in 1958.
The Portable Dante, the works of Dante Alighieri including the Divine Comedy translated by Laurence Binyon, and edited by Paolo Milano printed in 1985.
The Normans in Sicily, by John Julius Norwich
The Encyclopedia of Military History, by Ernest Dupuy and Trevor Dupuy
The Prince, by Niccolo Machiavelli (1469- 1527) translated and edited by Angelo M. Codevilla, printed in 1977.
Robert the Bruce, by Duncan Jones & Alison Rae printed in 1996.
Nobles of Lentini a History, http://www.lentinionline.it/inglese/lentini_storia.htm
Sicilian Documents, http://dieli.net/SicilyPage/SicilianDocuments/Barons1282.html
Michele Amari, http://4.1911encyclopedia.org/A/AM/AMARI_MICHELE.htm
The Sicilian Vespers, http://www.boglewood.com/sicily/vespers.html
Lentini: The History, http://www.lentinionline.it/inglese/lentini_storia.htm
Vespri Siciliani, http://www.cronologia.it/storia/aa1282a.htm
Frederick II Roman Emperor, http://www.comune.bari.it/en/storia/S_FedII.htm
Mott: The Sicilian Vespers, http://websrv5.sdu.dk/mott/warsicilianvespers/introwsv.html
Alaimo da Lentini, http://web.tiscali.it/no-redirect-tiscali/itcalaimo/alaimo da_lentini.htm
Constance of Aragon, http://www.bestofsicily.com/mag/art61.htm
Alaimo, http://www.castellammareonline.com/famiglia/alaimo.php
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