Norman-Arab-Byzantine Culture

This is a really interesting period of interaction.

A few things people might think is fun:

Remember the scene in True Romance where Christopher Walken talks about Sicily, this is what he is referring to.

A lot of people know a little bit of the crusades and the the Byzantine were not super happy with some of the armies that arrived there, no wonder the Normans were literally invading them and trying to take over not that long before.

The Kingdom of Sicily was way more powerful in the Medieval time then people realize. IT was easily one of the most powerful medieval states, far less divided then France or HRE. The fielded a large force of nights with pretty central control and had a navy. They successfully repelled the Holy Roman Empire many times, funny enough often without fighting a single battle.

Playing this period in Crusder Kings 3 is really fun.

Really enjoying the Wikipedia rabbit-hole this led to. Never knew the Normans made it that far south.