Arabic Administration in Norman Sicily : The Royal Diwan

Jeremy Johns' book represents the first comprehensive account of the Arabic administration of Norman Sicily. While it is generally assumed that the Normans inherited their administration from the Muslim governors of the island, the author demonstrates that the Norman kings actually restructured their administration on the model of Fatimid Egypt. Controversially, he also suggests that their intention was not administrative efficiency but the projection of their royal image. This is a compelling and accessible account of the Norman rulers and how they related to their counterparts in the Muslim Mediterranean.