Tancred of Lecce, king of Sicily

When, in 1189, William died without heirs, a strong local faction countered the succession of Henry VI, Frederick Barbarossa’s son, with that of Tancred, count of Lecce, the illegitimate son of one of Roger II’s sons. Thus Tancred was elected king of Sicily and recognized by Pope Clement III. In his short reign he attempted to oppose the dynastic pretensions of Henry VI, who claimed the kingdom of Sicily in the name of his wife Constance, Roger II’s daughter. After his death in 1194, Henry conquered the kingdom and sent Tancred’s infant son, William III, to Germany.