Roger IV, Duke of Apulia
Roger IV (1152–1161) was the eldest son of
duke of Apulia
is unknown, probably after his father's assumption of power in 1154.
In 1156, barons opposed to
Cathedral of Palermo. However, the populace instead supported the succession claims of Simon, erstwhile Prince of Taranto, the king's illegitimate half-brother. The people rebelled and the palace was stormed. In the ensuing battle, young Roger was killed, by a wayward arrow to the eye. An alternative theory, advanced by William's enemy Falcandus
, is that Roger died after repeated kicking by his father, who was in a rage at having been betrayed by his son.
Roger was interred in the cathedral with his brother Henry, Prince of Capua, but later was moved to the chapel of Saint Mary Magdalene in Monreale.
References
- Norwich, John Julius. The Kingdom in the Sun, 1130–1194. London: Longmans, 1970.