Margaret of Navarre
Margaret of Navarre (* 1128, † 1183 ) was from 1166 to 1171 instead of her underage son William II, the regent of Sicily.
She was the daughter of King García IV of Navarra. Before 1151 she married the future King William I of Sicily, at that time with the title of Prince of Capua. She brought four sons to the world: Roger (1152-1161), since 1156 Duke of Apulia, Robert ( dates unknown), Wilhelm ( 1153-1189 ) and Heinrich ( 1158-1172 ), Prince of Capua.
The regency
After the death of William I of the more minor son William was to be his successor and Margarete He was represented by the regency. The William I of certain familiars Richard Palmer, Elect of Syracuse, and the magister notarius Matheus she began by the Kaid Peter. After his escape, they took their relatives Stephen of Perche to Sicily, appointed him Chancellor and let him choose Elect from Palermo. The Mitregierungsansprüchen her cousin Gilbert of Gravina and her brother Henry of Montescaglioso they took no action against it.
After the expulsion of Stephen and his departure to the Holy Land, a Regency from ten Familiaren was formed, which, alongside Richard and Matheus Archbishop Romuald of Salerno, the bishops Gentilis Agrigento and John of Malta, three representatives of the nobility, among them Henry of Montescaglioso and the Kaid Richard were as representative of the Arab officials. The Dean Walter of Agrigento, the educator of the young king, could soon reach the leadership of the council. Meanwhile, election and consecration as archbishop of Palermo tried the Queen through bribery of Pope Alexander III. to thwart, but without success. The last time it is called in December 1171 in the charters of William II as co-regent. As a result of their government's reconciliation can be seen with the noble opposition; William I of the exiles were allowed to return to the kingdom and were returned usually in their former possessions.
The last years
From 1171 she spent the last years of her life in a castle near Bronte and Maniace. In 1174 she founded the Benedictine abbey of Santa Maria di here Maniace. 1177 she supported her son and the Cistercians of S. Maria di Novara. Santo Spirito in Palermo, the Cistercian abbey founded by Archbishop Walter has also been considered by her with a gift. She was Buried in the Cathedral of Monreale.