The Emirate of Sicily

827 AD: As the Byzantine Empire grew weaker Arabian armies were able to conquer parts of Sicily. In the year 827 the western parts fell to the control of the Arabs. And Byzantine strongholds remained only in the north-eastern regions. All efforts made by the Byzantine Empire to reconquer the island failed and in the end the remaining towns were taken.

Sicily became an autonomous Emirate, with Palermo as capital city. Under the rule of the Arabs the island became a wealthy land with cultural diversity and religious tolerance. Merchants from the Arabic parts of Spain came to Sicily to sell their goods and Sicily was the central market place in the Mediterranean Sea. The Arabic rule ended in the late 11. Century. In the year 1091 the last Arabic city, Noto, fell to the Normans.