Did you know that there was a King Roger?

As you will see from my web site essay on naming practices around the world – which I mentioned in a posting earlier this week – I am fascinated by names.
My father was English and my mother was Italian and they named their first child of three – me – Roger. I was always very clear that I was called Roger because my father was a pilot in the Royal Air Force (“Roger, that!”).
But recently I came across a King Roger who ruled in Sicily in the 12th century. He extended his empire to embrace much of southern Italy including the Kingdom of Naples.
My mother came from Naples (indeed my parents were married there) and I wonder now whether she was happy with the name because of the echo with a local king. Both my parents are dead, so I can’t ask them.
Incidentally King Roger II of Sicily was a politically enlightened and religiously tolerant leader.


One Comment