The Emblematic Province — Sicily from the Roman Empire to the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies

Sicily's historical narrative, long framed by successive invasions from the Sicani to the Spanish, reveals a complex interplay of cultural mores shaped by external dominations rather than a distinct Sicilian identity. This study challenges traditional historiography by analyzing Sicily's political trajectory—from Cicero's depiction as 'naturaliter provincialis' to its role within the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies—as a continuous province devoid of autonomy. Using historical texts, including Tommaso Fazello's 1558 work De rebus siculis, it demonstrates that Sicilian identity was not defined by a singular heritage but by the cumulative customs formed under successive rule. The research employs critical textual analysis to recontextualize Sicily's past, emphasizing its emblematic status as both a jewel of the Roman Empire and a microcosm of Mediterranean history.

Salmeri, G. (2011). The Emblematic Province — Sicily from the Roman Empire to the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. Tributary Empires in Global History, 151–168. https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230307674_9