Norman forces, led by brothers, Robert Guiscard and Roger I of Sicily, conquered the city of Palermo, on January 10, 1072, after a five-month siege. The city was a major Arab cultural and economic hub and the Norman victory weakened the Muslim power in Western Sicily.
The Normans adopted a policy of relative tolerance, which allowed the Palermo residents to retain their property and to continue to follow their faith, resulting in a unique blend of Latin, Byzantine, and Islamic cultures. Palermo, which was the largest city in Sicily, went on to become the capital of the emerging County of Sicily, paving the way for the later Kingdom of Sicily.
