Editing Corleone (section)

===Middle Ages===
In 840, Corleone was conquered by the North African [[Aghlabids]] during the [[Muslim conquest of Sicily]].<ref>{{cite book|author1=Alexander Mikaberidze|title=Conflict and Conquest in the Islamic World: A Historical Encyclopedia [2 volumes]: A Historical Encyclopedia|date=22 Jul 2011|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=9781598843378|page=831}}</ref> It was during the Muslim occupation that it gained economic, military and strategic importance.<ref>{{cite book|author1=John Follain|title=The Last Godfathers|date=8 Jun 2009|publisher=Hachette UK|isbn=9781848942493|quote=A Saracen lookout tower is perched on another rocky outcrop, a relic from the time when the town was an important strategic point dominating the road from the Sicilian capital Palermo to the island's southern coast.}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author1=Dana Facaros|author2=Michael Pauls|title=Sicily|date=2008|publisher=New Holland Publishers|isbn=9781860113970|page=242|edition=illustrated}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author1=Touring Club of Italy|title=Authentic Sicily|date=2005|publisher=Touring Editore|isbn=9788836534036|page=63|edition=illustrated}}</ref> In 1080 the city was conquered by the Normans, and in 1095 it was annexed to the Diocese of [[Palermo]]. Even in the 1170s it was recorded that over 80% of the population of the area was Muslim<ref>{{cite book|author1=Alex Metcalfe|title=The Muslims of Medieval Italy|url=https://archive.org/details/muslimsmedievali00metc_548|url-access=limited|date=2009|publisher=Edinburgh University Press|isbn=9780748620081|page=[https://archive.org/details/muslimsmedievali00metc_548/page/n247 225]|edition=illustrated}}</ref>
and that many bore Arabo-Islamic names derived from Greek.<ref>{{cite book|author1=Alexander Metcalfe|title=Muslims and Christians in Norman Sicily: Arabic-Speakers and the End of Islam|date=21 Jan 2014|publisher=Routledge|isbn=9781317829256|page=68}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author1=El-Said M. Badawi|author2=Alaa Elgibali|title=Understanding Arabic: Essays in Contemporary Arabic Linguistics in Honor of El-Said Badawi|date=1996|publisher=American Univ in Cairo Press|isbn=9789774243721|page=35}}</ref>
There was also a [[mosque]], called Masgid al-Barid, within the town.<ref>{{cite book|author1=Alexander Metcalfe|title=Muslims and Christians in Norman Sicily: Arabic-Speakers and the End of Islam|date=21 Jan 2014|publisher=Routledge|isbn=9781317829256|page=52}}</ref> Following the large-scale anti-Muslim attacks by Lombard settlers in eastern Sicily in 1161 led by future King of Sicily, [[Tancred, King of Sicily|Tancred]], the town became a refuge for many fleeing Muslims.<ref>{{cite book|author1=Ann Katherine Isaacs|title=Immigration and Emigration in Historical Perspective|date=2007|publisher=Edizioni Plus|isbn=9788884924988|page=71}}</ref> In 1208, a Muslim uprising succeeded in retaking the town from Christian rule.<ref>{{cite book|author1=Alexander Metcalfe|title=Muslims and Christians in Norman Sicily: Arabic-Speakers and the End of Islam|date=21 Jan 2014|publisher=Routledge|isbn=9781317829256|page=186}}</ref> In 1222, while speaking with the pope, [[Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor|Frederick II of Sicily]] cited the need to fight the Muslims of Corleone as a reason for his inability to send a large crusader army to Jerusalem.{{citation needed|date=August 2019}} To this day the rock formation ''Castello Soprano'', has a [[Saracen]] lookout tower on top of it.<ref>{{cite book|author1=Touring Club of Italy|title=Authentic Sicily|date=2005|publisher=Touring Editore|isbn=9788836534036|page=63|edition=illustrated}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author1=Robert V. Camuto|title=Palmento: A Sicilian Wine Odyssey|date=1 Sep 2010|publisher=U of Nebraska Press|isbn=9780803233997|page=133}}</ref> While the town's other rock formation, ''Castello Sottano'', did not preserve its own Saracen fortification, it is still also known as ''Castello di Saraceni''.<ref>{{cite book|author1=Joanne Lane|title=Sicily's Interior: Enna, Caltanisetta, Caltagirone and Beyond|date=6 Feb 2011|publisher=Hunter Publishing, Inc|isbn=9781556500565|quote=Beyond the museum you can see the Castello di Saraceni, also known as Castello Sottano. Corleone was built between two rocks on which two Saracen fortifications were built.}}</ref>

Nearly a century later, in 1180, it was [[Feoffment|enfeoffed]] (deeded) to the new diocese of [[Monreale]]. In this period, Corleone was largely repopulated by [[Guelphs and Ghibellines|Ghibellines]] from [[Alessandria]] (modern Piedmont), Brescia and elsewhere—[[Lombards of Sicily|"Lombards"]] led by Oddone de Camerana. The migrations were encouraged by Emperor [[Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor|Frederick II of Sicily]], to strengthen his position against the [[Guelphs and Ghibellines|Guelphs]]. In 1249, however, he revoked the privilege and gave the city to the royal property, though the migration of the inhabitants from the Po Valley continued until the beginning of the [[Sicilian Vespers]] in 1282. Another Camerana, named Boniface, distinguished himself in the revolution of the [[Sicilian Vespers]]. He led the insurrection against the Angevins with three thousand people from Corleone, in alliance with the city of [[Palermo]]. In recognition, the Senate of [[Palermo]] called Corleone ''soror mea'' (my sister).{{Citation needed|date=January 2023}}

During the reign of Frederick IV of Sicily, called The Simple, the city successfully rebelled against the crown but was recaptured in 1355. Corleone was besieged from [[Ventimiglia]] in 1358. During the reign of the four vicars, Corleone became the property of the powerful [[Chiaramonte]] family, but in 1391 was donated by Mary Queen of [[Sicily]] to Berardo Queralt, canon of Lerida, but he never took possession. Instead, it was occupied by Nicholas Peralta, vicar William's son, but King Martin the Younger returned it to the royal property, confirming its privileges in 1397 and giving it some tax relief.{{Citation needed|date=January 2023}}