George of Antioch

George of Antioch (Greek: Γεώργιος Ἀντιοχείας, Geōrgios Antiokheías; died 1151 or 1152) was the first to hold the office of ammiratus ammiratorum (emir of emirs) in the Norman Kingdom of Sicily. He was a Syrian-born Byzantine Christian of Greek ancestry. He was born in Antioch, whence he moved with his father, Michael, and mother to Tunisia following the First Crusade. He found employment under the Zirid emir, Tamim ibn Muizz, rising to the position of governor of the city of Sousse. George fell out with Tamim's son and successor, Yahya, and secretly left for Christian Sicily by stealing away in disguise aboard a Palermitan ship harbored in Mahdia. Upon arrival in the Sicilian capital, George went immediately to the palace and found service with the Norman count, Roger II.

For other people named George of Antioch, see George of Antioch (disambiguation).
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