Onomastic ambiguity in Medieval prophecies: A survey of historiographical texts from the Kingdom of Sicily

Abstract

In the chronicles penned by Saba Malaspina, Bartolomeo di Neocastro, and Nicolò Speciale, detailing the events unfolding in the Kingdom of Sicily following the Vespers rebellion of 1282, three prophecies emerge. These prophecies revolve around the demise of Frederick II of Swabia ‘sub flore’, that of his son Manfred ‘sub Petra Roseti’, and the eventual conquest of Sicily by Robert of Anjou. A thorough analysis of these prophecies uncovers a shared mechanism, rooted in an ambiguous onomastic indication, which renders them inherently deceptive. This onomastic data thus assumes a pivotal role within the narrative, serving as an indispensable key for interpretation.