Enrico
di Castello
Count of Malta
(-<1232)
Other names: Enrico de Castro,[3] Enrico Pescatore[3]
Titles
Lord of Crete, c. 1207[3]
Positions Held
Admiral of Sicily, 1221[3]
Biographical
He began as a pirate, for which he supposedly gained the nickname 'Pescatore',
and was Count of Malta as a vassal of the crown of Sicily, although it
is also said that he took Malta by force. He aided Alamanno da Costa in
his assault of Syracuse in 1205 against the Pisans, and attacked and occupied
Crete in 1206. He requested that he be recognised as king by Pope Innocent
III, who initially agreed, but was dissuaded by the Venetians. Enrico
then assumed the title of Lord of Crete. In 1211, his flotilla was destroyed
by the Venetians whilst he was in Genoa, and he returned to Crete for
preparations of the treaty between Venice and Genoa which began in 1212.
Despite the treaty (concluded 1218), he continued his piracy against Venice
and was eventually arrested, but released.[3]
Enrico continued to enjoy favour from the new Emperor Friedrich II and
was granted permission to mint coins in Malta in 1212. In 1218, he was
sent to Venice and Germany to take part in missions where he demonstrated
his skills in diplomacy. He retained the Emperor's trust in 1220 when
Genoese ambassadors withdrew from the imperial court after privileges
to Genoese merchants were withdrawn. The Emperor appointed Enrico Admiral
of Sicily the following year, and, as part of the Emperor's show of commitment
to the Fifth Crusade, he sent Enrico to the siege of Damietta with Walter
of Palear. The expedition failed, and the Emperor deprived Enrico of the
county of Malta. He seems to have regained favour with the Emperor shortly
afterwards, and he may have been restored as count, perhaps in name only.[3]
In 1225, he accompanied Isabelle de Brienne from Acri to Brindisi for
her marriage to the Emperor. In 1227, he was part of the ambassadorial
delegation sent to the Pope to explain the Emperor's delayed departure
to the Crusade, but the Pope refused to receive them after he excommunicated
the Emperor. Between 1229 and 1230, Enrico served the Emperor in attempts
to put down rebellions around Italy. Nothing more is known about him after
1230, and as his son is referred to as Count of Malta in 1232, it is assumed
that he was dead by then.[3]
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