County Palatine of Cephalonia and Zakynthos
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The County palatine of Cephalonia and Zakynthos existed from 1185 until 1479, as part of the Kingdom of Sicily.
The title and the right to rule the Ionian islands of Cephalonia and Zakynthos was originally given to Margaritus of Brindisi for his services to William II, king of Sicily, in 1185.
Following Margaritone (Margaritus of Brindisi), the county passed on to a branch of the family of Orsini until 1325, when it passed briefly to Angevins and then, from 1357, to the family of Tocco's until 1479, when it was broken up by Venice and the Ottoman Turks: Zakynthos was put under direct rule of Venice and Cephalonia was occupied for 21 years by the Turks.
Counts Palatine of Cephalonia and Zakynthos
Orsini family
- Mateo I Orsini 1195 – 1238
- Mateo II Orsini 1238 – 1259
- Ricardo I Orsini 1259 – 1304
- John I Orsini 1304 – 1317
- Nicholas Orsini 1317 – 1323
- John II Orsini 1323 – 1325
The Angevins
- John of Gravina 1325 – 1336
- Robert of Taranto 1336 – 1357
The House of Tocco
- Leonardo I Tocco 1357 – 1376
- Charles I Tocco 1376 – 1429
- Charles II Tocco 1429 – 1448
- Leonardo III Tocco 1448 – 1479