Guglielmo Grasso
Count of Malta
(–1201)

Biographical

Count of Malta c. 1192–94 dep
Admiral of Sicily

From Genoa, Guglielmo was initially involved in commercial activities but then became a corsair and sea commander, attacking ships in the Aegean near the Anatolian coast. After 1196, he became active in Sicily and was in the service of Emperor Henry VI. Before Heinrich's coronation, he was confirmed with the title of Count of Malta, along with all its rights, heritable by his heirs in perpetuity. A house (funduq) belonging to the royal curia in Messina was also granted to him. He also became Admiral of Sicily. After the Emperor's death in 1197, he returned to Genoa but was recalled by Philip of Swabia in 1199 to join his fleet in the invasion of Sicily. Guglielmo was imprisoned for his opposition to the imperial seneschal Markward von Anweiler in 1201 and died there after Genoese attempts to free him failed. The historian Karl Hopf theorised that he was the son of Margaritone da Brindisi.

Guglielmo married in Genoa on or after 1196 to Romana Campanario (her dowry agreement of 1196 names her mother as Richelda and brother Guglielmo Campanario) and had issue:
•  An unnamed daughter who married Enrico di Castello