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So I'm thinking about writing a Norman Sicily TL (though until I straighten things out in my life, I can't say for sure), and I was wondering whether the Sicilo-Normans could declare an Empire rather than remaining a kingdom. As I understand, the only "emperors" that were treated seriously were those that claimed to be Roman Emperors. So if the the Normans claimed to be Roman Emperors, would their claim be treated seriously? What if they declares their own sort of empire (perhaps based on Sicilian history)?

EDIT: Or declaring themselves successors to the Eastern Romans/Byzantines?
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