Need some "cool" ideas for a Norman Sicily TL

I have a suggestion, have Empress Matilda marry Charles the Good of Flanders and have Charles the Good of Flanders claim both Normandy, England and Denmark which results in a North Sea Empire

Or his successor Thierry D'Alsace.

I do think a Flanders-England dynasty would be useful.
If we also add the Plantagenets fighting them for control of Normandy that would be interesting
 
Maybe have a United Scandinavia under Canute and Hardcanute? This would go against the OTL trend of divided Scandinavia, and have a nation capable of creating more migrants to Norman Sicily.
 
Why would that send migrants to Norman Sicily?

The Normans came from Scandinavia, and during the Viking Age, they sent wave after wave of migrants across Europe. A United Scandinavia would have a higher population, therefore, more migrants. One a strong Norman Sicily could attract more than a few of.
 
The Normans came from Scandinavia, and during the Viking Age, they sent wave after wave of migrants across Europe. A United Scandinavia would have a higher population, therefore, more migrants. One a strong Norman Sicily could attract more than a few of.

The Normans at this point are coming from Normandy, not the Scandinavians who settled there.

And why would a United Scandinavia have a higher population? Did farmland increase?
 
The Normans at this point are coming from Normandy, not the Scandinavians who settled there.

And why would a United Scandinavia have a higher population? Did farmland increase?

I figured they would come from both.

Internal stability I would imagine. Having one nation control the North instead of three contstantly fueding ones might do wonders for the region.
 
I see a war between Venice and Sicily as being very likely. You should have the Venetians invade Sicily, and have them destroyed by the Normans, leading to a decline of Venice as a Mediterranean power.
 
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