leader of the Sicilian Muslims—and turning the initially supportive Muslim community of the island against Stephen. In autumn, he began marshalling his forces for a coup: these included, beside his own household troops, the royal knights (milites regis) and the court archers (curie sagitari), whose backing he had won through gifts and favours. However, the chancellor moved the king and the court to Messina, where he was able to neutralize his Norman opponents, the queen regent's brother, Henry, Count of Montescaglioso, and Richard of Molise. According to the history of Hugo Falcandus, when Stephen returned with the king and court to Palermo on 20 March 1168, Richard and other courtiers plotted to have him assassinated on Palm Sunday, four days later. The conspiracy was discovered, and Richard's co-conspirators were arrested; Richard himself was protected from arrest by the Queen, but was confined to the palace and forbidden from speaking to the knights. This marked the high point of Stephen's power, but events soon began to turn against him, as a popular revolt broke out in Messina and spread across the island. Even in Palermo, there were clashes between Richard's supporters and Stephen's men, forcing the chancellor and his supporters to flee to the cathedral's bell tower. Richard and Matthew of Salerno now resumed their previous positions, and mobilized the mob to surround the bell tower. Stephen accepted the terms now offered, leaving Sicily with his supporters. Richard was re-appointed to the now ten-member council after Stephen's flight in spring 1168 and until September 1169, when Walter Ophamil took the reins of government. The poet Ibn Qalaqis, who visited Sicily during that time, dedicated a qaṣīda to "Richard the vizier". The poem praises Richard's qualities and high station, but does not provide many details about him. Later years After that, he concentrated on his duties as master chamberlain, remaining in the position at least until 1183. Two other Qaids, the aforementioned Martin who for a time was a familiaris regis, and Materacius, served as his subordinate chamberlains. Richard also held a position as one of the directors of the dīwān al-taḥqīq (the "bureau of verification", the executive department of the government, rendered as duana de secretis in Latin) until March 1187, which is the last time he is attested in the sources. In this capacity he was sent in December 1170 to investigate illegal appropriation of royal property in Messina, and