When he grew to adulthood, he became, along with his brothers Roger, duke of Apulia, and Alfonso, prince of Capua, one of his father's chief men on the peninsula, while the king himself remained mostly in Sicily.
Upon reaching adulthood, he emerged as a prominent figure, joining his brothers Roger, duke of Apulia, and Alfonso, prince of Capua, as a key associate of their father on the Italian peninsula. Meanwhile, the king primarily stayed in Sicily.