The Duchy of Naples (Latin: Ducatus Neapolitanus), born as a Byzantine province governed by a military commander (dux), rapidly became a de facto independent state, lasting more than five centuries during the Early and High Middle Ages. The duchy was constituted during in the seventh century in the reduced coastal lands that the Lombards did not conquer during their invasion of Italy. Latin was the language originally spoken in the region around Rome called Latium. ... Byzantine Empire (Greek: Βυζαντινή Αυτοκρατορία) is the term conventionally used since the 19th century to describe the Greek-speaking Roman Empire during the Middle Ages, centered at its capital in Constantinople. ... Dux is Latin for leader (from the verb ducere, to lead) and could refer to anyone who commanded troops, such as tribal leaders. ... This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... The cathedral Notre Dame de Paris, a significant architectural contribution of the High Middle Ages. ... The Lombards (Latin Langobardi, from which the alternative name Longobards found in older English texts), were a Germanic people originally from Northern Europe that entered the late Roman Empire. ...

Lombard invasion and Neapolitan unrest

At the time of the Lombardic invasions of Italy in the mid-sixth century, Naples had a population of about 30-35,000. In 615, under Giovanni Consino, Naples rebelled for the first time against the Exarch of Ravenna, the Byzantine emperor's plenipotentiary in Italy. In reply, the first form of the duchy was created in 638 by the Exarch Eleutherius, but this duke came from abroad and had to respond to the strategos of Sicily. At that time the Ducatus Neapolitanus controlled an area corresponding roughly to the present day Province of Naples, encompassing the area of Vesuvius, the Campi Flegrei, the Sorrentine Peninsula, Giugliano, Aversa, Afragola, Nola, and the islands of Ischia and Procida. Capri was later part of the duchy of Amalfi. Events The Edict of Paris grants extensive rights to the Frankish nobility. ... The Exarchate of Ravenna was a center of Byzantine power in Italy, from the end of the 6th century to 751 A.D., when the last Exarch was put to death by the Emperors enemies in Italy, the Lombards. ... Byzantine Empire is the term conventionally used to describe the Roman Empire during the Middle Ages, centered around its capital in Constantinople. ... Events Islamic calendar introduced The Muslims capture Antioch, Caesarea Palaestina and Akko Births Deaths October 12 - Pope Honorius I Categories: 638 ... Eleutherius (d. ... The term strategos (plural strategoi; Greek στρατηγός) is used in Greek to mean general. In the hellenistic and Byzantine Empires the term was also used to describe a military governor. ... Sicilian redirects here. ... Naples (It. ... Mount Vesuvius (Italian: Monte Vesuvio) is a volcano east of Naples, Italy, located at 40°49′N 14°26′ E. It is the only active volcano on the European mainland, although it is not currently erupting. ... Campi Flegrei (Burning Fields) is a large volcanic area situated in the west area of Napoli, Italy. ... Sorrento is the name of many cities and towns: Sorrento,_Italy Sorrento,_Florida, United States of America Sorrento, suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Sorrento, suburb of Perth, Western Australia, Australia Sorrento, Hong Kong, the largest residential development on Kowloon Station This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists... This article needs cleanup. ... Afragola is an important city of southern Italy. ... This article needs to be updated. ... The island of Ischia near Naples, Italy. ... View of Corricella from Cape Pizzaco. ... Overlooking Capri harbor from the rotunda in Villa San Michele. ... The Amalfi coast. ...

First local duchy

In 661, Naples obtained from the emperor Constans II the right to be ruled by a local duke, one Basil, whose subjection to the emperor soon became merely nominal. Events Caliph Ali Ben Abu Talib is assassinated. ... Constans and his son Constantine. ...

Papal suzerainty

In 763, the duke Stephen II switched his allegiance from Constantinople to papal Rome. Events Ciniod succeeds Bridei V as king of the Picts. ... Map of Constantinople. ... Pope John Paul II has reigned since 22 Oct 1978. ... This article is about the capital of Italy. ...

Hereditary dukeship

In 840, Duke Sergius I made the succession to the duchy hereditary, and thenceforth Naples was de facto independent. In this age, the city was mainly a military centre, ruled by an aristocracy of warriors and landowners, even though it had been compelled to surrender to the neighbouring Lombards much of its inland territory. Naples was not a merchant city as other Campanian sea cities like Amalfi and Gaeta, but had a respectable fleet who took part in the Battle of Ostia against the Saracens in 849. Anyway Naples did not hesitate to ally with infidels if this turned to its advantage: in 836, for example, it asked support to the Saracens in order to push off the siege of Lombard troops coming from the neighbouring Duchy of Benevento. After its dukes rose to highest prominence under the Duke-Bishop Athanasius and his successors, of whom, Gregory IV and John II participated at the Battle of the Garigliano in 915, Naples declined in importance in the tenth century until is was captured by it straditional rival, Pandulf IV of Capua. Events After the death of Louis the Pious, his sons Lothar, Charles the Bald and Louis the German fight over the division of the empire, with Lothair succeding as Emperor. ... Campania is a region of Southern Italy, bordering on Lazio to the north-west, Molise to the north, Puglia to the north-east, Basilicata to the east, and the Tyrrhenian Sea to the west. ... The Amalfi coast. ... Gaeta (ancient Latin name Caieta) is a city in Province of Latina, in Lazio, Italy. ... The Battle of Ostia was a naval battle fought in 849 AD between the Muslims of souther Italy and a Christian League of Papal, Neapolitan and Gaetan ships. ... For the rugby club Saracens see Saracens (rugby club) The term Saracen comes from Greek sarakenoi. ... Events Births Deaths August 18 - Walafrid Strabo, German monk and theologian Categories: 849 ... Events Abbasid caliph al-Mutasim establishes new capital at Samarra, Iraq. ... For the rugby club Saracens see Saracens (rugby club) The term Saracen comes from Greek sarakenoi. ... The Lombards (Latin Langobardi, from which the alternative name Longobards found in older English texts), were a Germanic people originally from Northern Europe that entered the late Roman Empire. ... The Duchy of Benevento was the southernmost Lombard duchy in medieval Italy, centred on Benevento, a city central in the Mezzogiorno. ... Combatants Christian League Saracens Commanders Alberic I of Spoleto The Battle of Garigliano was fought in 915 between the forces of the Christian League and the Saracens. ... Events Fatimid armies invaded Egypt. ... Pandulf IV (also spelled Randulf, Bandulf, Pandulph, Pandolf, Paldolf, or Pandolfo) was the prince of Capua on three separate occasions. ...

Struggles for relevance in the Norman South

In 1027, duke Sergius IV donated the county of Aversa to a band of Norman mercenaries led by Rainulf Drengot, whose support he had needed in the war with the principality of Capua. In that period he could not imagine the consequences, but this settlement began a process which eventually led to the end of Naples' independence itself. Sergius' cemented his position with marital alliances with the Normans, but when these broke down, he was abandoned by his mercenaries and retired to a monastery. Events March 26 - Pope John XIX crowns Conrad II Holy Roman Emperor. ... Sergius IV (d. ... This article needs cleanup. ... The Normans (adapted from the name Northmen or Norsemen) were a mixture of the indigenous population of Neustria and Danish or Norwegian Vikings who began to occupy the northern area of France now known as Normandy in the latter half of the 9th century. ... Rainulf Drengot was a Norman adventurer and the first count of Aversa (1030–1045). ... This is as list of the Princes of Capua. ...

Naplse was the last of the southern Italian states which the Normans had met when they first enterred Italy. It survived the fall of the Lombard principalities: Capua, Salerno, Benevento. It had survived the fall of its fellow Greek duchies: Amalfi, Gaeta, Sorrento. In 1137, Duke Sergius VII was forced to surrender to Roger II of Sicily, who had had himself proclaimed King of Sicily seven years earlier. Under the new rulers the city was administrated by a compalazzo (palatine count), with little independence left to the Neapolitan patriciate. In this period Naples had a population of 30,000 and yet got its sustenance from the inland country: commerce activities were mainly delegated to foreign people, mainly from Pisa and Genova. // Groups BL1137 is the (now defunct) Unix group at Bell Labs in Murray Hill, NJ where Unix and C were invented. ... Roger II, from Liber ad honorem Augusti of Petrus de Ebulo, 1196. ... The following is a list of monarchs of Naples and Sicily: See also: List of Counts of Apulia and Calabria Hauteville Counts of Sicily, 1071-1130 Roger I 1071-1101 Simon 1101-1105 Roger II 1105-1130 Hauteville Kings of Sicily, 1130-1198 Roger II 1130-1154 William I 1154... Alternate uses, see Genoa (disambiguation). ...

Apart from the church of San Giovanni a Mare, Norman buildings in Naples were mainly lay ones, notably castles (Castel Capuano and Castel dell'Ovo), walls and fortified gates.

Sources

• David Taylor and Jeff Matthews. Naples in the Dark Ages.