NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Robert Guiscard

Robert Guiscard (i.e. the Resourceful, the Cunning, the Wily, or the Fox—most closely related to the archaism wiseacre) (c.1015-1085) was the most remarkable of the Norman adventurers who conquered Southern Italy and Sicily. He was count (1057-1059) and duke (1059-1085) of Apulia and Calabria after his brother Humphrey. Events August: Canute the Great invades England. ... Events May 25 - Alfonso VI of Castile takes Toledo, Spain back from the Moors. ... The Normans (adapted from the name Northmen or Norsemen) were a mixture of the indigenous Gauls of France and the Viking invaders under the leadership of Rollo (Gange Rolf). ... Southern Italy, often referred to in Italian as the Mezzogiorno (a term first used in 19th century in comparison with French Midi ) encompasses six of the countrys 20 autonomous regions: Basilicata Campania Calabria Molise Puglia Sicily (although Sicily is classified by the official Italian census organization, ISTAT, as Insular... Sicily (Sicilia in Italian) is an autonomous region of Italy and the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, with an area of 25,700 sq. ... List of Counts of Apulia and Calabria in Southern Italy from the 11th century to the 12th century: Counts 1043-1059, Dukes 1059-1127 William I Iron Arm 1042-1046 Drogo 1046-1051 Humphrey 1051-1057 Robert Guiscard 1057-1085 Roger 1085-1111 William II 1111-1127 Categories: Lists of... Events King Macbeth I of Scotland is killed in battle against Malcolm Canmore. ... Events Anselm of Canterbury settles at the Benedictine monastery of Le Bec in Normandy. ... Events Anselm of Canterbury settles at the Benedictine monastery of Le Bec in Normandy. ... Events May 25 - Alfonso VI of Castile takes Toledo, Spain back from the Moors. ... Jump to: navigation, search Apulia (official Italian name: Puglia) is a region in southeastern Italy bordering the Adriatic Sea in the east, the Ionian Sea to the southeast, and the Strait of Otranto and Gulf of Taranto in the south. ... Jump to: navigation, search Calabria, formerly Brutium, is a region in southern Italy which occupies the toe of the Italian peninsula south of Naples. ... Jump to: navigation, search Humphrey, called Onfroi de Hauteville in French and Umfredo Daltavilla in Italian, succeeded his older brother Drogo as count of Apulia and Calabria in 1051. ...

From 999 to 1042 the Normans were pure mercenaries, serving either Greeks or Lombards. Then Sergius of Naples, by installing the leader Rainulf in the fortress of Aversa in 1029, gave them their first base, allowing them to begin an organized conquest of the land. Events Silesia is incorporated into territory ruled by Boleslaus I of Poland Pope Silvester II succeeds Pope Gregory V Deaths December 16 - Saint Adelaide of Italy (b. ... Events April 18/April 19 - Emperor Michael V of the Byzantine Empire attempts to remain sole Emperor by sending his adoptive mother and co-ruler Zoe of Byzantium to a monastery. ... The Lombards (Latin Langobardi, from which the alternative name Longobards found in older English texts), were a Germanic people originally from Scandinavia that entered the late Roman Empire. ... This article needs cleanup. ... Jump to: navigation, search Events Births July 2 - Caliph Al-Mustansir of Cairo (d. ...

In 1035 there arrived William Iron-Arm and Drogo, the two eldest sons of Tancred of Hauteville, a petty noble of Coutances in Normandy. The two joined in the organized attempt to wrest Apulia from the Greeks, who by 1040 had lost most of that province. In 1042 Melfi was chosen as the Norman capital, and in September of that year the Normans elected as their count William Iron-Arm, who was succeeded in turn by his brothers Drogo, "Comes Normannorum totius Apuliae e Calabriae", and Humphrey, who arrived about 1044. 1047 saw the arrival of Robert, the sixth son of Tancred of Hauteville. According to Anna Comnena, he had left Normandy with only five mounted riders, and thirty followers on foot, and upon arriving in Lombardy he became the chief of a roving robber-band. Anna Comnena also leaves a physical description of Robert Guiscard: Events Harthacanute becomes king of Denmark. ... Jump to: navigation, search William, called Iron Arm; also called Guillaume Bras-de-fer in French and Guglielmo Braccio-di-ferro in Italian; was a Norman adventurer, the eldest of 12 sons of Tancred of Hauteville, who, along with his two younger brothers Drogo and Humphrey, journeyed to the Mezzogiorno... Jump to: navigation, search Drogo, called Dreux de Hauteville or Drogon dApulie in French and Drogone Daltavilla in Italian, succeeded his brother, with whom he arrived in southern Italy c. ... Tancred of Hauteville was a Norman noble, about whom little is known; his historical importance comes entirely from the accomplishments of his sons and later descendants. ... Coutances is a commune of Normandy, France, in the Manche département, of which it is a sous-préfecture. ... Jump to: navigation, search Mont Saint Michel is a historic pilgrimage site and a symbol of Normandy Normandy is a geographical region in northern France. ... Jump to: navigation, search Apulia (official Italian name: Puglia) is a region in southeastern Italy bordering the Adriatic Sea in the east, the Ionian Sea to the southeast, and the Strait of Otranto and Gulf of Taranto in the south. ... Events March War of Independence of Western Xia occurred. ... Events April 18/April 19 - Emperor Michael V of the Byzantine Empire attempts to remain sole Emperor by sending his adoptive mother and co-ruler Zoe of Byzantium to a monastery. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... Jump to: navigation, search Humphrey, called Onfroi de Hauteville in French and Umfredo Daltavilla in Italian, succeeded his older brother Drogo as count of Apulia and Calabria in 1051. ... Events King Anawrahta seizes the throne of Pagan, Myanmar Births Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar, known as The Cid (d. ... Events William the Conqueror, with assistance from King Henry I of France, secured control of Normandy by defeating the rebel Norman barons at Caen the Battle of Val-ès-Dunes Births Deaths October 9 - Pope Clement II Categories: 1047 ... Anna Comnena (December 1, 1083 - 1153) was a daughter of the Byzantine emperor Alexius I Comnenus, and is the first known female historian. ...

"This Robert was Norman by descent, of minor origin, in temper tyrannical, in mind most cunning, brave in action, very clever in attacking the wealth and substance of magnates, most obstinate in achievement, for he did not allow any obstacle to prevent his executing his desire. His stature was so lofty that he surpassed even the tallest, his complexion was ruddy, his hair flaxen, his shoulders were broad, his eyes all but emitted sparks of fire, and in frame he was well-built ... this man's cry is is said to have put thousands to flight. Thus equipped by fortune, physique and character, he was naturally indomitable, and subordinate to no one in the world."

Guiscard soon rose to distinction. The Lombards turned against their allies and Leo IX determined to expel the Norman freebooters. The army which he led towards Apulia in 1053 was, however, overthrown at Civitate on the Fortore by the Normans, united under Humfrey, Guiscard, and Richard of Aversa. In 1057 Robert succeeded Humfrey as count of Apulia and, in company with Roger, his youngest brother, carried on the conquest of Apulia and Calabria, while Richard conquered the principality of Capua. Leo IX, born Bruno of Eguisheim-Dagsburg (June 21, 1002 - April 19, 1054) was pope from February 12, 1049 to his death. ... For marine freebooters, see pirate For American usage, see filibuster (settler) For Irish usage, see rapparee For the musical trio from Thunder Bay, Ont. ... Events June 18 - Battle of Civitate - 3000 horsemen of Norman Count Humphrey rout the troops of Pope Leo IX Good harvests in Europe Malcolm Canmore invades Scotland. ... Jump to: navigation, search Roger I (1031 â€“ June 22, 1101), Norman ruler of Sicily, was the youngest son of Tancred of Hauteville. ... Jump to: navigation, search Calabria, formerly Brutium, is a region in southern Italy which occupies the toe of the Italian peninsula south of Naples. ... Prince Albert of Monaco on the left represents a principality where he wields adminisitrative authority. ... Capua (modern Santa Maria Capua Vetere) was the chief ancient city of Campania, and one of the most important towns of ancient Italy, situated 25 km (16 mi) north of Neapolis, on the northeastern edge of the Campanian plain. ...

The Papacy, foreseeing the breach with the emperor over investitures, then resolved to recognize the Normans and secure them as allies. Therefore at Melfi, on August 23, 1059, Nicholas II invested Robert with Apulia, Calabria, and Sicily, and Richard with Capua. Guiscard, "by Grace of God and St Peter duke of Apulia and Calabria and future lord of Sicily", agreed to hold by annual rent of the Holy See and to maintain its cause. Jump to: navigation, search August 23 is the 235th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (236th in leap years), with 130 days remaining. ... Events Anselm of Canterbury settles at the Benedictine monastery of Le Bec in Normandy. ... Nicholas II, né Gérard de Bourgogne (died either July 19 or July 27, 1061), pope from December 1058 to July 1061, was at the time of his election Bishop of Florence. ... Sicily (Sicilia in Italian) is an autonomous region of Italy and the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, with an area of 25,700 sq. ...

In the next twenty years he made an amazing series of conquests. Invading Sicily with Roger, the brothers captured Messina (1061) and Palermo (1072). Bari was reduced (April 1071), and the Greeks finally ousted from southern Italy. The territory of Salerno was already Robert's; in December 1076 he took the city, expelling its Lombard prince Gisulf, whose sister Sikelgaita he had married. The Norman attacks on Benevento, a papal fief, alarmed and angered Gregory VII, but pressed hard by the emperor, Henry IV, he turned again to the Normans, and at Ceprano (June 1080) reinvested Robert, securing him also in the southern Abruzzi, but reserving Salerno. Location within Italy Messina with a population of about 260,000 is the third largest city on the island of Sicily, Italy and the capital of the province of Messina. ... Insert non-formatted text hereInsert non-formatted text here--217. ... City nickname: Location Location of Palermo within the island of Sicily. ... Jump to: navigation, search Events William I of England invades Scotland, and also receives the submission of Hereward the Wake. ... Jump to: navigation, search Region Apulia Mayor Michele Emiliano Area 116 kmÂ² Population - City (2004) - Density 316. ... Jump to: navigation, search April is the fourth month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of four with the length of 30 days. ... Events Byzantine Empire loses Battle of Manzikert to Turkish army under Alp Arslan. ... Events All year - People fucked each other ALOT! February 14 - Pope Gregory VII excommunicates Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor. ... Sikelgaita (1040-April 16, 1090) was a Lombard princess, the second wife of Robert Guiscard. ... Benevento is a town and archiepiscopal see of Campania, Italy, capital of the province of Benevento, 32 miles northeast of Naples. ... Gregory VII, nÃ© Hildebrand (ca. ... HEINRICÂ·IMP[ERATOR], Emperor Henry Henry IV (November 11, 1050 â€“ August 7, 1106) was King of Germany from 1056 and Emperor from 1084, until his abdication in 1105. ... Jump to: navigation, search June is the sixth month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with a length of 30 days The month is named after the Roman goddess Juno (mythology), wife of Jupiter and equivalent to the Greek goddess Hera. ... Events William I of England, in a letter, reminds the Bishop of Rome that the King of England owes him no allegiance. ... Categories: Regions of Italy | Abruzzo ... Jump to: navigation, search This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ...

Guiscard's last enterprise was his attack on the Greek Empire, a rallying ground for his rebel vassals. He contemplated seizing the throne of the Basileus and took up the cause of Michael VII, who had been deposed in 1078 and to whose son his daughter had been betrothed. He sailed with 16,000 men against the empire in May 1081, and by February 1082 had occupied Corfu and Durazzo, defeating the emperor Alexius before the latter (the Battle of Dyrrhachium, October 1081). He was, however, recalled to the aid of Gregory VII, besieged in San Angelo by Henry IV (June 1083). Michael VII Ducas or Parapinakes, was the eldest son of Constantine X Ducas and Eudocia Macrembolitissa. ... Events Romanesque church begun at Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain Anselm of Canterbury becomes abbot of Le Bec William the Conqueror ordered the White Tower to be built Births Deaths Categories: 1078 ... This article is about the month of May. ... Events Corfu taken from Byzantine Empire by Robert Guiscard, Italy Byzantine emperor Nicephorus III is overthrown by Alexius I Comnenus, ending the Middle Byzantine period and beginning the Comnenan dynasty Alexius I helps defend Albania from the Normans (the first recorded mention of Albania), but is defeated at the Battle... February is the second month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... Events England - The Rochester Cathedral was completed Europe - The German Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor besieges Rome and gains entry, a synod is agreed upon by the Romans to rule on the dispute between Henry and Pope Gregory VII Styria - Ottokar II succeeds his brother Adalbero (died 1086 or 1087... (This article is about the Greek island known in English as Corfu. ... DurrÃ«s (Italian: Durazzo; see also different names) is the most ancient and one of the most economically important important cities of Albania. ... Byzantine emperor Alexius I Comnenus Alexius I (1048–August 15, 1118), Byzantine emperor (1081–1118), was the third son of John Comnenus, the nephew of Isaac I Comnenus (emperor 1057–1059). ... The Battle of Dyrrhachium took place on October 18, 1081 between the Byzantine Empire, led by Alexius I, and the Normans under Robert Guiscard. ... October is the tenth month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of seven Gregorian months with the length of 31 days. ... Gregory VII, nÃ© Hildebrand (ca. ... HEINRICÂ·IMP[ERATOR], Emperor Henry Henry IV (November 11, 1050 â€“ August 7, 1106) was King of Germany from 1056 and Emperor from 1084, until his abdication in 1105. ... Events Sancho I of Aragon conqueres Graus. ...

Marching north with 36,000 men he entered Rome and forced Henry to retire, but an émeute of the citizens led to a three days' sack of the city (May 1084), after which Guiscard escorted the pope to Rome. His son Bohemund, for a time master of Thessaly, had now lost the Greek conquests. Robert, returning to restore them, occupied Corfu and Kephalonia, but died of fever in the latter on July 15 1085, in his 70th year. He was buried in S. Trinità at Venosa. Events Saint Bruno founds the Carthusian Order of monks Kyanzittha begins his reign in Myanmar. ... Bohemund I of Antioch (c. ... Kefallinia, also known as Kefalonia or Cefalonia (Ancient Greek: Κεφαλλήνια Modern Greek: Κεφαλλονιά), is the largest of the Ionian Islands in western Greece. ... Jump to: navigation, search July 15 is the 196th day (197th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 169 days remaining. ...

Guiscard was succeeded by Roger "Borsa", his son by Sikelgaita; Bohemund, his son by an earlier Norman wife Alberada, being set aside. At his death Robert was duke of Apulia and Calabria, prince of Salerno and suzerain of Sicily. His successes had been due not only to his great qualities but to the "entente" with the Papal See. He created and enforced a strong ducal power which, however, was met by many baronial revolts, one being in 1078, when he demanded from the Apulian vassals an "aid" on the betrothal of his daughter. In conquering such wide territories he had little time to organize them internally. In the history of the Norman kingdom of Italy Guiscard remains essentially the hero and founder, as his nephew Roger II is the statesman and organizer. Roger Borsa (1060/1061â€“February 22, 1111) was the son and successor of Robert Guiscard, the Norman conqueror of Southern Italy and Sicily. ... Roger II. - from â€žLiber ad honorem Augustiâ€œ of Petrus de Ebulo, 1196 Roger II (1093â€“February 26, 1154), son and successor of Roger I, began his rule in 1112. ...

In The Divine Comedy, Dante Alighieri sees the spirit of Robert Guiscard in the Heaven of Mars with the other noteworthy crusaders. Jump to: navigation, search Dante shown holding a copy of The Divine Comedy, next to the entrance to Hell, the seven terraces of Mount Purgatory and the city of Florence, in Michelinos fresco. ... Jump to: navigation, search Dante in a fresco series of famous men by Andrea del Castagno, ca. ...

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