Hugh (

fl. ''Floruit'' ( ; usually abbreviated fl. or occasionally flor.; from Latin for 'flourished') denotes a date or period during which a person was known to have been alive or active. In English, the unabbreviated word may also be used as a noun indic ...

1023–1040) was the Count of

Suio Suio is a ''frazione'' (rural borough) of Castelforte, a municipality in southern Latium, central Italy. Overview It is located on the northernmost slopes of the Monti Aurunci, near the Garigliano river, and is composed of two villages: Suio Pae ...

in the

Duchy of Gaeta The Duchy of Gaeta () was an Early Middle Ages, early medieval state centered on the coastal Mezzogiorno, South Italian city of Gaeta. It began in the early ninth century as the local community began to grow autonomous as Byzantine Empire, Byzant ...

. He was probably a son of Docibilis ''magnificus'', who in turn was probably a son of Landolf, son of

Gregory Gregory may refer to: People and fictional characters * Gregory (given name), including a list of people and fictional characters with the given name * Gregory (surname), a surname *Gregory (The Walking Dead), fictional character from the walkin ...

Duke of Gaeta This is a list of the hypati, patricians, consuls, and dukes of Gaeta. Many of the dates are uncertain and sometimes the status of the rulership, with co-rulers and suzerain–vassal relations, is vague. Native rule (839–1032) Anatolian dynasty ...

, and Landolf's mistress Polyssena (Pulessene). He was a brother of Duke

Leo II of Gaeta Leo II was the Duke of Gaeta briefly in early 1042. He was the last duke of the native Docibilan family. His father was the '' magnificus'' Docibilis, a grandson of Duke Gregory. His brother, Hugh, was the count of Suio. Gaeta had been under the ...

. Hugh is first mentioned in 1023, when he made a donation of the

castle A castle is a type of fortification, fortified structure built during the Middle Ages predominantly by the nobility or royalty and by Military order (monastic society), military orders. Scholars usually consider a ''castle'' to be the private ...

at Suio to the

Abbey of Montecassino The Abbey of Monte Cassino (today usually spelled Montecassino) is a Catholic, Benedictine monastery on a rocky hill about southeast of Rome, in the Latin Valley. Located on the site of the ancient Roman town of Casinum, it is the first house ...

. Hugh was ill at the time and the donation may have been an attempt to solicit divine favour. On the other hand, considering the instability in Gaeta, Hugh may have been seeking a protector in the abbot,

Theobald Theobald is a Germanic dithematic name, composed from the elements '' theod-'' "people" and ''bald'' "bold". The name arrived in England with the Normans. The name occurs in many spelling variations, including Theudebald, Diepold, Theobalt, Ty ...

. What is certain is that Hugh remained staunchly loyal to the ruling branch of his dynasty, the Docibilians, in Gaeta, for he dated his charter by the rule of

John V of Gaeta John V (c. 1010 – c. 1040) was the consul and duke of Gaeta from 1012 to 1032. He was the son of John IV of Gaeta, John IV and Sichelgaita, sister of Sergius IV of Naples. He was either very young (an infant) when he succeeded his father or perhap ...

and his regents Emilia and Leo I at a time when the other high-ranking vassals of Gaeta were moving towards independence. Hugh's loyalty may be self-serving, however: his son John, at least, had economic interests in Gaeta. Hugh maintained his position even after

Pandulf IV of Capua Pandulf IVAlso spelled ''Randulf'', ''Bandulf'', ''Pandulph'', ''Pandolf'', ''Paldolf'', or ''Pandolfo''. (died 1049/50) was the Prince of Capua on three separate occasions. From February 1016 to 1022 he ruled in association with his cousin Pan ...

conquered Gaeta in 1032. In 1040, he confirmed his gift of 1023 to abbot Riccherius and specifically reserving half of the castle for his son. He was succeeded by his son John, who was still in power in 1079.

References

Sources

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Hugh, Count Of Suio Counts in Italy 11th-century deaths Year of birth unknown