Rudolf (also ''Rudolph'', ''Ralph'', or ''Raoul'', called ''Maccabeus'', ''Maccabeo'', or ''Maccabees''; died 1108) was the second Norman count of

Montescaglioso Montescaglioso (Montese: ) is a town and ''comune'' in the Province of Matera, Basilicata, southern Italy. The economy is mostly based on agriculture, including production of renowned oil and wine, as well as traditional food. Historically, it ...

from the death of his father

Robert The name Robert is an ancient Germanic given name, from Proto-Germanic "fame" and "bright" (''Hrōþiberhtaz''). Compare Old Dutch ''Robrecht'' and Old High German ''Hrodebert'' (a compound of ''Hrōþ, Hruod'' () "fame, glory, honour, prais ...

in 1080. During the three-year period between the death of the Guiscard in 1085 and the peace between his sons Bohemond and

Roger Borsa Roger Borsa (1060/1061 – 22 February 1111) was the Norman Duke of Apulia and Calabria and effective ruler of southern Italy Southern Italy (, , or , ; ; ), also known as () or (; ; ; ), is a macroregion of Italy consisting of its sou ...

, Rudolph and many other barons took advantage of the fraternal civil war to enhance their own lands and powers. In 1087, Rudolf married Emma (1070–1120), the fourth and youngest daughter of

Roger I of Sicily Roger I (; ; ; Norse: ''Rogeirr''; 1031 – 22 June 1101), nicknamed "Roger Bosso" and "Grand Count Roger", was a Norman nobleman who became the first Grand Count of Sicily from 1071 to 1101. As a member of the House of Hauteville, he parti ...

and his first wife Judith d'Évreux. She had previously been briefly engaged to

Philip I of France Philip I ( – 29 July 1108), called the Amorous (French: ''L’Amoureux''), was King of the Franks from 1060 to 1108. His reign, like that of most of the early Capetians, was extraordinarily long for the time. The monarchy began a modest recove ...

and was then married for some years to William VI, Count of Auvergne. His brother Geoffrey died while on the

First Crusade The First Crusade (1096–1099) was the first of a series of religious wars, or Crusades, initiated, supported and at times directed by the Latin Church in the Middle Ages. The objective was the recovery of the Holy Land from Muslim conquest ...

in the battle of Dorlylaeum. When Rudolf died without issue, Emma ruled his territories until her death. In 1124, her half brother

Roger II Roger II or Roger the Great (, , Greek: Ρογέριος; 22 December 1095 – 26 February 1154) was King of Sicily and Africa, son of Roger I of Sicily and successor to his brother Simon. He began his rule as Count of Sicily in 1105, became ...

invaded the county territory claiming it for the crown.

Sources

''Lexikon de Mittelalters''.

Italo-Normans Norman warriors 1108 deaths Year of birth unknown {{Europe-noble-stub