Drogo of HautevilleDrogo of Hauteville (died 10 August 1051) was the second Norman Count of Apulia. He led the Normans of Southern Italy after the death of his brother, William Iron Arm. LifeDrogo was a son of Tancred of Hauteville by his first wife Muriella. Goffredo Malaterra records him as being the second son, after William Iron Arm, while Romuald Guarna records him as being the third, coming after Serlo and Geoffrey.
County of Apulia and CalabriaToday part ofItalyThe County of Apulia and Calabria (Latin: Comitatus Apuliae et Calabriae), later the Duchy of Apulia and Calabria (Latin: Ducatus Apuliae et Calabriae), was a Norman state founded by William of Hauteville in 1043, composed of the territories of Gargano, Capitanata, Apulia, Vulture, and most of Campania. It became a duchy when Robert Guiscard was raised to the rank of duke by Pope Nicholas II in 1059.
Hauteville familyThe Hauteville family (Italian: Altavilla, Sicilian: Autaviḍḍa) was a Norman family, originally of petty lords, from the Cotentin Peninsula in Normandy. The Hautevilles rose to prominence through their part in the Norman conquest of southern Italy. In 1130, Roger II of Hauteville, was made the first King of Sicily. His male-line descendants ruled the kingdom until 1194.
Tancred of HautevilleTancred of Hauteville (c. 980 – 1041) was an 11th-century Norman lord. Little is known about him, and he is best remembered by the achievements of his twelve sons. Various legends arose about Tancred, but they have no supporting contemporary evidence that has survived the ages. Life and marriagesTancred was a minor landowner in Normandy.
FressendaFressenda (Latin: Frensendis or Fredesendis) was an 11th-century Norman noblewoman and the wife of Tancred of Hauteville. She is known as the mother of Robert Guiscard and Roger I of Sicily. NameGoffredo Malaterra recorded her name as Frensendis and Orderic Vitalis as Fredesendis in latin. Her name has been anglicized as Fresenda or Fressenda in English literature. OriginFressenda's origin is not known.
County of SicilyToday part ofItalyMaltaThe County of Sicily was a Norman state comprising the islands of Sicily and Malta and part of Calabria from 1071 until 1130. The county began to form during the Norman conquest of Sicily (1061–91) from the Muslim Emirate, established by conquest in 965. The county is thus a transitional period in the history of Sicily.
Alberada of BuonalbergoAlberada of Buonalbergo (also Aubrey of Buonalbergo; c. 1035 – c. 1120), was a duchess of Apulia as the first wife of Robert Guiscard, duke of Apulia (1059–1085). She married Guiscard in 1051 or 1052, when he was still just a robber baron in Calabria. As her dowry, she brought Robert Guiscard 200 knights under command of her nephew Girard of Buonalbergo.
Byzantine EmpireThe Byzantine Empire, also known as the Eastern Roman Empire, was the continuation of the Roman Empire centred on Constantinople during late antiquity and the Middle Ages. Having survived the fall of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th centuryAD, it endured until the fall of Constantinople to the Ottoman Empire in 1453. The term 'Byzantine Empire' was coined only after its demise; its citizens used the term 'Roman Empire' and called themselves 'Romans'.
NormansThe Normans (Norman: Normaunds; French: Normands; Latin: Nortmanni/Normanni) were a population arising in the medieval Duchy of Normandy from the intermingling between Norse Viking settlers and locals of West Francia. The Norse settlements in West Francia followed a series of raids on the French northern coast mainly from what is now Denmark, although some also sailed from Norway and Sweden.
NormandyNormandy is a geographical and cultural region in northwestern Europe, roughly coextensive with the historical Duchy of Normandy. Normandy comprises mainland Normandy (a part of France) and insular Normandy (mostly the British Channel Islands). It covers 30,627 square kilometres (11,825 sq mi). Its population in 2017 was 3,499,280. The inhabitants of Normandy are known as Normans; the region is the historic homeland of the Norman language.
Norman conquest of southern ItalyBelligerentsByzantine EmpireCatepanate of ItalyPapal StatesLombardsDuchy of BeneventoPrincipality of SalernoPrincipality of CapuaHoly Roman EmpireRepublic of VeniceDuchy of NaplesDuchy of GaetaDuchy of AmalfiKalbidSicilyZirid EmpireAlmohad CaliphateNormansHauteville familyApulia and CalabriaCounty of SicilyKingdom of SicilyKingdom of AfricaCommanders and leadersMichael DokeianosHarald HardradaBasil BoioannesManuel I KomnenosMichael Palaiologos DoukasJohn DoukasHenry IVGerard…
Pope Nicholas IIPope Nicholas II (Latin: Nicolaus II; c. 990/995 – 27 July 1061), otherwise known as Gerard of Burgundy, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 24 January 1059 until his death in 27 July 1061. At the time of his election, he was bishop of Florence. During his Papacy, Nicholas II successfully expanded the influence of the papacy in Milan and southern Italy.*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.