Normans
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A generic polity that refers to the initially unorganized territory of the Normans in the early phase of their conquest of southern Italy.
Establishment
March 1041: The victory in the battle of Olivento constitutes the first stage for the Norman conquest of southern Italy. William of Hauteville settles in Ascoli Satriano, also takes Venosa and occupies Gravina.
March 1041: An alliance of Lombards and Normans besiege Melfi. On March 28, Lombard nobleman Arduin offers the citizens to open the doors and let the Normans enter as friends to free the city from the Byzantines. The Normans settle in Melfi.
May 1041: The Norman army, led by William of Hauteville and Arduin, defeated the Byzantines in the battle of Montemaggiore and obtained possession of Apulia and the entire region between the Ofanto, Biferno and Matera valleys. The Normans also took possession of the lands of Acerenza, of the villages of Lavello, near the Ofanto river, of Matera and Genzano, on the via Herculea, where they built a castle.
September 1041: On 3 September 1041 at the Battle of Montepeloso, the Normans defeated Byzantine catepan Exaugustus Boioannes and brought him to Benevento. The rebel victory forced the Byzantine army to retreat to the coastal cities of Bari, Monopoli and Giovinazzo, leaving the entire interior of southern Italy to the Norman and Lombard rebels.
Chronology
Interactive Chronologies with maps are available in the section Changes Navigation
Were a series of wars between the Byzantines and the Normans in southern italy and the Balkan Peninsula.
1.1.Norman conquest of southern Italy
Were a series of military campaigns by Norman forces that slowly conquered southern Italy from the Bizyntine Empire and from local Lombard rulers.
1.1.1.Norman-Lombard Revolt
Was a revolt by the Lombards and the Normans against Byzantine rule in southern Italy that led to the initial territorial acquisitions of the Normans in the region.
October 1042: The three principal Norman groups held a council in Melfi which included Ranulf Drengot, Guaimar IV and William Iron Arm. William and the other leaders petitioned Guaimar to recognize their conquests, and William was acknowledged as the Norman leader in Apulia (which included Melfi and the Norman garrison at Troia). He received the title of Count of Apulia from Guiamar. Guaimar proclaimed himself Duke of Apulia and Calabria.
Disestablishment
October 1042: The three principal Norman groups held a council in Melfi which included Ranulf Drengot, Guaimar IV and William Iron Arm. William and the other leaders petitioned Guaimar to recognize their conquests, and William was acknowledged as the Norman leader in Apulia (which included Melfi and the Norman garrison at Troia). He received the title of Count of Apulia from Guiamar. Guaimar proclaimed himself Duke of Apulia and Calabria.
