Battle of Civitate facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Civitate
Battle plan of the Battle of Civitate. Red: Normans. Blue: Papal coalition.
Date 18 June 1053 Location San Paolo di Civitate Result Norman victory
Belligerents
Normans	Papal coalition Swabians Italians Lombards
Commanders and leaders
Humphrey of Hauteville Robert Guiscard Richard Drengot	Rudolf of Benevento Gerard, Duke of Lorraine
Strength
3,000 horsemen c. 500 infantry	c. 6,000, infantry and horsemen

The Battle of Civitate was a major fight in southern Italy on June 18, 1053. It was between the Normans, led by Humphrey of Hauteville, and an army put together by Pope Leo IX. This papal army included soldiers from Swabia, Italy, and Lombards.

The Normans won this battle. This victory was a big moment in the ongoing struggle between the Norman warriors, who had come to southern Italy in the 11th century, and the local leaders. By 1059, the Normans would even form an alliance with the Pope. This alliance officially recognized the Normans' control in southern Italy. Pope Nicholas II then named Robert Guiscard as Duke of Apulia and Calabria, and Count of Sicily.

Why the Battle Happened

Normans Arrive in Italy

The Normans first came to Southern Italy around 1017. They were on a pilgrimage to a holy place called Monte Sant'Angelo sul Gargano in Apulia. These skilled warriors were soon hired to fight against the Saracens. Saracens were raiding southern Italy from their bases in Sicily. The local Lombard and Byzantine rulers struggled to stop them.

The Normans were known for "seeking wealth through military service." This meant they were good fighters who wanted to earn money. Christian rulers in southern Italy quickly noticed them. They hired Normans to fight in their own local wars. The Normans used this chance to gain power. In 1030, a Norman named Rainulf Drengot became the Count of Aversa.

After this first success, many other Normans came to expand their influence. The Hauteville family became very important leaders. Soon, the Hautevilles created their own state. William Iron Arm, a Hauteville, became the Count of Apulia in 1042.

Building an Anti-Norman Alliance

The Normans' growing power in southern Italy worried the Pope for many years. The main reasons for the Battle of Civitate were:

• Local Hatred: Many Italian locals did not like the Norman raids. They saw the Normans as little more than bandits. People found it unsafe to travel, even for religious reasons. They were often attacked and robbed.
• Benevento's Appeal: The Normans also raided the area around Benevento. The people of Benevento asked Pope Leo IX to take control of their city. This was important because Benevento was a border area between Rome, the German Empire, and the new Norman lands.
• Norman Instability: The Norman leader, Drogo de Hauteville, was killed in unclear circumstances. His brother, Humphrey, took over. Humphrey then sought revenge on those responsible.

In 1052, Pope Leo met with his relative, Henry III, Holy Roman Emperor, in Germany. He asked for help to stop the Normans. Henry III did not send much aid. So, Pope Leo returned to Rome in March 1053 with only 700 Swabian foot soldiers.

However, other Italian and Lombard rulers in the south were also worried. The Prince of Benevento, the Duke of Gaeta, and leaders from places like Aquino and Amalfi joined the Pope. They formed a large group to fight the Normans.

The Pope also had another ally: the Byzantine Empire. The Byzantine commander, Argyrus, first tried to pay the Normans to leave. But the Normans refused, saying they wanted to conquer southern Italy. So, Argyrus joined forces with the Pope. Their plan was to trap the Normans between two armies.

The Normans understood the danger. They gathered all their available fighters. Their army was led by Humphrey of Hauteville, the new Count of Apulia. Other key leaders included Richard Drengot and Robert Guiscard, who would later become very famous.

The Battle Itself

Pope Leo's army moved towards Apulia. They reached the Fortore River near the city of Civitate. The Normans went to meet them. They wanted to stop the Pope's army from joining the Byzantine army led by Argyrus.

The Normans had fewer men and supplies. They had about 3,000 horsemen and 500 foot soldiers. The Papal army had around 6,000 horsemen and foot soldiers. The Normans were even suffering from hunger. They tried to ask for a truce, but the Papal army refused.

The two armies faced each other across a small hill. The Normans divided their horsemen into three groups:

• Richard of Aversa led the heavy cavalry on the right side.
• Humphrey led the foot soldiers, dismounted knights, and archers in the middle.
• Robert Guiscard led his horsemen and Slavic foot soldiers on the left.

The Papal army was in two parts:

• The strong Swabian foot soldiers formed a long line in the center and to the right.
• The Italian soldiers were grouped together on the left, led by Rudolf.

Pope Leo was in the city of Civitate, but his battle flag was with his army.

The battle began when Richard of Aversa attacked the Italians on the left. His cavalry charged, and the Italians broke formation and ran away without fighting. The Normans killed many of them as they fled.

Meanwhile, the Swabians moved to the hill and fought Humphrey's Norman forces. This was a tough fight, mostly on foot. The Swabians were brave and preferred to fight with long, sharp swords. They would rather die than retreat.

Robert Guiscard saw his brother Humphrey in danger. He moved his left wing to the hill to help. He showed great bravery and eased the pressure on Humphrey's forces.

The fight in the center remained balanced for a long time. But the Normans kept their discipline. Finally, Richard's forces returned from chasing the Italians. Their return helped the Normans win the day, defeating the Papal army.

What Happened Next

After the battle, the Normans prepared to attack the town of Civitate. Pope Leo IX was then taken prisoner by the victorious Normans.

It's not completely clear how this happened. Some say Pope Leo left Civitate and surrendered to stop more fighting. Others say the people of Civitate handed him over to the Normans. He was treated with respect but was held in Benevento for about nine months. During this time, he was forced to agree to treaties that favored the Normans.

The Byzantine army, led by Argyrus, had to leave and return to Greece. They were not strong enough to fight the Normans alone.

The Battle of Civitate was a major turning point for the Normans in Italy. They showed they could win, even when facing a large alliance. This victory helped make their control in southern Italy more legitimate. It was also the first big victory for Robert Guiscard, who would become a very important Norman leader.

Six years later, in 1059, the Treaty of Melfi officially recognized the Normans' power in southern Italy. There were two main reasons for this change in the Pope's policy:

• The Normans had proven to be a powerful enemy nearby. The Holy Roman Emperor, who was far away, was a weaker ally.
• Pope Nicholas II decided to reduce the Emperor's influence over the Roman Church. He gave the right to elect the Pope to the Roman cardinals. This made a strong ally like the Normans more desirable than a strong enemy.