Guaimar II of Salerno facts for kids

Guaimar II (also known as Waimar or Gaimar), sometimes called Gybbosus (meaning "Hunchback"), was an important Lombard prince who ruled Salerno from 901 until his death on June 4, 946. His father was Guaimar I, and his mother was Itta. Guaimar II started helping his father govern the principality as early as 893.

He is remembered for making the Principality of Salerno stronger and more important. He fixed up the prince's palace, built a church called San Pietro with a bell tower (a campanile), and brought back gold coins, which helped the economy.

Becoming a Prince

Guaimar II first showed his leadership skills in 895. When his father, Guaimar I, was captured, young Guaimar II stepped up to rule Salerno. Later, when Duke Athanasius of Naples started a rebellion against his father, Guaimar II played a key role in stopping it.

In 901, his father decided to retire and join a monastery called San Massimo. At this point, Guaimar II took full control of the government as the new Prince of Salerno.

Smart Alliances and Family Ties

At the beginning of his rule, Guaimar II continued his father's alliance with the Byzantine Empire. Because of this alliance, he was given special titles like patricius and protospatharius, which showed his high rank and connection to the Byzantine emperor.

He also made an important alliance with Capua, which was then part of the Principality of Benevento. He did this by marrying Gaitelgrima, who was the daughter of Atenulf I, a powerful ruler. This was Guaimar's second marriage. He also arranged for his daughter from his first marriage, Rotilda, to marry Atenulf III, who was a nephew of Atenulf II and son of Landulf I. Some historians believe Guaimar II might have had a son named Guaimar from his first marriage, which has sometimes caused confusion in how later princes named Guaimar are counted.

Fighting for His People

Like his father-in-law, Guaimar II took the fight against the Saracens (Muslims) very seriously. This was a bigger focus for him than it had been for his father or grandfather.

He was a key figure at the famous Battle of the Garigliano in 915. In this battle, a large army made up of forces from many different places like Gaeta, Naples, Capua, Benevento, Salerno, Lazio, Spoleto, Rome, and even Byzantine Italy worked together. They successfully defeated the Saracen forces who had built a fortress near the Garigliano River. An old historical record called the Chronicum Salernitanum also says that Guaimar won many other battles against the Saracens.

Shifting Friends and Foes

After the Battle of the Garigliano, Guaimar II joined forces with Landulf I of Capua. They decided to go against the Byzantine Empire around 923 or 926, even though Guaimar had been allied with them before. They agreed to attack different areas: Landulf would conquer lands in Apulia, while Guaimar would focus on Campania.

Landulf didn't have much success, but Guaimar did very well in his conquests. Landulf even asked for help from Theobald of Spoleto, but this alliance didn't last. In the early 930s, Guaimar II decided to return to his alliance with the Byzantine Empire, largely convinced by a Byzantine official named Epiphanius. In 940, influenced by his wife, he welcomed Landulf of Benevento and his sons, who were in exile, and gave them land in Salerno.

A Prince of Faith

Guaimar II was known as a very religious prince. He gave money and support to the monastery of San Massimo, which had been founded by his grandfather, Guaifer. In his later years, he also supported the Cluniac reformers, a group working to improve monasteries.

In 943, he made his son from his second marriage, Gisulf, a co-ruler with him. When Guaimar II died on June 4, 946, Gisulf then became the sole Prince of Salerno.