Robert Guiscard facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Robert Guiscard
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Coin of Robert Guiscard
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| Born | c. 1015 Cotentin, Normandy |
| Died | 17 July 1085 (aged 69–70) Atheras, north of Lixouri |
| Buried | Abbey of the Santissima Trinità, Venosa |
| Noble family | Hauteville family |
| Spouse(s) | Alberada of Buonalbergo Sikelgaita |
| Issue | Bohemund I of Antioch Emma Roger Borsa of Apulia and Calabria Robert Scalio Guy, sebastos |
| Father | Tancred of Hauteville |
| Mother | Fressenda |
Robert Guiscard (born around 1015 – died July 17, 1085) was a brave Norman leader. He is famous for taking over southern Italy and Sicily. Robert was born into the Hauteville family in Normandy. He later became a count and then a duke of Apulia and Calabria. He was also the Duke of Sicily for a time.
His nickname, "Guiscard," means "the Resourceful" or "the Cunning." People also called him "the Fox" or "the Weasel." In Italian, he is often called Roberto II Guiscardo. In old Arabic writings, he was simply "Duke Robert."
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Robert Guiscard's Early Life
From 999 to 1042, Normans came to Italy. They were often soldiers for hire. They worked for the Byzantines and different Lombard nobles. The first independent Norman lord was Rainulf Drengot. He set up his power in the fortress of Aversa.
In 1038, William Iron Arm and Drogo arrived. They were the oldest sons of Tancred of Hauteville. Tancred was a minor noble from Normandy. William and Drogo joined a revolt by the Lombards. This revolt was against Byzantine control of Apulia. By 1040, the Byzantines had lost most of Apulia. In 1042, Melfi became the Norman capital. The Normans chose William Iron-Arm as their count. His brothers Drogo and Humphrey followed him as leaders.
Robert Guiscard was the sixth son of Tancred of Hauteville. He was the oldest son from Tancred's second wife, Fressenda. A historian named Anna Comnena said he left Normandy with only a few riders and followers. When he arrived in Italy in 1047, he became the leader of a small group of adventurers.
Land was hard to find in Apulia back then. Robert could not get land from his brother Drogo, who was in charge. Robert joined Prince Pandulf IV of Capua in his wars. But Robert soon left Pandulf because a promise was broken. Robert then asked his brother Drogo for land. Drogo gave him control of the fortress of Scribla. Robert was not happy with this. He moved to the castle of San Marco Argentano.
While in Calabria, Robert married his first wife, Alberada of Buonalbergo. Her uncle, Girard of Buonalbergo, joined Robert with 200 knights. This was in exchange for Robert marrying Alberada.
Robert quickly became well-known. The Lombards turned against the Normans. Pope Leo IX wanted to remove the Normans. But his army was defeated in 1053 at the Battle of Civitate sul Fortore. The Normans, led by Humphrey, won this battle. Robert Guiscard fought bravely in this battle. He even got knocked off his horse three times but kept fighting. Because of his actions, Robert took over from Humphrey as count of Apulia in 1057. He continued to conquer Apulia and Calabria with his youngest brother, Roger.
Robert Guiscard's Rule and Conquests
Soon after becoming count, Robert separated from his wife Alberada. This was because they were related too closely. He then married Sichelgaita, the sister of Gisulf II of Salerno. In return, Gisulf asked Robert to destroy two castles. These castles belonged to Robert's brother and were on Gisulf's land.
The Pope needed allies against the Holy Roman Emperor. So, in 1059, Pope Nicholas II made Robert Guiscard the Duke of Apulia, Calabria, and Sicily. Robert promised to pay the Pope yearly rent for his lands. He also agreed to support the Pope. Over the next twenty years, Robert conquered many lands.
Taking Control of Calabria
In June 1059, Robert was leading his army in Calabria. This was his first big effort to take over this Byzantine area. After meeting with the Pope, Robert went back to Calabria. His army was attacking Cariati. After he arrived, Cariati surrendered. Soon, Rossano and Gerace also gave up. Only Reggio was still held by the Byzantines.
The fall of Reggio and Scilla opened the way to Sicily. Robert's brother Roger tried to attack Messina first. But the Saracen soldiers there pushed him back. Robert had to return to Apulia because a new Byzantine army was attacking. By May, Apulia was peaceful again.
Conquering Sicily
Robert Guiscard invaded Sicily with his brother Roger. They captured Messina easily in 1061. They landed at night and surprised the Saracen army. This gave them control of the Strait of Messina. Robert quickly made Messina stronger. He also made friends with one of Sicily's leaders, Ibn al-Timnah.
Robert's army marched into central Sicily. They tried to attack the town of Centuripe, but it was too strong. They then captured Paternò. Robert brought his army to Enna, a very strong fortress. The Saracens fought them, but Enna did not fall. Robert went back to Apulia for Christmas.
He returned in 1064, heading straight for Palermo. His camp became full of tarantulas, so they had to leave. This campaign was not successful. However, in 1072, Palermo finally fell. After that, it was only a matter of time before the rest of Sicily was conquered. Robert was sometimes called "Black Shirt Robert" during his Sicilian campaigns. This was because his fancy clothes, made with imported dyes, would run and turn black.
Battles Against the Byzantines
In April 1071, Bari was captured. This meant Byzantine forces were finally out of southern Italy. Robert already controlled the area around Salerno. In December 1076, he took the city of Salerno. He removed its Lombard prince, Gisulf, whose sister Sichelgaita he had married.
Robert's attacks on Benevento, which belonged to the Pope, worried Pope Gregory VII. The Pope then made a deal with Robert in 1080. He confirmed Robert as duke and gave him more land.
In his last big adventure, Robert attacked the Byzantine Empire. He sailed with 16,000 men in May 1081. He defeated Emperor Alexius I Comnenus in October 1081. By February 1082, he had taken Corfu and Durazzo. But he was called back to help Pope Gregory VII. The Pope was trapped in Castel Sant'Angelo by Henry IV. In 1083, Robert also destroyed the town of Cannae.
In May 1084, Robert marched north with 36,000 men. He entered Rome and forced Henry to leave. A riot by the citizens led to a three-day sack of the city. After this, Robert took the Pope to safety. Robert's son, Bohemund, had lost the lands they conquered from the Byzantines. Robert returned with 150 ships to get them back. He took Corfu and Kefalonia.
On July 17, 1085, Robert Guiscard died of a fever in Kefalonia. He was buried in the Hauteville family mausoleum in Venosa. The town of Fiscardo on Kefalonia is named after him.
Robert was followed by Roger Borsa, his son with Sichelgaita. His older son, Bohemund, was not chosen to rule. Robert also had two younger sons, Guy of Hauteville and Robert Scalio. When he died, Robert Guiscard was Duke of Apulia and Calabria, Prince of Salerno, and the ruler of Sicily. His success came from his skills and his good relationship with the Pope. He built a strong ducal power. However, he also faced many revolts from his nobles. Robert Guiscard is seen as the hero and founder of the Norman kingdom in Italy.
Robert Guiscard and Religion
Because he conquered Calabria and Sicily, Robert Guiscard helped bring Latin Christianity to an area that had followed the Byzantine rite. He started building the Salerno Cathedral. He also founded a Norman monastery at Sant'Eufemia Lamezia in Calabria.
Even though his relationship with the Pope was sometimes difficult, Robert wanted to be on good terms with the Papacy. He even left his first wife to follow church law. The Popes were often worried about his growing power. But they preferred a strong Catholic Norman ruler over a Byzantine Greek one. Robert received his titles from Pope Nicholas II. Robert also supported the Pope's reforms. He even rescued Pope Gregory VII when he was under attack. After the Great Schism of 1054, the religious differences helped strengthen Robert's alliance with the Pope. This created a strong team against the Eastern Empire.
Robert Guiscard in Stories and Books
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In the famous poem Divine Comedy, Dante sees Robert Guiscard's spirit in Heaven. He is with other "warriors of faith" who showed great courage.
Robert Guiscard is also the main character in a play by Heinrich von Kleist called Robert Guiskard.
He appears in historical novels too. Jack Ludlow's trilogy, Mercenaries, Warriors and Conquest, covers the early years of his family. Robert Guiscard is also a character in Alfred Duggan's novel Count Bohemond.
Robert Guiscard's Family
Robert Guiscard married Alberada of Buonalbergo in 1051. They had:
- Bohemund
- Emma (born 1052 or later), who married Odo the Good Marquis
He married Sichelgaita in 1058 or 1059. They had:
- Matilda (born 1059 – after 1085), who married Count Ramon Berenguer II of Barcelona
- Roger Borsa, who became Duke of Apulia and Calabria
- Mabile, who married William de Grandmesnil
- Gersent, who married Count Hugh V of Maine (later separated)
- Robert Scalio
- Guy, a Byzantine sebastos (a high title)
- Sibylla, who married Count Ebles II of Roucy and had 8 children
- Olympias (renamed Helena), who was supposed to marry Constantine Doukas, son of Michael VII
See also
In Spanish: Roberto Guiscardo para niños
