Sikelgaita facts for kids

Sikelgaita (also called Sichelgaita, Sigelgaita, or Gaita) was a powerful princess from the Lombard people, born in 1040. She was the daughter of Prince Guaimar IV of Salerno. Sikelgaita became the second wife of Robert Guiscard, who was a Duke in Southern Italy. Her family background was very important for Robert, helping him rule and making his power stronger for his children. Sikelgaita often went with Robert on his military trips and was even known for leading soldiers in battles. She kept supporting her son, Roger Borsa, who was next in line to rule, and stayed involved in important decisions until she died on April 16, 1090.

Early Life and Family

Sikelgaita was born in 1040. Her father was Prince Guaimar IV of Salerno, and her mother was Gemma. We don't know much about her early years, but she grew up with many brothers and sisters. Historians don't think she had special military training.

Her father, Prince Guaimar, was very successful. He expanded the lands of the Principality of Salerno across much of Southern Italy. This success ended suddenly in 1052 when he was murdered by his wife's brothers. Sikelgaita was still young at the time.

Guaimar's allies, the Normans, helped his surviving brother, Guy, get revenge. They made Sikelgaita's brother, Gisulf II, the new prince of Salerno. Sikelgaita's sister, Gaitelgrima, had already married Robert Guiscard's half-brother, Drogo. Another sister, Gaitelgrima, later married Robert's nephew, Jordan I of Capua.

Marriage to Robert Guiscard

The Normans had been in Southern Italy for a while. One of them, Robert Guiscard, became very powerful. He took over the County of Apulia and Calabria from his brother in 1057. Robert needed to make his rule stronger through a marriage alliance.

Since his son, Bohemond, was too young, Robert decided to marry Sikelgaita himself. Her brother, Gisulf, was not happy about this marriage. Some historians say Gisulf hated the Normans. However, he agreed to the marriage. Sikelgaita married Robert in December 1058. Robert had divorced his first wife, Alberada, before this marriage. This marriage was likely a way for Robert to form an alliance with the remaining Lombard princes, like Gisulf.

Duchess of Apulia

In the first few years of her marriage, Sikelgaita was not very active in politics. Her main goal was to have sons to make sure Robert's lands would pass to her children. By 1065, she started appearing in official documents with Robert. Since Robert was often fighting, she stayed close to him throughout their marriage.

Sikelgaita was determined that her son would inherit Robert's lands. In 1073, when Robert was very sick, she made their vassals (important followers) promise loyalty to her oldest son, Roger Borsa, as the next ruler. This was to ensure Roger would rule instead of Robert's older son, Bohemond.

Besides having children, Sikelgaita helped Robert by making his claim to the land stronger. Her noble family background helped calm vassals who might have rebelled against Robert because he was a foreigner. It also gave their children a respected family history.

Conflict with Her Brother Gisulf

Even though Sikelgaita and Robert were married, Robert and Sikelgaita's brother, Gisulf II of Salerno, had a difficult relationship. Robert kept taking more land around Gisulf's principality. A notable example was the city of Amalfi in 1073.

Sikelgaita tried to help her brother and husband get along. But Gisulf reportedly told her he would make her a widow. Robert soon responded by attacking Salerno in the summer of 1076. Gisulf was not ready for a long attack, and the city surrendered in December 1076. Gisulf's last forces held out in the inner castle until May 1077.

After taking Salerno, Robert and Sikelgaita made it their new capital. Because Sikelgaita was so important to Robert's right to rule, she was sometimes seen as a co-ruler in Salerno. In some official documents from Salerno, she was even called "duke" instead of "duchess." This shows that Robert recognized Sikelgaita's strong claim to the principality.

Military Campaigns (1080–1085)

Southern Italy in 1084.

Sikelgaita often went with Robert on his military campaigns. She was sometimes there to show her family's importance to the Lombard people who followed them. After the attack on Salerno and her childbearing years, her military role became more active in 1080.

Her first military task was leading the attack on Trani in 1080. Robert went to fight rebels in Taranto at the same time. The attack on Trani was successful, and the rebel Peter II had to give up. It's not fully known why she was in charge, but historians suggest Robert needed someone he could trust who also had the loyalty of the Lombard soldiers.

Sikelgaita also took part in the invasion of Dyrrhachium in 1081 against the Byzantine Empire. At first, she tried to convince Robert not to attack the Byzantines, saying Christians should not fight other Christians. She likely participated for similar reasons as before: Robert needed loyal leaders, and she wanted to protect her son's future. It's also possible the soldiers she commanded were from Salerno and considered her "their" leader.

In 1083, Sikelgaita returned to Italy with Robert. They went to defend Pope Gregory VII against the Holy Roman Emperor, Henry IV. By 1084, Robert and Sikelgaita again focused on the Byzantines in a second campaign. Robert became sick during this campaign and died on Kefalonia on July 17, 1085, with Sikelgaita by his side.

Sikelgaita's Role in Battle

It's not clear if Sikelgaita actually fought in battles herself. The Byzantine historian Anna Comnena, whose father was Emperor Alexios I (Robert and Sikelgaita's enemy in 1081), wrote about Sikelgaita. In her book Alexiad, Anna said Sikelgaita was on the battlefield in full armor. She wrote that Sikelgaita rallied her and Robert's troops with a spear when the Byzantine army pushed them back. Anna Comnena also said Sikelgaita was "like another Pallas, if not a second Athena," praising her bravery.

Some historians believe Anna Comnena's description might have been an attempt to make the Norman army look weak by saying they needed a woman to make them fight. Others suggest that Sikelgaita might not have been heard in the chaos of battle. She might have used a spear like a banner to communicate with her troops.

Another writer, William of Apulia, who worked for Sikelgaita's son Roger Borsa, wrote a different story. In his poem The Deeds of Robert Guiscard, he said Sikelgaita fled in fear during the battle of Dyrrhachium. He wrote that she tried to get on an enemy ship after being wounded by an arrow, but God saved her. Historians suggest William's account might have been encouraged by Sikelgaita herself. She might have wanted to avoid overshadowing her son. This account also explains why she would wear armor: whether she fought or not, she was in danger of death or capture like any other soldier.

Life After Robert's Death

After Robert's death, Sikelgaita successfully made Roger Borsa the next ruler. She remained active in politics. Some historians think she was not eager to give up power to her son or step-son. She signed several official documents with her son. For example, she placed the Jews of Bari under the authority of that city's archbishop.

One historian, Orderic Vitalis, wrote that Sikelgaita had learned about poisons from doctors. He claimed she tried to poison Robert's son, Bohemond, but was caught and forced to give him a cure. However, other historians say there is no proof this happened. They believe this story might have come from people who supported Bohemond as the rightful heir. Sikelgaita had reasons to be concerned about Bohemond, even though they eventually agreed that her son Roger Borsa would become the duke. Bohemond still believed he had a legal right to his father's inheritance as the older son. Luckily for Sikelgaita, Bohemond did not get much support from Roger Borsa's followers.

In early 1086, Sikelgaita was in Salerno. She gave the town of Cetraro to Monte Cassino in Robert's honor. Robert and Sikelgaita had given many gifts to Monte Cassino during their marriage. Sikelgaita also donated a large amount of silver for her health when she was sick. She died on April 16, 1090, and was buried in Monte Cassino, as she had wished.

Children of Sikelgaita

William of Apulia wrote that Robert and Sikelgaita had "three sons and five daughters":

• Maud: She first married Raymond Berengar II of Barcelona. Later, she married Aimeric I, Viscount of Narbonne.
• Roger Borsa
• Guy
• Robert Scalio
• Sybil: She married Ebles II, Count of Roucy.
• Mabel: She married William de Grandmesnil.
• An unnamed daughter: She married Hugh V, Count of Maine.
• Olympias: She was promised in marriage to Konstantios Doukas, the son of Michael VII Ducas and Maria Bagrationi, in 1074. She was given the name Helena.

Historian Ferdinand Chalandon found two more daughters of Robert and Sikelgaita:

• Cecilia: We don't know anything else about her.
• Gaitelgrima: She first married a man named Drogo and then another named Humphrey.

Sikelgaita in Pop Culture

• Sikelgaita appears as a character in the video game Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition. She is part of the Lords of the West expansion. In the "Bohemond and the Emperor" story, she is shown as a "wicked stepmother" who doesn't help Bohemond fight the Normans. The end scene of the game suggests she might have poisoned Robert Guiscard, though this is not historically proven.