Treaty of Benevento facts for kids
The Treaty of Benevento was a really important agreement signed on June 18, 1156. It was a peace deal between Pope Adrian IV (the leader of the Catholic Church) and the Normans who ruled the Kingdom of Sicily. For a long time, the Pope and the Norman kings didn't get along. This treaty finally brought peace between them.
Why Was This Treaty Needed?
In 1156, Pope Adrian IV found himself alone against the powerful Norman kingdom. His allies had left him. An army led by Michael Palaeologus was defeated. Another army, led by Frederick Barbarossa, had gone back to Germany.
Also, people who were rebelling against the Norman king in a place called Apulia had either made peace or were put in prison. This meant the Pope had no one to help him fight the Normans. He was also blocked from entering Rome by its own people. So, he stayed in Benevento, a town that belonged to the Pope for over a hundred years. The Norman army came close to Benevento, and the Pope had to agree to talk peace.
Who Negotiated the Treaty?
The Pope sent his main helper, Roland of Siena, who later became Pope Alexander III. He also sent a Roman nobleman named Oddone Frangipane.
King William I of Sicily sent his top admiral, Maio of Bari. He also sent two important church leaders: Hugh of Palermo and Romuald of Salerno. The Norman side had the stronger position, and they finalized the agreement on June 18. This agreement became known as the Treaty of Benevento.
A young writer named Matthew of Ajello helped a lot in writing the treaty. He later became very famous in Sicily.
What Did the Treaty Say?
The treaty officially recognized King William as the ruler of many lands. These included all of Sicily, Apulia, Calabria, and Campania. It also included cities like Capua, Amalfi, Naples, and Gaeta. Even newer lands that William's older brothers, Roger and Alfonso, had claimed were now officially his. These new lands were in areas like the Marches and the Abruzzi.
The treaty also set up payments to the Pope. King Roger II had agreed to pay 600 schifati (a type of coin) in 1139. This payment was confirmed. An extra 400 schifati was added for the Marsi region.
The Pope was allowed to send his representatives (called legates) to the mainland parts of the kingdom. However, the King's right to act as the Pope's representative in Sicily was confirmed. This meant the Pope gave up a lot of his power over the island of Sicily.
In a church called S. Marciano, the Pope officially recognized William as king. First, he recognized him as King of Sicily, then Apulia, and finally Capua. King William gave the Pope a special "Kiss of Peace" and offered him gifts of gold and silver.
The original document of this important treaty is kept safe in the Vatican Apostolic Archive.
See also
- List of treaties
