Atenulf I of Gaeta
Encyclopedia
Atenulf I was the Lombard
count of Aquino
who rose to become Duke of Gaeta in Southern Italy during the chaotic middle of the eleventh century.
Atenulf married the senatrix Maria
, daughter of Pandulf IV of Capua
, and his brother Lando married another daughter of Pandulf. After the death of Ranulf Drengot, Count of Aversa, in June 1045, his cousin Asclettin
succeeded in Aversa, but the Gaetans elected the Lombard Atenulf as their duke. Guaimar IV of Salerno
, the suzerain of both Aversa and Gaeta, intervened on Asclettin's behalf and he defeated Atenulf in battle and took him prisoner. At this time, however, Pandulf, the natural ally of Atenulf, was assaulting the lands of the abbey of Monte Cassino
with Lando. Lando captured the abbot Richer and in return for the abbot's freedom and his assistance in battling Pandulf, Atenulf was freed and recognised in possession of Gaeta.
In Fall 1058, Atenulf's eldest son, who was betrothed to a daughter of Richard I of Capua
, died. Richard demanded the morgengab nevertheless. The duke refused and consequently Richard besieged and took Aquino, one of the few feudatories of Gaeta remaining. Desiderius of Benevento
, the new abbot of Montecassino, convinced Richard to extort only 400 sou
s from the duke, however.
Atenulf died in 1062 and was succeeded by his second son, Atenulf II
. Aquino was ruled by all four of his sons: Atenulf, Lando
, Pandulf, and Landulf.
Lombards
The Lombards , also referred to as Longobards, were a Germanic tribe of Scandinavian origin, who from 568 to 774 ruled a Kingdom in Italy...
count of Aquino
Aquino
Aquino is a town and comune in the province of Frosinone, in the Lazio region of Italy, 12 km northwest of Cassino.-History:The ancient Aquinum was a municipium in the time of Cicero, and made a colony by the Triumviri...
who rose to become Duke of Gaeta in Southern Italy during the chaotic middle of the eleventh century.
Atenulf married the senatrix Maria
Maria of Gaeta
Maria , daughter of Pandulf IV of Capua and Maria, was the wife of Atenulf, count of Aquino, while her unnamed sister was the wife of Atenulf's brother Lando...
, daughter of Pandulf IV of Capua
Pandulf IV of Capua
Pandulf IV was the Prince of Capua on three separate occasions.From February 1016 to 1022 he ruled in association with his cousin Pandulf II. In 1018, the Byzantine catapan Boiannes destroyed the Lombard army of Melus of Bari and his Norman allies at Cannae...
, and his brother Lando married another daughter of Pandulf. After the death of Ranulf Drengot, Count of Aversa, in June 1045, his cousin Asclettin
Asclettin, Count of Aversa
Asclettin Drengot was the son of Asclettin, count of Acerenza, brother of Rainulf Drengot, whom he succeeded in the county of Aversa in 1045...
succeeded in Aversa, but the Gaetans elected the Lombard Atenulf as their duke. Guaimar IV of Salerno
Guaimar IV of Salerno
Guaimar IV was Prince of Salerno , Duke of Amalfi , Duke of Gaeta , and Prince of Capua in Southern Italy over the period from 1027 to 1052. He was an important figure in the final phase of Byzantine authority in the Mezzogiorno and the commencement of Norman power...
, the suzerain of both Aversa and Gaeta, intervened on Asclettin's behalf and he defeated Atenulf in battle and took him prisoner. At this time, however, Pandulf, the natural ally of Atenulf, was assaulting the lands of the abbey of Monte Cassino
Terra Sancti Benedicti
The Terra Sancti Benedicti was the secular territory, or seignory, of the powerful Abbey of Montecassino, the chief monastery of the Mezzogiorno and one of the first Western monasteries: founded by Benedict of Nursia himself, hence the name of its possessions.The secular holdings had their origin...
with Lando. Lando captured the abbot Richer and in return for the abbot's freedom and his assistance in battling Pandulf, Atenulf was freed and recognised in possession of Gaeta.
In Fall 1058, Atenulf's eldest son, who was betrothed to a daughter of Richard I of Capua
Richard I of Capua
Richard I Drengot was a count of Aversa and prince of Capua .He was the son of Asclettin, count of Acerenza, younger brother of Asclettin, count of Aversa, and nephew of Rainulf Drengot, the Norman adventurer who had first travelled to southern Italy in 1017 and progressed to set up the first...
, died. Richard demanded the morgengab nevertheless. The duke refused and consequently Richard besieged and took Aquino, one of the few feudatories of Gaeta remaining. Desiderius of Benevento
Pope Victor II
Pope Victor II , born Gebhard, Count of Calw, Tollenstein, and Hirschberg, was Pope from 1055 to 1057. He was one of a series of German reform Popes.-Life:...
, the new abbot of Montecassino, convinced Richard to extort only 400 sou
Sou
Sou may refer to:* Sou , a type of food pastry* Sou , a film by Theodore Ushev for Shorts in Motion: The Art of Seduction* Solidus #France, French slang for coins...
s from the duke, however.
Atenulf died in 1062 and was succeeded by his second son, Atenulf II
Atenulf II of Gaeta
Atenulf II was the duke of Gaeta for a brief two years under the regency of his mother, Maria. He was the son and successor of Atenulf I, who had been forced to recognise the suzerainty of the prince of Capua, Richard I, and his son Jordan in 1058.Atenulf I died on 2 February and on 1 June, Maria...
. Aquino was ruled by all four of his sons: Atenulf, Lando
Lando of Gaeta
Lando was the Duke of Gaeta briefly in 1064–1065. He was appointed by Richard I and Jordan I, co-princes of Capua, after the revolt of William of Montreuil, who attempted to repudiate Richard's daughter and marry Maria of Gaeta....
, Pandulf, and Landulf.
Sources
- Norwich, John JuliusJohn Julius NorwichJohn Julius Cooper, 2nd Viscount Norwich CVO — known as John Julius Norwich — is an English historian, travel writer and television personality.-Early life:...
. The Normans in the South 1016-1130. Longmans: LondonLondonLondon is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, 1967. - Chalandon, Ferdinand. Histoire de la domination normande en Italie et en Sicilie. ParisParisParis is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, 1907.