Geoffrey of Hauteville
Encyclopedia
Geoffrey of Hauteville was a Norman
military leader, the second youngest son of Tancred of Hauteville
by his first wife Muriella. He joined his brothers in the Mezzogiorno
around 1053, arriving with his half-brothers Mauger
and William
. He was certainly present at the Battle of Civitate
in that year.
In that year, Humphrey
, his brother the count of Apulia, gave Mauger and William the Capitanate and the Principate
, respectively, with the title of count. When Mauger died later that decade (in 1054, according to Goffredo Malaterra
), the county passed to William, who gave it to Geoffrey. In 1059, his brother Robert Guiscard
, Humphrey's successor over Geoffrey, who was older, but had not been in the south as long, helped him quell a revolt in the Capitanate. He also ruled the region around Loritello
, where his son Robert
was invested as count, and he expanded his domains into those of the pope, conquering Gissi
in the Abruzzi. His death is a matter of confusion. The Breve Chronicon Northmannicum
states, on the authority of Goffredo Malaterra
, that he died in 1063, but the chronicler apparently confused the many Geoffreys of the period. He probably died circa 1071.
He had been married in Normandy
and he had three sons from that union: the aforementioned Robert; Ralph, who inherited Catanzaro; and William, who inherited Tiriolo
. In the Mezzogiorno, he married, like his eldest brother William Iron Arm
, a niece of the Prince Guaimar IV of Salerno
, Theodora of Capaccio, daughter of Pandulf, lord of Capaccio
, Guaimar's brother. From this second marriage was born at least one son, named Tancred, who was alive in 1103 and 1104. He also had a son, of unknown parentage, named Drogo or Tassohttp://www.norman-world.com/angleterre/Patrimoine_architectural/Italie/molise/02moliseen/04famiglie%20normanneen/conti%20loritello/molise04ben.htm.
It seems that Ralph participated in the Battle of Hastings
(1066) and obtained thereby a fief in Wiltshire
before 1086 (the time of the Domesday Book
), thus founding the English branch of his illustrious family.
Normans
The Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...
military leader, the second youngest son of Tancred of Hauteville
Tancred of Hauteville
Tancred of Hauteville was an 11th-century Norman petty lord about whom little is known. His historical importance comes entirely from the accomplishments of his sons and later descendants...
by his first wife Muriella. He joined his brothers in the Mezzogiorno
Mezzogiorno
The Midday is a wide definition, without any administrative usage, used to indicate the southern half of the Italian state, encompassing the southern section of the continental Italian Peninsula and the two major islands of Sicily and Sardinia, in addition to a large number of minor islands...
around 1053, arriving with his half-brothers Mauger
Mauger of Hauteville
Mauger of Hauteville was a younger son of Tancred of Hauteville by his second wife, Fressenda...
and William
William of the Principate
William of Hauteville was one of the younger sons of Tancred of Hauteville by his second wife Fressenda. He is usually called Willermus instead of Wilelmus in Latin annals and so is often called Guillerm instead of Guillaume in French...
. He was certainly present at the Battle of Civitate
Battle of Civitate
The Battle of Civitate was fought on 18 June 1053 in Southern Italy, between the Normans, led by the Count of Apulia Humphrey of Hauteville, and a Swabian-Italian-Lombard army, organised by Pope Leo IX and led on the battlefield by Gerard, Duke of Lorraine, and Rudolf, Prince of Benevento...
in that year.
In that year, Humphrey
Humphrey of Hauteville
Humphrey of Hauteville , surnamed Abagelard, was the Count of Apulia and Calabria from 1051 to his death.Humphrey was probably the youngest son of Tancred of Hauteville by his first wife Muriel. Some sources make Geoffrey and Serlo his younger brothers...
, his brother the count of Apulia, gave Mauger and William the Capitanate and the Principate
Principate
The Principate is the first period of the Roman Empire, extending from the beginning of the reign of Caesar Augustus to the Crisis of the Third Century, after which it was replaced with the Dominate. The Principate is characterized by a concerted effort on the part of the Emperors to preserve the...
, respectively, with the title of count. When Mauger died later that decade (in 1054, according to Goffredo Malaterra
Goffredo Malaterra
Gaufredo Malaterra was an eleventh century Benedictine monk and historian, possibly of Norman origin. He travelled to the southern Italian peninsula, passing some time in Apulia before entering the monastery of Sant'Agata at Catania, on the isle of Sicily...
), the county passed to William, who gave it to Geoffrey. In 1059, his brother Robert Guiscard
Robert Guiscard
Robert d'Hauteville, known as Guiscard, Duke of Apulia and Calabria, from Latin Viscardus and Old French Viscart, often rendered the Resourceful, the Cunning, the Wily, the Fox, or the Weasel was a Norman adventurer conspicuous in the conquest of southern Italy and Sicily...
, Humphrey's successor over Geoffrey, who was older, but had not been in the south as long, helped him quell a revolt in the Capitanate. He also ruled the region around Loritello
Loritello
Loritello was an Italo-Norman county along the Adriatic north of the Gargano. It was carved out of the eastern seaboard of the Principality of Benevento following the Battle of Civitate in 1053 by members of the Hauteville family...
, where his son Robert
Robert I of Loritello
Robert I was an Italo-Norman nobleman, the eldest son of Geoffrey of Hauteville, one of the elder sons of Tancred of Hauteville. He was the first count of Loritello in 1061....
was invested as count, and he expanded his domains into those of the pope, conquering Gissi
Gissi
Gissi is a town and comune located in the Province of Chieti, Abruzzo, Italy.It is bordered by two tributaries of the Sinello River and is surrounded by vineyards and olive groves.- History :Gissi has been populated since prehistoric times...
in the Abruzzi. His death is a matter of confusion. The Breve Chronicon Northmannicum
Breve chronicon Northmannicum
The Breve chronicon Northmannicum or Little Norman Chronicle is a short, anonymous Latin chronicle of the Norman conquest of southern Italy, supposed to have been written in Apulia in the early twelfth-century. It covers the years from the first Norman "invasion" of Apulia in 1041 to the death of...
states, on the authority of Goffredo Malaterra
Goffredo Malaterra
Gaufredo Malaterra was an eleventh century Benedictine monk and historian, possibly of Norman origin. He travelled to the southern Italian peninsula, passing some time in Apulia before entering the monastery of Sant'Agata at Catania, on the isle of Sicily...
, that he died in 1063, but the chronicler apparently confused the many Geoffreys of the period. He probably died circa 1071.
He had been married in Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
and he had three sons from that union: the aforementioned Robert; Ralph, who inherited Catanzaro; and William, who inherited Tiriolo
Tiriolo
Tiriolo is a town and comune in the province of Catanzaro in the Calabria region of southern Italy.-Geography:The town is bordered by Catanzaro, Gimigliano, Marcellinara, Miglierina, San Pietro Apostolo and Settingiano....
. In the Mezzogiorno, he married, like his eldest brother William Iron Arm
William Iron Arm
William Iron Arm was a Norman adventurer, founder of the fortunes of the Hauteville family. One of twelve sons of Tancred of Hauteville, he journeyed to the Mezzogiorno with his younger brother Drogo in the first half of the eleventh century , in response to requests for help made by fellow...
, a niece of the Prince 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...
, Theodora of Capaccio, daughter of Pandulf, lord of Capaccio
Capaccio
Capaccio is a town and comune in the province of Salerno in the Campania region of south-western Italy. The ruins of the ancient city of Paestum lie within borders of the comune.-Airport:...
, Guaimar's brother. From this second marriage was born at least one son, named Tancred, who was alive in 1103 and 1104. He also had a son, of unknown parentage, named Drogo or Tassohttp://www.norman-world.com/angleterre/Patrimoine_architectural/Italie/molise/02moliseen/04famiglie%20normanneen/conti%20loritello/molise04ben.htm.
It seems that Ralph participated in the Battle of Hastings
Battle of Hastings
The Battle of Hastings occurred on 14 October 1066 during the Norman conquest of England, between the Norman-French army of Duke William II of Normandy and the English army under King Harold II...
(1066) and obtained thereby a fief in Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
before 1086 (the time of the Domesday Book
Domesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
), thus founding the English branch of his illustrious family.
Sources
- Chalandon, Ferdinand. Histoire de la domination normande en Italie et en Sicile. 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. - 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.