Landulf IV of Benevento
Encyclopedia
Landulf IV was the prince of Capua (as Landulf VI) and Benevento from 968, when he was associated with his father, Pandulf Ironhead
, and prince of Salerno associated with his father from 977 or 978. In 968, his uncle Landulf III died and this was the occasion of his rise, Pandulf ignored the rights of Landulf's son Pandulf
, his nephew, and instead associated his own son with the government.
In 969, the Ironhead was captured in the Battle of Bovino. The strategos
of Bari
, Eugenius, captured the town of Avellino
and besieged Capua, then Benevento. Landulf's mother, Aloara of Capua and Landulf I, Archbishop of Benevento, took over the government in his name, to defend the city from the Byzantines
. In 977, after the Ironhead's release, he joined his father in an expedition in defence of Monte Cassino
against the predations of Count Bernard of Alife.
On Pandulf's death in March 981, the great Lombard
principality was divided: Landulf, the eldest son, received Capua-Benevento and Spoleto, and Pandulf
, the second son, received Salerno. However, the Emperor Otto II, who was in the Mezzogiorno
at the time, fighting the Saracens, dispossessed Landulf of the duchy of Spoleto
and gave it to Thrasimund, duke of Camerino
and count of Penne
. Soon thereafter, Landulf was forced also to recognise the division of Capua-Benevento, united since 899. His cousin, the aforementioned deprived Pandulf, as prince of Benevento, perhaps as an underling. Thereafter, Landulf was merely prince of Capua, in which capacity he supported the Cluniac reform and founded the church of San Croce at Caiazzo. He joined his deposed brother Pandulf in Calabria
, where they fought the Saracens with Otto. They both died in the Battle of Stilo
on 13 July. He was succeeded by his younger brother Landenulf
, who was under the regency of Aloara.
Pandulf Ironhead
Pandulf I Ironhead was the Prince of Benevento and Capua from 943 until his death. He was made Duke of Spoleto and Camerino in 967 and succeeded as Prince of Salerno in 977 or 978...
, and prince of Salerno associated with his father from 977 or 978. In 968, his uncle Landulf III died and this was the occasion of his rise, Pandulf ignored the rights of Landulf's son Pandulf
Pandulf II of Benevento
Pandulf II the Old was the prince of Benevento from 981 and prince of Capua from 1008 or 1009 to his death, the son of Landulf III who was co-prince between 959 and 968...
, his nephew, and instead associated his own son with the government.
In 969, the Ironhead was captured in the Battle of Bovino. The strategos
Strategos
Strategos, plural strategoi, is used in Greek to mean "general". In the Hellenistic and Byzantine Empires the term was also used to describe a military governor...
of Bari
Bari
Bari is the capital city of the province of Bari and of the Apulia region, on the Adriatic Sea, in Italy. It is the second most important economic centre of mainland Southern Italy after Naples, and is well known as a port and university city, as well as the city of Saint Nicholas...
, Eugenius, captured the town of Avellino
Avellino
Avellino is a town and comune, capital of the province of Avellino in the Campania region of southern Italy. It is situated in a plain surrounded by mountains 42 km north-east of Naples and is an important hub on the road from Salerno to Benevento.-History:Before the Roman conquest, the...
and besieged Capua, then Benevento. Landulf's mother, Aloara of Capua and Landulf I, Archbishop of Benevento, took over the government in his name, to defend the city from the Byzantines
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
. In 977, after the Ironhead's release, he joined his father in an expedition in defence of Monte Cassino
Monte Cassino
Monte Cassino is a rocky hill about southeast of Rome, Italy, c. to the west of the town of Cassino and altitude. St. Benedict of Nursia established his first monastery, the source of the Benedictine Order, here around 529. It was the site of Battle of Monte Cassino in 1944...
against the predations of Count Bernard of Alife.
On Pandulf's death in March 981, the great Lombard
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...
principality was divided: Landulf, the eldest son, received Capua-Benevento and Spoleto, and Pandulf
Pandulf II of Salerno
Pandulf II was the prince of Salerno , the second of such princes of the family of the princes of Capua. He was originally appointed heir to the childless Gisulf I of Salerno, who had been reinstated on his throne by Pandulf's father, Pandulf Ironhead. On the former's death in 977, he succeeded...
, the second son, received Salerno. However, the Emperor Otto II, who was 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...
at the time, fighting the Saracens, dispossessed Landulf of the duchy of Spoleto
Duchy of Spoleto
The independent Duchy of Spoleto was a Lombard territory founded about 570 in central Italy by the Lombard dux Faroald.- Lombards :The Lombards, a Germanic people, had invaded Italy in 568 and conquered much of it, establishing a Kingdom divided between several dukes dependent on the King, who had...
and gave it to Thrasimund, duke of Camerino
Camerino
Camerino is a small town of 7.135 inhabitants in the Marches , in the province of Macerata, Italy. It is located in the Apennines bordering Umbria, between the valleys of the rivers Potenza and Chienti, about 40 miles from Ancona....
and count of Penne
Penne
Penne is a type of pasta with cylinder-shaped pieces. Penne is the plural form of the Italian penna, deriving from Latin penna . In Italy, penne are produced in two main variants: "penne lisce" and "penne rigate" , the latter having ridges on each penna...
. Soon thereafter, Landulf was forced also to recognise the division of Capua-Benevento, united since 899. His cousin, the aforementioned deprived Pandulf, as prince of Benevento, perhaps as an underling. Thereafter, Landulf was merely prince of Capua, in which capacity he supported the Cluniac reform and founded the church of San Croce at Caiazzo. He joined his deposed brother Pandulf in Calabria
Calabria
Calabria , in antiquity known as Bruttium, is a region in southern Italy, south of Naples, located at the "toe" of the Italian Peninsula. The capital city of Calabria is Catanzaro....
, where they fought the Saracens with Otto. They both died in the Battle of Stilo
Battle of Stilo
The Battle of Stilo or Cape Colonna was fought on 13 or 14 July 982 near Crotone in Calabria between the forces of the Emperor Otto II and his Italo-Lombard allies and those of the Kalbid emir of Sicily, Abu al-Qasim...
on 13 July. He was succeeded by his younger brother Landenulf
Landenulf II of Capua
Landenulf II succeeded his brother Landulf VI as Prince of Capua in 982 and ruled until his assassination. He was one of the younger sons of Pandulf Ironhead....
, who was under the regency of Aloara.