Manso (viceduke)
Encyclopedia
Manso was a Lombard
viceduke (vicedux
) who ruled the Duchy of Amalfi
during the reign of Roger Borsa
, the Norman
Duke of Apulia. He is known only from his coins: large, copper follari bearing the inscription MANSO VICEDUX on the reverse. Irregular and poor in quality, mostly overstrikes of Salernitan
coins, they were originally attributed to Manso of Salerno
(981–83).
The term vicedux is probably a title formed from Latin dux (duke), the traditional title of the rulers of Amalfi since the mid-tenth century, and the prefix vice-, indicating a deputy. It may, however, be an abbreviation, either for vicerosissimus (most beloved) dux or vicarius et dux (vicar
and duke). Every coin attributed to Manso bears his name and title, sometimes surrounding a cross. Among the obverse images—many unexplained—found on coins bearing this inscription are: a bonneted bust (sometimes between two stars on a field of pellets), a crowned head, an open hand (the hand of God, manus Dei), a bull beneath the lettering VIC or IMA, a horse, a castle, and two towers (or perhaps one tower and the letter G).
No mention is made of a Manso vicedux in contemporary documents, but Manso II of Amalfi
, deposed 1052/3, is known to have had a son named Manso, who in turn had a son Manso. This last Manso married a certain Gaitelgrima and was the father of John. Both Mansos appear in documents of 1080 and 1098 bearing the title dominus (lord). Probably one of these was appointed by Robert Guiscard
or his son and successor, Roger Borsa, to rule Amalfi on their behalf. Since Robert preferred to use the title prince (princeps) after his conquest of the Principality of Salerno
(1078), Roger, who consistently used the title duke, is the more likely, since the title viceduke implies a duke. Roger also had a reputation among his Norman followers for favouring Lombards in his service and is known to have permitted (or been too weak to resist) at least one other baronial coinage, that of Fulco of Basacers
. There is conflicting testimony that either a coin of Manso's was struck over one of Robert's, or vice versa. It is certain that a coin of Manso's was struck over an anonymous coin (of the so-called Italie type) that is probably Roger's. The balance of evidence suggests that Manso minted his coins in Amalfi
under Roger before 1096, when the Amalfitans rebelled against Norman rule under Marinus Sebastos. Manso likewise could not have been in power in 1088, when Gisulf II
, the Salernitan prince deposed by Robert, briefly seized power in Amalfi with the support of the citizens.
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...
viceduke (vicedux
Dux
Dux is Latin for leader and later for Duke and its variant forms ....
) who ruled the Duchy of Amalfi
Duchy of Amalfi
The Duchy of Amalfi or the Republic of Amalfi was a de facto independent state centred on the Southern Italian city of Amalfi during the 10th and 11th centuries. The city and its territory were originally part of the larger ducatus Neapolitanus, governed by a patrician, but it extracted itself...
during the reign of Roger Borsa
Roger Borsa
Roger Borsa was the Norman Duke of Apulia and effective ruler of southern Italy from 1085 until his death. He was the son of Robert Guiscard, the conqueror of southern Italy and Sicily; Roger was not as adept as his father, and most of his reign was spent in feudal anarchy.-Biography:Roger was the...
, the Norman
Italo-Norman
The Italo-Normans, or Siculo-Normans when referring to Sicily, were the Italian-born descendants of the first Norman conquerors to travel to the southern Italy in the first half of the eleventh century...
Duke of Apulia. He is known only from his coins: large, copper follari bearing the inscription MANSO VICEDUX on the reverse. Irregular and poor in quality, mostly overstrikes of Salernitan
Salerno
Salerno is a city and comune in Campania and is the capital of the province of the same name. It is located on the Gulf of Salerno on the Tyrrhenian Sea....
coins, they were originally attributed to Manso of Salerno
Manso I of Amalfi
Manso I was the duke of Amalfi and prince of Salerno . He was the son of Duke Sergius I and the greatest independent ruler of Amalfi, which he controlled for nearly half a century...
(981–83).
The term vicedux is probably a title formed from Latin dux (duke), the traditional title of the rulers of Amalfi since the mid-tenth century, and the prefix vice-, indicating a deputy. It may, however, be an abbreviation, either for vicerosissimus (most beloved) dux or vicarius et dux (vicar
Vicarius
Vicarius is a Latin word, meaning substitute or deputy. It is the root and origin of the English word "vicar" and cognate to the Persian word most familiar in the variant vizier....
and duke). Every coin attributed to Manso bears his name and title, sometimes surrounding a cross. Among the obverse images—many unexplained—found on coins bearing this inscription are: a bonneted bust (sometimes between two stars on a field of pellets), a crowned head, an open hand (the hand of God, manus Dei), a bull beneath the lettering VIC or IMA, a horse, a castle, and two towers (or perhaps one tower and the letter G).
No mention is made of a Manso vicedux in contemporary documents, but Manso II of Amalfi
Manso II of Amalfi
Manso II the Blind was the duke of Amalfi on three separate occasions: from 1028 to 1029, from 1034 to 1038, and from 1043 to 1052. He was the second son of Sergius II and Maria, sister of Pandulf IV of Capua. His whole ducal career consisted of wars with his brother, John II, over the throne. The...
, deposed 1052/3, is known to have had a son named Manso, who in turn had a son Manso. This last Manso married a certain Gaitelgrima and was the father of John. Both Mansos appear in documents of 1080 and 1098 bearing the title dominus (lord). Probably one of these was appointed by 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...
or his son and successor, Roger Borsa, to rule Amalfi on their behalf. Since Robert preferred to use the title prince (princeps) after his conquest of the Principality of Salerno
Principality of Salerno
The Lombard Principality of Salerno was a South Italian state, centered on the port city of Salerno, formed in 851 out of the Principality of Benevento after a decade-long civil war....
(1078), Roger, who consistently used the title duke, is the more likely, since the title viceduke implies a duke. Roger also had a reputation among his Norman followers for favouring Lombards in his service and is known to have permitted (or been too weak to resist) at least one other baronial coinage, that of Fulco of Basacers
Fulco of Basacers
Fulco of Basacers was an Italo-Norman knight and landholder with considerable possessions in the Val di Crati in Calabria. The seat of his lordship was "Brahalla", a place or castle that no longer exists....
. There is conflicting testimony that either a coin of Manso's was struck over one of Robert's, or vice versa. It is certain that a coin of Manso's was struck over an anonymous coin (of the so-called Italie type) that is probably Roger's. The balance of evidence suggests that Manso minted his coins in Amalfi
Amalfi
Amalfi is a town and comune in the province of Salerno, in the region of Campania, Italy, on the Gulf of Salerno, c. 35 km southeast of Naples. It lies at the mouth of a deep ravine, at the foot of Monte Cerreto , surrounded by dramatic cliffs and coastal scenery...
under Roger before 1096, when the Amalfitans rebelled against Norman rule under Marinus Sebastos. Manso likewise could not have been in power in 1088, when Gisulf II
Gisulf II of Salerno
Gisulf II was the last Lombard prince of Salerno ....
, the Salernitan prince deposed by Robert, briefly seized power in Amalfi with the support of the citizens.