Manso I of Amalfi
Encyclopedia
Manso I (died 1004) was the duke of Amalfi (966–1004) and prince of Salerno (981–983). He was the son of Duke Sergius I
and the greatest independent ruler of Amalfi, which he controlled for nearly half a century. He is sometimes numbered Manso III.
When his father Sergius, of the Musco Comite family, assumed the Amalfitan throne in 958, he immediately associated his young son Manso with him. In 966, Manso succeeded to the full dukedom. He was even granted the Byzantine title patricius. From the start he had designs on the Principality of Salerno
. In 977, he associated his own son John with him as co-duke.
In 973, Manso conspired with Landulf of Conza
and Marinus II of Naples
to depose Gisulf I of Salerno
. In 974, Gisulf was reinstated by Pandulf Ironhead
. In 981, Manso took advantage of the youth of Pandulf II of Salerno
and invaded that principality, removing him from office. Emperor Otto II, who was then in Italy fighting the Byzantines and the Saracens and in need of allies, gave Manso the imperial recognition he desired. Manso associated John with him in the rule, but the Amalfitans were tyrannical and unpopular. In 983, they were overthrown by the people, who elected the exiled count of the palace, John Lambert
.
Exiled from Salerno, Manso did not find refuge in Amalfi, where his brother Adelfer
had begun to reign in opposition to him. Though Manso succeeded in reestablishing himself in Amalfi by 986, it seems that Adelfer and his other brothers, Ademarius and Leo, continued to claim co-authority until at least 998. Nevertheless, Manso continued to rule Amalfi until his death. He built the cathedral of S. Andrea Apostolo and succeeded in getting Pope John XV
to make Amalfi an archiepiscopal see (987). When he died, he was succeeded by his adult son.
According to the Arab traveller Ibn Hawqal
, writing in 977, described Amalfi as:
Sergius I of Amalfi
Sergius I was the second Duke of Amalfi and first of the Musco Comite family.In 958, Sergius, a citizen of the city of Amalfi, assassinated the first duke, Mastalus II and usurped the throne. In order to establish a ducal dynasty as in Naples and Gaeta, he immediately associated his son Manso I...
and the greatest independent ruler of Amalfi, which he controlled for nearly half a century. He is sometimes numbered Manso III.
When his father Sergius, of the Musco Comite family, assumed the Amalfitan throne in 958, he immediately associated his young son Manso with him. In 966, Manso succeeded to the full dukedom. He was even granted the Byzantine title patricius. From the start he had designs on 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....
. In 977, he associated his own son John with him as co-duke.
In 973, Manso conspired with Landulf of Conza
Landulf of Conza
Landulf of Conza , a Lombard nobleman, was briefly Prince of Benevento in 940 and then briefly Prince of Salerno in 973. The son of Atenulf II of Benevento, Landulf ruled on his father's death as co-prince with his uncle, Landulf I, who soon sent him into exile...
and Marinus II of Naples
Marinus II of Naples
Marinus II was the Duke of Naples from 968 to his death. He was the son and successor of John III and brought Naples back into the Byzantine fold, receiving the title eminentissimus consul et dux, atque imperialis anthipatus patricius. In 970, Marinus did homage for his duchy to the patrician...
to depose Gisulf I of Salerno
Gisulf I of Salerno
Gisulf I was the eldest son of his father, Guaimar II, and his second wife Gaitelgrima. He was associated with his father as prince of Salerno in 943 and he succeeded him on his death in 952...
. In 974, Gisulf was reinstated by Pandulf Ironhead
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...
. In 981, Manso took advantage of the youth of Pandulf II of Salerno
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...
and invaded that principality, removing him from office. Emperor Otto II, who was then in Italy fighting the Byzantines and the Saracens and in need of allies, gave Manso the imperial recognition he desired. Manso associated John with him in the rule, but the Amalfitans were tyrannical and unpopular. In 983, they were overthrown by the people, who elected the exiled count of the palace, John Lambert
John II of Salerno
John II , called the Accursed , son of Lampert of Spoleto, was the count of the palace of Salerno in 980 and acting regent for Prince Pandulf II. He was pushed out with the prince by the duke of Amalfi, Manso, in 981...
.
Exiled from Salerno, Manso did not find refuge in Amalfi, where his brother Adelfer
Adelfer of Amalfi
Adelfer or Adelferio was briefly the usurper duke of Amalfi from 984 to 986, while his brother, Manso I, was reigning in Salerno.Manso returned to Amalfi in 986 and forced Adlefer to flee with his wife Drosa to Naples.-Sources:...
had begun to reign in opposition to him. Though Manso succeeded in reestablishing himself in Amalfi by 986, it seems that Adelfer and his other brothers, Ademarius and Leo, continued to claim co-authority until at least 998. Nevertheless, Manso continued to rule Amalfi until his death. He built the cathedral of S. Andrea Apostolo and succeeded in getting Pope John XV
Pope John XV
Pope John XV , Pope from 985 to 996, succeeding Boniface VII . He was said to have been Pope after another Pope John that reigned four months after Pope John XIV and was named "Papa Ioannes XIV Bis" or "Pope John XIVb"...
to make Amalfi an archiepiscopal see (987). When he died, he was succeeded by his adult son.
According to the Arab traveller Ibn Hawqal
Ibn Hawqal
Muḥammad Abū’l-Qāsim Ibn Ḥawqal was a 10th century Muslim writer, geographer, and chronicler. His famous work, written in 977, is called Ṣūrat al-’Arḍ ....
, writing in 977, described Amalfi as:
...the most prosperous Lombard city, the most noble, the most illustrious for its conditions, the most wealthy and opulent. The territory of Amalfi borders that of Naples; a beautiful city, but less important than Amalfi.