Maria of Amalfi
Encyclopedia
Maria was one of the two daughters of Pandulf II of Benevento
, who was also Pandulf III of Capua. She married Sergius II of Amalfi
around 26 April 1002. Her sister Gaitelgrima
married Guaimar III of Salerno
, while her brothers, Landulf
and Pandulf
, became princes respectively of Benevento
and Capua
.
Maria had two sons, John
and Manso
. In 1028, she and the younger son, Manso, seized the Amalfitan throne and expelled Sergius and John, who fled to Constantinople
. This was probably done at the instigation and with the support of her brother Pandulf. In 1029, John returned and deposed both Maria and Manso.
In April or May 1034, John was again deposed by his mother and brother. This time it was certainly the result of Pandulf's interference, for Maria's daughter was married to Ranulf Drengot, the count of Aversa, in order to cement the alliance between Pandulf and the Normans
. This daughter's existence is recorded by Amatus of Montecassino
: "the Patrician
of Amalfi's daughter, who was Prince Pandulf's niece, as the Patrician's wife was Pandulf's sister." The identity of this daughter had been confused, as has that of Ranulf's first wife.
Maria took the title ducissa et patricissa: "duchess and patricia". It is indicative of her power that Manso received no titles, not even from Byzantium, as his father and brother had before him. In 1038, her brother was deposed in Capua and John was able to return to Amalfi. He deposed his brother and reconciled with Maria, who subsequently joined him in blinding Manso and exiling him to the fortress of Castelluccia on Li Galli
. This act of cruelty outraged the Amalfitans, who deposed both of them and accepted the rule of Guaimar IV of Salerno
.
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...
, who was also Pandulf III of Capua. She married Sergius II of Amalfi
Sergius II of Amalfi
Sergius II was the Patrician and Duke of Amalfi, the son and successor of John I, who co-reigned with his father until the latter's death in 1007....
around 26 April 1002. Her sister Gaitelgrima
Gaitelgrima
Gaitelgrima is a Lombard feminine name. There are several notable Gaitelgrimas in history. The identities of these four women are often confused because they were all closely related to each other and to two men: Guaimar III of Salerno and his son, Guaimar IV, whose enumeration is often altered...
married Guaimar III of Salerno
Guaimar III of Salerno
Guaimar III was duke of Salerno from around 994 to his death. His date of death is sometimes given as 1030 or 1031, but the most reliable sources consistently indicate 1027. Under his reign, Salerno entered an era of great splendour...
, while her brothers, Landulf
Landulf V of Benevento
Landulf V was the prince of Benevento from May 987, when he was first associated with his father Pandulf II, to his death. He was chief prince from his father's death in 1014....
and Pandulf
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...
, became princes respectively of Benevento
Benevento
Benevento is a town and comune of Campania, Italy, capital of the province of Benevento, 50 km northeast of Naples. It is situated on a hill 130 m above sea-level at the confluence of the Calore Irpino and Sabato...
and Capua
Capua
Capua is a city and comune in the province of Caserta, Campania, southern Italy, situated 25 km north of Naples, on the northeastern edge of the Campanian plain. Ancient Capua was situated where Santa Maria Capua Vetere is now...
.
Maria had two sons, John
John II of Amalfi
John II was the duke of Amalfi from 1029 to 1069 with multiple interruptions. He was the son of Sergius II and Maria, sister of Pandulf IV of Capua. He was the last significant duke of Amalfi before the Norman conquest of 1073....
and Manso
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...
. In 1028, she and the younger son, Manso, seized the Amalfitan throne and expelled Sergius and John, who fled to Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
. This was probably done at the instigation and with the support of her brother Pandulf. In 1029, John returned and deposed both Maria and Manso.
In April or May 1034, John was again deposed by his mother and brother. This time it was certainly the result of Pandulf's interference, for Maria's daughter was married to Ranulf Drengot, the count of Aversa, in order to cement the alliance between Pandulf and the Normans
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...
. This daughter's existence is recorded by Amatus of Montecassino
Amatus of Montecassino
Amatus of Montecassino , a Benedictine monk at the Abbey of Montecassino is one of three Italo-Norman chroniclers, the others being William of Apulia and Goffredo Malaterra...
: "the Patrician
Patricianship
Patricianship, the quality of belonging to a patriciate, began in the ancient world, where cities such as Ancient Rome had a class of patrician families whose members were the only people allowed to exercise many political functions...
of Amalfi's daughter, who was Prince Pandulf's niece, as the Patrician's wife was Pandulf's sister." The identity of this daughter had been confused, as has that of Ranulf's first wife.
Maria took the title ducissa et patricissa: "duchess and patricia". It is indicative of her power that Manso received no titles, not even from Byzantium, as his father and brother had before him. In 1038, her brother was deposed in Capua and John was able to return to Amalfi. He deposed his brother and reconciled with Maria, who subsequently joined him in blinding Manso and exiling him to the fortress of Castelluccia on Li Galli
Sirenuse
The Sirenusas , also known as the Gallos , are an archipelago of little islands off the Amalfi Coast of Italy near Positano and the Isle of Capri. The name, Sirenuse, is a reference to the mythological sirens said to have lived there...
. This act of cruelty outraged the Amalfitans, who deposed both of them and accepted the rule of 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...
.