Serlo II of Hauteville
Encyclopedia
Serlo II son and namesake of Serlo of Hauteville
and grandson of Tancred of Hauteville
, went to seek his fortunes in the Mezzogiorno
along with his numerous uncles and cousins, following Roger
around 1056, for he is found in Calabria
in 1060.
He joined Roger's expedition to Sicily
in 1060 and, the next year, he routed the Saracens at Cape Farò, preventing their retreat to Messina. This expedition ended, however, in failure. Serlo accompanied Roger on his 1065 expedition as well, and there he was one of the commanders, being given charge of holding the town of Cerami
when the Saracens surprised them there. He was holding off reinforcements from the central stronghold of Enna
when, in 1071, Palermo
itself fell. In 1072, he and his small band of followers were ambushed near Nicosia by a large Saracen army. They managed to climb to the flat top of a large rock, where they fought to the last man. The rock was commemorated with a large carving of a cross and was remembered as the Pietra di Serlone, "Serlo's Rock", until it was demolished in the 1960s by a construction firm.
He was made lord of Gerace
, Serrata, Surito, and Cerami
soon before his death, but he never took up control of his fiefs. He was married to Altruda, daughter of Rudolf, count of Boiano, and had two children: Serlo III and Eliusa. His widow re-married to Ingelmarius
.
Serlo of Hauteville
Serlo I of Hauteville was a son of Tancred of Hauteville by his first wife, Muriella, probably the youngest, though some sources call him the eldest. Born before 1010, he was the eldest son of Tancred's to remain in Normandy...
and grandson 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...
, went to seek his fortunes 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...
along with his numerous uncles and cousins, following Roger
Roger I of Sicily
Roger I , called Bosso and the Great Count, was the Norman Count of Sicily from 1071 to 1101. He was the last great leader of the Norman conquest of southern Italy.-Conquest of Calabria and Sicily:...
around 1056, for he is found 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....
in 1060.
He joined Roger's expedition to Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
in 1060 and, the next year, he routed the Saracens at Cape Farò, preventing their retreat to Messina. This expedition ended, however, in failure. Serlo accompanied Roger on his 1065 expedition as well, and there he was one of the commanders, being given charge of holding the town of Cerami
Cerami
Cerami is a comune in Sicily, southern Italy, part of the Province of Enna. The town itself is perched on a mountaintop 1,000 metres above sea level. A river also named Cerami flows through this area....
when the Saracens surprised them there. He was holding off reinforcements from the central stronghold of Enna
Enna
Enna is a city and comune located roughly at the center of Sicily, southern Italy, in the province of Enna, towering above the surrounding countryside...
when, in 1071, Palermo
Palermo
Palermo is a city in Southern Italy, the capital of both the autonomous region of Sicily and the Province of Palermo. The city is noted for its history, culture, architecture and gastronomy, playing an important role throughout much of its existence; it is over 2,700 years old...
itself fell. In 1072, he and his small band of followers were ambushed near Nicosia by a large Saracen army. They managed to climb to the flat top of a large rock, where they fought to the last man. The rock was commemorated with a large carving of a cross and was remembered as the Pietra di Serlone, "Serlo's Rock", until it was demolished in the 1960s by a construction firm.
He was made lord of Gerace
Gerace
Gerace is a town and comune in the province of Reggio Calabria, Calabria, Italy.Gerace is located some 10 km inland from Locri, yet the latter town and the Sea can be seen from Gerace's perch atop a 500 m vertical rock...
, Serrata, Surito, and Cerami
Cerami
Cerami is a comune in Sicily, southern Italy, part of the Province of Enna. The town itself is perched on a mountaintop 1,000 metres above sea level. A river also named Cerami flows through this area....
soon before his death, but he never took up control of his fiefs. He was married to Altruda, daughter of Rudolf, count of Boiano, and had two children: Serlo III and Eliusa. His widow re-married to Ingelmarius
Ingelmarius
Ingelmarius was a Norman knight of humble origins who served Roger I, the count of Sicily. In reward for his good service to Roger, Ingelmarius was given the hand of the widow of Roger's nephew Serlo II of Hauteville, the lady Altruda of Boiano...
.