Tancred of Hauteville
Encyclopedia
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. He was a minor noble near Coutances
in the Cotentin.
Various legends arose about Tancred which have no supporting contemporary evidence.
may descend from Hiallt
, a Norseman born in 920 who settled in the Cotentin and founded the village of Hialtus Villa (Hauteville) from which the family takes its name. Tancred was Hiallt's great grandson. From which village of Hauteville the family drew its name is hard to identify with certainty, though modern scholarship favours Hauteville-la-Guichard.
, but no primary sources back up this claim) and several daughters, almost all of whom left Normandy for southern Italy and acquired some prominence there.
By his first wife Muriella he had five sons:
According to the Italian chronicler of the Norman feats in the south, Amatus of Montecassino
, Tancred was a morally upright man who would not carry on a sinful relationship and so remarried, being unable also to live out his life in perfect celibacy. By his second wife Fressenda (or Fredesenda) he had seven sons and at least one daughter:
, was a leader in the First Crusade
. The line of succession was:
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...
petty lord about whom little is known. His historical importance comes entirely from the accomplishments of his sons and later descendants. He was a minor noble near Coutances
Coutances
Coutances is a commune in the Manche department in Normandy in north-western France.-History:Capital of the Unelli, a Gaulish tribe, the town took the name of Constantia in 298 during the reign of Roman emperor Constantius Chlorus...
in the Cotentin.
Various legends arose about Tancred which have no supporting contemporary evidence.
Ancestors
The Hauteville familyHauteville family
The family of the Hauteville was a petty baronial Norman family from the Cotentin which rose to prominence in Europe, Asia, and Africa through its conquests in the Mediterranean, especially Southern Italy and Sicily...
may descend from Hiallt
Hiallt
Hiallt was a Norseman who settled in Normandy, France in the 10th century, following the success of Rollo 1st Duke of Normandy and the Treaty of Saint-Clair-sur-Epte. He settled in the Cotentin Peninsula and founded the village of Hialtus Villa...
, a Norseman born in 920 who settled in the Cotentin and founded the village of Hialtus Villa (Hauteville) from which the family takes its name. Tancred was Hiallt's great grandson. From which village of Hauteville the family drew its name is hard to identify with certainty, though modern scholarship favours Hauteville-la-Guichard.
Family and descendants
He had 12 sons by his two wives (both of them have been said to be daughters of Duke Richard I of NormandyRichard I of Normandy
Richard I of Normandy , also known as Richard the Fearless , was the Duke of Normandy from 942 to 996; he is considered the first to have held that title.-Birth:He was born to William I of Normandy, ruler of Normandy, and Sprota...
, but no primary sources back up this claim) and several daughters, almost all of whom left Normandy for southern Italy and acquired some prominence there.
By his first wife Muriella he had five sons:
- SerloSerlo of HautevilleSerlo 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...
(stayed in Normandy) - Beatrix (d. 1101), married first Armand de Mortain and second Roger
- GeoffreyGeoffrey of HautevilleGeoffrey of Hauteville was a Norman military leader, the second youngest son of Tancred of Hauteville by his first wife Muriella. He joined his brothers in the Mezzogiorno around 1053, arriving with his half-brothers Mauger and William...
, lord of Hauteville, count of LoritelloLoritelloLoritello was an Italo-Norman county along the Adriatic north of the Gargano. It was carved out of the eastern seaboard of the Principality of Benevento following the Battle of Civitate in 1053 by members of the Hauteville family...
(d. 1063) - William Iron ArmWilliam Iron ArmWilliam Iron Arm was a Norman adventurer, founder of the fortunes of the Hauteville family. One of twelve sons of Tancred of Hauteville, he journeyed to the Mezzogiorno with his younger brother Drogo in the first half of the eleventh century , in response to requests for help made by fellow...
, count of Apulia (d. 1046) - DrogoDrogo of HautevilleDrogo of Hauteville succeeded his brother, William Iron Arm, with whom he arrived in southern Italy c. 1035, as the leader of the Normans of Apulia....
, count of Apulia (d. 1051) - HumphreyHumphrey of HautevilleHumphrey of Hauteville , surnamed Abagelard, was the Count of Apulia and Calabria from 1051 to his death.Humphrey was probably the youngest son of Tancred of Hauteville by his first wife Muriel. Some sources make Geoffrey and Serlo his younger brothers...
, count of Apulia (d. 1057)
According to the Italian chronicler of the Norman feats in the south, 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...
, Tancred was a morally upright man who would not carry on a sinful relationship and so remarried, being unable also to live out his life in perfect celibacy. By his second wife Fressenda (or Fredesenda) he had seven sons and at least one daughter:
- Robert Guiscard de HautevilleRobert GuiscardRobert 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...
, count of Apulia (1057), then duke of Apulia and SicilySicilySicily 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,...
(d. 1085) - MaugerMauger of HautevilleMauger of Hauteville was a younger son of Tancred of Hauteville by his second wife, Fressenda...
, count of the Capitanate (d. 1064) - WilliamWilliam of the PrincipateWilliam of Hauteville was one of the younger sons of Tancred of Hauteville by his second wife Fressenda. He is usually called Willermus instead of Wilelmus in Latin annals and so is often called Guillerm instead of Guillaume in French...
, count of the PrincipatePrincipateThe Principate is the first period of the Roman Empire, extending from the beginning of the reign of Caesar Augustus to the Crisis of the Third Century, after which it was replaced with the Dominate. The Principate is characterized by a concerted effort on the part of the Emperors to preserve the...
(d. 1080) - Aubrey (Alberic or Alvared, Alveredus in Latin; sometimes called Alvred or Alfred) (stayed in Normandy)
- Humbert (Hubert) (stayed in Normandy)
- Tancred (stayed in Normandy)
- Roger de HautevilleRoger I of SicilyRoger 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:...
, count of SicilySicilySicily 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,...
from 1062 (d. 1101) - Fressenda, who married Richard IRichard I of CapuaRichard I Drengot was a count of Aversa and prince of Capua .He was the son of Asclettin, count of Acerenza, younger brother of Asclettin, count of Aversa, and nephew of Rainulf Drengot, the Norman adventurer who had first travelled to southern Italy in 1017 and progressed to set up the first...
(dead in 1078), count of AversaAversaAversa is a town and comune in the Province of Caserta in Campania southern Italy, about 15 kilometres north of Naples. It is the centre of an agricultural district, the agro aversano, producing wine and cheese...
and prince of CapuaCapuaCapua 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...
Other Tancred of Hauteville
Tancred's great-grandson, also named TancredTancred, Prince of Galilee
Tancred was a Norman leader of the First Crusade who later became Prince of Galilee and regent of the Principality of Antioch...
, was a leader in the First Crusade
First Crusade
The First Crusade was a military expedition by Western Christianity to regain the Holy Lands taken in the Muslim conquest of the Levant, ultimately resulting in the recapture of Jerusalem...
. The line of succession was:
- Tancred the elder
- son Robert GuiscardRobert GuiscardRobert 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...
(Duke Robert d'Hauteville) - granddaughter Emma of HautevilleEmma of HautevilleEmma of Hauteville was a daughter of Robert Guiscard and Alberada of Buonalbergo. According to Ralph of Caen, she married Odo the Good Marquis and had two sons: Tancred and William, both of whom participated in the First Crusade. Tancred became Prince of Galilee and William died in the Holy Land...
- great-grandson Tancred of Hauteville, who became Prince of Galilee and regent of the Principality of AntiochPrincipality of AntiochThe Principality of Antioch, including parts of modern-day Turkey and Syria, was one of the crusader states created during the First Crusade.-Foundation:...
.