Andrew II of Naples
Encyclopedia
Andrew II was the duke of Naples from 834 to 840. During his reign, he was constantly at war with the Lombards
and he allowed Gaeta
, his vassal, to move towards independence under its own consuls.
In September 834, Andrew revolted against Duke Leo and removed him from power, usurping his throne. He immediately ceased paying the tribute to Prince Sicard of Benevento
. In response, Sicard besieged Naples from May through July in 835, but reached a peace with the duke. In 836, he besieged Naples again despite their pact. Andrew garnered the ignominy of being the first to call in Saracen
mercenaries to the Italian peninsula. The consequences of such an action were far-reaching. He signed the Pactum Sicardi
with Sicard and the duchies of Amalfi
and Sorrento
on 4 July.
It was supposed to be a five year armistice during which merchants of the various coastal Greek cities were free to travel unmolested through the Principality of Benevento. However, war continued, especially between Andrew and Sicard. In a war of 837, Andrew called in the Saracens again. Between July and August 839, Sicard died and Andrew, ever fearful of warring Lombards, called on the aid of Lothair I
, King of Italy
, who sent one Contardus to Naples. Fearful of Contardus, Andrew promised him his daughter Eupraxia, the widow of Leo, in marriage. Andrew, however, put off the marriage until, in March 840, Contardus rose against him and had him killed, usurping his place as he had done to Leo.
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...
and he allowed Gaeta
Duchy of Gaeta
The Duchy of Gaeta was an early medieval state centred on the coastal South Italian city of Gaeta. It began in the early ninth century as the local community began to grow autonomous as Byzantine power lagged in the Mediterranean and the peninsula thanks to Lombard and Saracen incursions.Our...
, his vassal, to move towards independence under its own consuls.
In September 834, Andrew revolted against Duke Leo and removed him from power, usurping his throne. He immediately ceased paying the tribute to Prince Sicard of Benevento
Sicard of Benevento
Sicard was the Prince of Benevento from 832. He was the last prince of a united Benevento which covered most of the Mezzogiorno. On his death, the principality descended into civil war which split it permanently...
. In response, Sicard besieged Naples from May through July in 835, but reached a peace with the duke. In 836, he besieged Naples again despite their pact. Andrew garnered the ignominy of being the first to call in Saracen
History of Islam in southern Italy
The history of Islam in southern Italy begins with the Islamic conquest and subsequent rule of Sicily and Malta, a process that started in the 9th century. Islamic rule over Sicily was effective from 902, and the complete rule of the island lasted from 965 until 1061...
mercenaries to the Italian peninsula. The consequences of such an action were far-reaching. He signed the Pactum Sicardi
Pactum Sicardi
The Pactum Sicardi was a treaty signed on 4 July 836 between the Greek Duchy of Naples, including its satellite city-states of Sorrento and Amalfi, represented by Bishop John IV and Duke Andrew II, and the Lombard Prince of Benevento, Sicard...
with Sicard and the duchies 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...
and Sorrento
Sorrento
Sorrento is the name of many cities and towns:*Sorrento, Italy*Sorrento, Florida, United States*Sorrento, Louisiana, United States*Sorrento, Maine, United States*Sorrento, Victoria, a township on the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria, Australia...
on 4 July.
It was supposed to be a five year armistice during which merchants of the various coastal Greek cities were free to travel unmolested through the Principality of Benevento. However, war continued, especially between Andrew and Sicard. In a war of 837, Andrew called in the Saracens again. Between July and August 839, Sicard died and Andrew, ever fearful of warring Lombards, called on the aid of Lothair I
Lothair I
Lothair I or Lothar I was the Emperor of the Romans , co-ruling with his father until 840, and the King of Bavaria , Italy and Middle Francia...
, King of Italy
King of Italy
King of Italy is a title adopted by many rulers of the Italian peninsula after the fall of the Roman Empire...
, who sent one Contardus to Naples. Fearful of Contardus, Andrew promised him his daughter Eupraxia, the widow of Leo, in marriage. Andrew, however, put off the marriage until, in March 840, Contardus rose against him and had him killed, usurping his place as he had done to Leo.
Sources
- Ghisalberti, Alberto M. Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani: III Ammirato – Arcoleo. RomeRomeRome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, 1961. - Gwatkin, H.M., Whitney, J.P. (ed) et al. The Cambridge Medieval History: Volume III. Cambridge University PressCambridge University PressCambridge University Press is the publishing business of the University of Cambridge. Granted letters patent by Henry VIII in 1534, it is the world's oldest publishing house, and the second largest university press in the world...
, 1926.