Roger III, Duke of Apulia
Encyclopedia
Roger III was the Norman
duke of Apulia from 1135. He was the eldest son of King Roger II of Sicily
and Elvira of Castile
.
Roger makes his first appearance in the chronicles at Melfi
in 1129, jointly accepting with his father and his younger brother Tancred
the fealty of the rebellious peninsular barons. After his investiture as duke of Apulia in 1135, where he was perhaps put under the tutelage or guardianship of Robert of Selby
, he took part in his father's campaigns there, distinguishing himself in the campaigns of 1137 against Ranulf of Alife, whom Pope Innocent II
and the Emperor Lothair II had invested as rival duke of Apulia. His first major engagement was the Battle of Rignano
on 30 October; a battle in which more experienced warriors, like his father, fled and some, like Duke Sergius VII of Naples
, died. Roger's bravery, and success in the first charge, at Rignano solidified his martial reputation early.
After Ranulf's death (1139), Apulia was secured, but Innocent and the dispossessed Prince Robert II of Capua
began to march on the prince's nominal capital. At Galluccio
, Roger ambushed the papal troops with only a thousand knights and captured the pope and his entourage. Three days later, on July 25 at Mignano
, Innocent confirmed the elder Roger as king, the younger as duke, and the third son, Alfonso
, as prince of Capua—officially severing Robert from his support. Next, Duke Roger took the city of Naples
into his possession and made it an integral part of the kingdom, ending the republican government which had continued after Sergius' death.
In 1140, after the promulgation of the king's Assizes of Ariano
, the first ducat
s were minted bearing an effigy of the young duke in battledress beside his father, with their hands on the Cross. The ducat was named after the duchy of Apulia. Roger and Alfonso, the second son Tancred being dead, then moved into the Abruzzi to harass papal lands. At that time, late in 1140, Roger's bride to be, Isabella, arrived from the court of her father, Theobald II of Champagne
. Roger's most famous consort, however, was his mistress, Emma, the daughter of Achard II, Count of Lecce
, with whom he had two illegitimate children, Tancred
, later king, and William (after 1137 – 1167/68). In that same year (1140), Richard III of Gaeta
died and his duchy was given to Roger.
In 1148, barely thirty, Duke Roger died an unknown death in an unknown location. He was mourned by the Arab poet Abu ed-Daw, who said, "the arms of the brave have fallen . . . and the eloquent seek for words in vain." Roger was buried in the chapel of Saint Mary Magdalene next to the old Cathedral of Palermo
. He was later transferred to an eponymous chapel now in the barracks of San Giacomo. His successor was his only surviving brother, William
, later king.
Italo-Norman
The Italo-Normans, or Siculo-Normans when referring to Sicily, were the Italian-born descendants of the first Norman conquerors to travel to the southern Italy in the first half of the eleventh century...
duke of Apulia from 1135. He was the eldest son of King Roger II of Sicily
Roger II of Sicily
Roger II was King of Sicily, son of Roger I of Sicily and successor to his brother Simon. He began his rule as Count of Sicily in 1105, later became Duke of Apulia and Calabria , then King of Sicily...
and Elvira of Castile
Elvira of Castile (Sicilian queen)
Elvira of Castile was the first Queen of Sicily.- Background and upbringing :She was a daughter of Alfonso VI of Castile by his fourth queen, Isabella...
.
Roger makes his first appearance in the chronicles at Melfi
Melfi
Melfi is a town and comune in the Vulture area of the province of Potenza, in the Southern Italian region of Basilicata.-Geography:On a hill at the foot of Mount Vulture, Melfi is the most important town in Basilicata's Vulture, both as a tourist resort and economic centre.-Early history:Inhabited...
in 1129, jointly accepting with his father and his younger brother Tancred
Tancred, Prince of Bari
Tancred of Hauteville , one of many of that name, was the Prince of Bari and Taranto from 1132 to 1138.He was the second son of Roger II of Sicily and his first wife Elvira of Castile...
the fealty of the rebellious peninsular barons. After his investiture as duke of Apulia in 1135, where he was perhaps put under the tutelage or guardianship of Robert of Selby
Robert of Selby
Robert of Selby was an Englishman, a courtier of Roger II and chancellor of the Kingdom of Sicily. His name possibly indicates that he hailed from Selby. He probably journeyed to Sicily about 1130...
, he took part in his father's campaigns there, distinguishing himself in the campaigns of 1137 against Ranulf of Alife, whom Pope Innocent II
Pope Innocent II
Pope Innocent II , born Gregorio Papareschi, was pope from 1130 to 1143, and was probably one of the clergy in personal attendance on the antipope Clement III .-Early years:...
and the Emperor Lothair II had invested as rival duke of Apulia. His first major engagement was the Battle of Rignano
Battle of Rignano
The Battle of Rignano was the second great defeat of the career of Roger II of Sicily and, like the first, the Battle of Nocera, it too came at the hands of Ranulf II, Count of Alife...
on 30 October; a battle in which more experienced warriors, like his father, fled and some, like Duke Sergius VII of Naples
Sergius VII of Naples
Sergius VII was the thirty-ninth and last duke of Naples. He succeeded his father John VI on the Neapolitan throne in 1120 or 1123 at a time when Roger II of Sicily was rising rapidly in power...
, died. Roger's bravery, and success in the first charge, at Rignano solidified his martial reputation early.
After Ranulf's death (1139), Apulia was secured, but Innocent and the dispossessed Prince Robert II of Capua
Robert II of Capua
Robert II was the count of Aversa and the prince of Capua from 1127 until his death .He was the only son and successor of Jordan II of Capua...
began to march on the prince's nominal capital. At Galluccio
Galluccio
Galluccio is a comune in the Province of Caserta in the Italian region Campania, located about 60 km northwest of Naples and about 45 km northwest of Caserta.-History:...
, Roger ambushed the papal troops with only a thousand knights and captured the pope and his entourage. Three days later, on July 25 at Mignano
Treaty of Mignano
The Treaty of Mignano of 1139 was the treaty which ended more than a decade of constant war in the Italian Mezzogiorno following the union of the mainland duchy of Apulia and Calabria with the County of Sicily in 1127...
, Innocent confirmed the elder Roger as king, the younger as duke, and the third son, Alfonso
Alfonso of Hauteville
Alfonso of Hauteville , third son of Roger II of Sicily and Elvira of Castile, was the prince of Capua from 1135 to his death.He was named after his maternal grandfather, Alfonso VI of Castile...
, as prince of Capua—officially severing Robert from his support. Next, Duke Roger took the city of Naples
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
into his possession and made it an integral part of the kingdom, ending the republican government which had continued after Sergius' death.
In 1140, after the promulgation of the king's Assizes of Ariano
Assizes of Ariano
The Assizes of Ariano were a series of laws promulgated in the summer of 1140 at Ariano, near Benevento in the Mezzogiorno, by Roger II of Sicily. Having recently pacified the peninsula, constantly in revolt, he had decided to make a move to more centralised government...
, the first ducat
Ducat
The ducat is a gold coin that was used as a trade coin throughout Europe before World War I. Its weight is 3.4909 grams of .986 gold, which is 0.1107 troy ounce, actual gold weight...
s were minted bearing an effigy of the young duke in battledress beside his father, with their hands on the Cross. The ducat was named after the duchy of Apulia. Roger and Alfonso, the second son Tancred being dead, then moved into the Abruzzi to harass papal lands. At that time, late in 1140, Roger's bride to be, Isabella, arrived from the court of her father, Theobald II of Champagne
Theobald II of Champagne
Theobald the Great was Count of Blois and of Chartres as Theobald IV from 1102 and was Count of Champagne and of Brie as Theobald II from 1125....
. Roger's most famous consort, however, was his mistress, Emma, the daughter of Achard II, Count of Lecce
Achard II, Count of Lecce
Achard II was the Norman count of Lecce and Ostuni, both in southern Apulia, in today's southern Italy.He was the son of Count Geoffrey II of Lecce and a descendant of one of the sons of Tancred of Hauteville, Geoffrey, arrived c. 1054, later count of Brindisi. His daughter Emma had an affair with...
, with whom he had two illegitimate children, Tancred
Tancred of Sicily
Tancred was King of Sicily from 1189 to 1194. He was an illegitimate son of Roger III, Duke of Apulia, the eldest son of King Roger II, and of Emma, daughter of Achard II, Count of Lecce...
, later king, and William (after 1137 – 1167/68). In that same year (1140), Richard III of Gaeta
Richard III of Gaeta
Richard III , also known as Richard of Caleno, was the Count of Carinola last independent Duke of Gaeta, ruling from 1121 to his death. He was a son of Bartholomew of Carinola and a member of the Drengot family. From 1112 he was regent for his nephew, Jonathan; in 1121 he succeeded him...
died and his duchy was given to Roger.
In 1148, barely thirty, Duke Roger died an unknown death in an unknown location. He was mourned by the Arab poet Abu ed-Daw, who said, "the arms of the brave have fallen . . . and the eloquent seek for words in vain." Roger was buried in the chapel of Saint Mary Magdalene next to the old Cathedral of Palermo
Cathedral of Palermo
The Cathedral of Palermo is an architectural complex in Palermo, Sicily, southern Italy. It is characterized by the presence of different styles, due to a long history of additions, alterations and restorations, the last of which occurred in the 18th century....
. He was later transferred to an eponymous chapel now in the barracks of San Giacomo. His successor was his only surviving brother, William
William I of Sicily
William I , called the Bad or the Wicked, was the second king of Sicily, ruling from his father's death in 1154 to his own...
, later king.
Sources
- Norwich, John JuliusJohn Julius NorwichJohn Julius Cooper, 2nd Viscount Norwich CVO — known as John Julius Norwich — is an English historian, travel writer and television personality.-Early life:...
. The Kingdom in the Sun 1130-1194. Longman: London, 1970.