Sicard of Benevento
Encyclopedia
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 (except for very briefly under Pandulf Ironhead
from 977 to 981). He was the son and successor of the Spoletan
Sico
.
, Naples
, and Amalfi
. He was the strongest military and economic power in the region. By the Pactum Sicardi
of 4 July 836, he signed a five year armistice with the three aforementioned cities and recognised the right of travel of their merchants. Nonetheless, war continued. In a war of 837 with Duke Andrew II of Naples
, the latter called in the first Saracens as allies and a trend began, drawing more and more Moslems into Christian wars on the peninsula. He also captured Amalfi in 838 by sea.
Despite his warmaking, he was also a builder. He built a new church in Benevento and to equip it with relics, rescued those of Saint Bartholomew, then in the Lipari Islands, from the Saracens by hiring some Amalfitan merchants to retrieve them. In his capture of Amalfi, he took the relics of Saint Trofimena, recently brought there from Minori, Italy
http://www.oldandsold.com/articles33n/ravello-6.shtml.
immediately proclaimed himself prince. But Sicard's brother, Siconulf, who he had imprisoned, broke out and was proclaimed prince in Salerno
; a ten year civil war ensued.
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...
. On his death, the principality descended into civil war which split it permanently (except for very briefly under Pandulf Ironhead
Pandulf Ironhead
Pandulf I Ironhead was the Prince of Benevento and Capua from 943 until his death. He was made Duke of Spoleto and Camerino in 967 and succeeded as Prince of Salerno in 977 or 978...
from 977 to 981). He was the son and successor of the Spoletan
Spoleto
Spoleto is an ancient city in the Italian province of Perugia in east central Umbria on a foothill of the Apennines. It is S. of Trevi, N. of Terni, SE of Perugia; SE of Florence; and N of Rome.-History:...
Sico
Sico of Benevento
Sico was the Lombard Prince of Benevento from the 817 to his own death.-Life:Before becoming the Prince of Benevento, he had been the gastald of Acerenza. On the assassination of Grimoald IV, Sico succeeded to the princely throne...
.
War
He warred against the Saracens and his neighbours continually, especially SorrentoSorrento
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...
, 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...
, and Amalfi
Amalfi
Amalfi is a town and comune in the province of Salerno, in the region of Campania, Italy, on the Gulf of Salerno, c. 35 km southeast of Naples. It lies at the mouth of a deep ravine, at the foot of Monte Cerreto , surrounded by dramatic cliffs and coastal scenery...
. He was the strongest military and economic power in the region. By 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...
of 4 July 836, he signed a five year armistice with the three aforementioned cities and recognised the right of travel of their merchants. Nonetheless, war continued. In a war of 837 with Duke Andrew II of Naples
Andrew II of Naples
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....
, the latter called in the first Saracens as allies and a trend began, drawing more and more Moslems into Christian wars on the peninsula. He also captured Amalfi in 838 by sea.
Despite his warmaking, he was also a builder. He built a new church in Benevento and to equip it with relics, rescued those of Saint Bartholomew, then in the Lipari Islands, from the Saracens by hiring some Amalfitan merchants to retrieve them. In his capture of Amalfi, he took the relics of Saint Trofimena, recently brought there from Minori, Italy
Minori, Italy
Minori is a town and comune in the province of Salerno in the Campania region of south-western Italy. Minori is a small picturesque town situated on the Amalfi Coast.-Etymology:...
http://www.oldandsold.com/articles33n/ravello-6.shtml.
Assassination
Sicard was assassinated in 839 and the treasurer RadelchisRadelchis I of Benevento
Radelchis I was the treasurer, then prince of Benevento from 839, when he assumed the throne upon the assassination of Sicard and imprisonment of Sicard's brother, Siconulf, to his death, though in his time the principality was divided.According to the Chronica S...
immediately proclaimed himself prince. But Sicard's brother, Siconulf, who he had imprisoned, broke out and was proclaimed prince in Salerno
Salerno
Salerno is a city and comune in Campania and is the capital of the province of the same name. It is located on the Gulf of Salerno on the Tyrrhenian Sea....
; a ten year civil war ensued.