Drogo (Apulia)

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Drogo von Hauteville , Count of Apulia , († August 10, 1051 ) was the second eldest son of Tankred von Hauteville and Muriella , daughter of Duke Richard of Normandy . His brothers were among others Wilhelm Eisenarm , Humfred , Robert Guiskard and Roger I of Sicily .

Life

Drogo set out for southern Italy with his brothers Wilhelm and Humfred in 1035 to try his luck as a mercenary . After his brother Wilhelm was raised to the rank of Count of Apulia in 1042, Drogo became lord of Venosa . He is considered to be the founder of the SS. Trinità di Venosa monastery . In the necrology of Venosa his death was recorded on August 11th.

Count of Apulia

When Wilhelm von Hauteville died in the summer of 1046, the Normans split into two camps: a group around Petrus von Trani and one around Drogo and Humfred von Hauteville. The Hautevilles emerged victorious from this power struggle, which was fought primarily by military means . Thereupon the Normans elected Drogo as the successor of Wilhelm, so the Count of Apulia. Drogo had this title confirmed by his liege, Waimar IV of Salerno . To make the connection even closer, Waimar Drogo gave his daughter Gaitelgrima as his wife, while the latter undertook to stand by Waimar against his enemies. It was an alliance between Drogo and Waimar, which was sealed with this marriage. After his confirmation, Drogo initiated a resolution by the Normans, according to which his brother "Umfredum Abagelardum", despite the double name Humfred Abelard is Humfred von Hauteville, was appointed count of the Lavello fort .

In February 1047 , Emperor Heinrich III came. to Capua to settle some affairs and show imperial presence. On this occasion Drogo were confirmed as Count of Apulia and Rainulf II as Count of Aversa .

Despite this imperial order and confirmation of the existing balance of power, times remained turbulent: at the end of the year there were disputes between Drogo and Richard I of Capua , the later Count of Aversa and Prince of Capua, in the course of which Richard was captured by Drogo . Around this time, according to Amatus of Montecassino , Count Rainulf II of Aversa died. The Normans chose the captured Richard as his successor and asked Waimar IV of Salerno to influence Drogo so that Richard could be released, which Drogo also did as a "loial conte". In 1048 Robert Guiskard , who had just arrived from Normandy , sought the help of his brother Drogo to get some land (in Apulia?). However, Drogo had no land to distribute, which is why he sent Robert to Calabria , which had not yet been conquered , to work there. He gave him the Scribla Castle in Val di Crati near Bisignano as a gift to help him get started. Robert was supposed to take care of the rest, i.e. troops, money, etc., himself.

The following year Drogo helped Waimar IV of Salerno in the suppression of a rebellion in Salerno : a certain Wilhelm Barbote , who lived at the court of Salerno, rebelled against Waimar. Wilhelm Barbote retired to a fort in order to conduct his fight against Waimar from here. In this situation the Prince of Salerno brought Drogo and his Normans. This came and drove Wilhelm. The rebel fled to Argyros , who took him prisoner and brought him to Constantinople .

Meeting with Pope Leo

The intervention of Drogo must have taken place before July 1051, because negotiations between Pope Leo IX took place in that month . and Drogo. Leo's goal was to bring an end to the constant attacks by the Normans on churches and monasteries in Benevento . The inhabitants of Benevento expelled their prince in April 1050 and, for fear of a Norman conquest, wanted to submit themselves directly to the Pope. Over a year later, Pope Leo came, entered the city, and took power. In order to find a peaceful agreement, he invited Drogo and his liege lord Waimar IV from Salerno to Benevento. The negotiations appear to have been successful. The Count of Apulia behaved reasonably and agreed. Waimar IV of Salerno and he pledged their loyalty to the Pope and were appointed by him to defend Benevento. The papacy was thus a direct neighbor of the Norman conquerors. Leo IX soon learned that the Normans had not kept the agreement. Correspondingly angry, he sought a military solution to the conflict.

death

Drogo met the Pope again on August 8, 1051, where they separated by mutual agreement and Leo moved towards Salerno. After meeting the Pope, Drogo went "à un castell loquel se clame Mont Alegre" ( to a castle (castle / tower) called Mont Alegre ), where people were preparing for the festivities in honor of St. Lawrence on August 10th in front. During the vigil before the feast (night of August 9-10), Drogo prayed alone in a church where he was murdered.

Descendants

Three children are known from his marriage to Altruda von Salerno : Eremburg, Richard the Seneschal and Rocca. His second wife was Gaitelgrima of Salerno, the daughter of Prince Waimar of Salerno. No children are known from this marriage.

swell

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Hubert Houben , Il "libro del capitolo" del monastero della SS.Trinità di Venosa (Cod. Casin.334): una testimonianza del Mezzogiorno normanno, Galatina 1984, pp. 135 f.

literature

Web links

predecessor Office successor
Wilhelm Eisenarm Count of Apulia
1046-1051 		Humfred
personal data
SURNAME Drogo
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Drogo from Hauteville
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Count of Apulia
DATE OF BIRTH 11th century
DATE OF DEATH August 10, 1051