Sergius VII (Naples)

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Sergius VII († October 30, 1137 near Rignano ) was the last ruler of the Duchy of Naples and ruled from 1123 to 1137.

biography

Sergius was the son of his predecessor John VI. and from Eva (or Anna) Ridel. During his reign there was a constant risk that his domain would be incorporated into the Norman Empire of Sicily founded by Roger II . Sergius did everything to prevent this and joined all coalitions that wanted to avert unification in southern Italy. In 1131 he was forced to join Roger II . to subjugate. However, a short time later he allied himself with Robert von Capua and Rainulf von Alife and rebelled with them against Roger. This rebellion also failed and so Sergius had to surrender again in 1134, but was allowed to keep his duchy. Spurred on by a rumor of the ruler's death, he rebelled again the following year, organizing the defense of the city of Naples during the Norman siege. Although he was defeated in the middle of 1137, he managed to reconcile with his ruler. In the end Sergius VII died fighting alongside Rogers II against his former ally Rainulf von Alife near Rignano Garganico . Since he left no heir when he died, his duchy fell under the rule of the Norman kings of Sicily in 1139.

literature

  • Giovanni Vitolo : Sergius VII (Duke of Naples). In: Lexicon of the Middle Ages . Volume 7, Munich 2003, column 1788.
  • Christopher Kleinhenz: Sergius VII., Duke of Naples . In: Medieval Italy: An Encyclopedia . Routledge, 2004 (p. 757)

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Vera von Falkenhausen : The South Italian Sources . In: Mary Whitley (ed.): Byzantines and Crusaders in None-Greek Sources 1025–1204 (=  Proceedings of the British Academy . No. 132 ). 2007, p. 95-121 .
personal data
SURNAME Sergius VII
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Duke of Naples
DATE OF BIRTH 11th century or 12th century
DATE OF DEATH October 30, 1137
Place of death at Rignano