Hellenistic Hopes of a new Greece Halted
Here in Western Byzantium, activists dreaming of a new Greece have been dealt a severe blow by Norman invaders.
Here in Western Byzantium, activists dreaming of a new Greece have been dealt a severe blow by Norman invaders.
"Many Norman riders have served as mercenaries in other armies, including the Byzantine and the Seljuks, and rulers as Pope of Old Rome. Very soon, motivated by the extortionate - marauding spirit of their ancestors, began campaigning against their neighboring and distant countries.
In 1017 AD recruited by the Lombards inhabitants of Italy to assist them in their wars against the Saracens. The country loved them so much that they decided to occupy it and settle there. The appearance of the Normans in southern Italy gave courage to Pope and strengthened the conquest plans. After an initial clash in which papal troops were defeated in the battle of Sivitate in 1053 and the pope himself was captured, then allied with them and blessed their work. They were encouraged to turn against the Byzantine provinces, and in every way, moral and material, helped them in achieving their goals.
Norman Mercenaries at the Battle of Adrianople
The - now legitimized - Norman invaders, are now beginning to attacking southern Italy Byzantine cities. Strengthen the various rebels against the emperor and post one by one the Italian country from Byzantium. With the leadership of Robert Guiscard (Robert Guiscard) and with the help of the brothers Wilhelm and Voimoundos fight systematically against the Byzantines in the region. Istanbul reacts with an expeditionary force under George Maniakes, but eventually it revoked without result. In 1059 AD they conquered Apulia, then Calabria in 1060 and subsequently (1068 AD) Bari.
With the capture of this city on April 6, 1071, the Byzantine rule finally ended the Great Greece . Furthermore, since 1061 Robert's brother, Roger besieged the SYRRAKOUSES and by 1072 all of Sicily passed into Norman hands. Roger B ', son of Roger A', brought the legacy of his father and his uncle and was crowned king of Sicily in 1130 thus became the first ruler of the united kingdom of southern Italy