between them. During this feud, Apulia was plundered by Roger, who, being faithfully assisted by his brother William, made frequent forays into the possessions of Robert from the castle of Scalea; but found himself involved in such a distress during the contest, that he was even obliged once, at night, to steal horses from the stables in the neighborhood of Malfi. This fact is related by Jeffrey Malaterra, whose chronicle, like many others written about the Normans, was called forth by the love of truth of the Norman chieftains themselves, and who, on this occasian, expressly remarks, that he did not intend to cite this trait for the dishonor of Roger, but that he, according to Roger's own command, has mentioned his poverty and unfair practices, that all the world might know by what immense exertions he at last had succeeded, from extreme obscurity, in rising to the pinnacle of power and glory." In autumn, 1060, the brothers at last were reconciled, and the first result of their accommodation was the conquest of Reggio, which they had besieged with their united forces. On the fall of Reggio, the Normans hailed Robert Wiscard Duke of Apulia and Calabria, and Roger now undertook his first visit to Sicily. With a small retinue, he embarked late in the fall, 1060, in a few open barks, and sailed across the strait to the island, which he reconnoitred during a short incursion, before he returned to Calabria. He found the Arabs no longer united and powerful. Already before the middle of the eleventh century, the connection with the Fatimites in Africa had been broken: the Emirs did not possess force to maintain their authority, the island was distracted by civil feuds, and the mild sway of the Fatimites was succeeded by a despotic capriciousness, highly oppressive to the Christian inhabitants. Nor did any change for the better take place, when, at last, the number of petty tyrants by degrees was diminished. The three chieftains who, in the year 1059, had divided the island among themselves, the Alcalde Abdallah-ben-Menkut, who ruled Mazzara, Trapani, Marsala, Sciacca, and the neighboring towns; the Alcalde Ali-ben-Naamh, who reigned at Castrogiovanni, Girgenti and Castronuovo; and Ebn-al-Themanh, who commanded | at Syracuse, Catania and Palermo, looked on each other with diffidence and hatred, and were every moment ready to begin the contest. The division and mode of government reminded of the situation of Sicily in antiquity, when it was colonized by the Greeks, and divided among petty tyrants, who succeeded in establishing princely powers in the cities." Nearly at the time of Roger's first incursion into the island, Ebn-al-Themanh had ordered the veins to be opened on one of his wives, the sister of Ali-ben-Naamh, who had excited his anger. This cruelty occasioned a feud with Ali-ben-Naamh, who vanquished his brother-in-law in a bloody battle near Castrogiovanni. The defeated Emir fled to Calabria, where he met Roger, then residing in Reggio, and in a flowery speech he described to him the Saracens as a dastardly race, and with his hand placed on the Koran, he swore tha all he said was according to truth." He succeeded in persuading Roger to undertake the war. Preparations were made. and in the following January, 1061, Roger accompanied by the Emir, his brother Godfrey, and a hundred and sixty Norma knights, set sail for Sicily. Before Messita the Normans were met by part of the Saracen garrison, and a furious battle be gan. Roger, without shield or armor charged the enemy at the head of knights, and with prodigious force c the foremost Arab in two. continued all night by the light of t torches in the Saracen camp. The N mans now retired to the coast in order embark with the heads of cattle they driven away, but a terrible storm ar and cut off all retreat. Crowds of Sa cens, continually augmenting, then newed the attack, and the danger of ?" Normans increased with every mom In this emergency, Roger made a vo erect a church to St. Anthony in gio, instead of that which had been stroyed during the siege. The storm denly abated, a favorable wind sprung and the Normans sailed singing across strait. Although Aimé and Jeffrey M terra make Roger return victorious Sicily, yet it is sufficiently clear from t statements, that the expedition of Eb: Themanh did not answer to the exp tions of the Normans. Nor would R The comic 4 so soon have attempted to repeat his attack on the island, if he had not received a new summons for that purpose from the Sicilian inhabitants. Three Christians, Ansoldo di Parti, Niccolò Camoli, and Giacomo di Pacciano, taking a walk outside of Messina, in spring, 1061, their eyes fell upon their native town, as it lay illuminated by the rays of the sun; they grieved that the beautiful city should beg the mercy of the infidels, and they conceived the first idea of calling in Roger, to which the other Christian inhabitants gave their assent. They then only waited for the festival of the Beiram," secretly to cross over to Calabria, where, in the castle of Melito, they met with Roger. He willingly entered upon their proposition. When Robert Wiscard, who at that ime had his hands free, was informed that he Normans had been invited by the inabitants of Messina, he called the counts f Apulia to arms, and encouraged them > deliver the Catholic Christians, who ere sighing under the yoke of the Saraens, and to avenge this outrage against le Lord. In March and April great 68 maments were made for the contest, hich was now no longer to be carried on insignificant forays, but was to be anged into a war for the deliverance of e whole island. In May, large troops of ›rmans, with crosses on their cloaks, hasted to Reggio, where Roger had assemd a fleet of flat-bottomed vessels." th two ships, Robert and Roger sailed to Sicily, reconnoitred the coast of island, and returned daringly through midst of a large fleet of Arabian ships, ich Ali-ben-Naamh had collected in the it. Robert Wiscard then took advanof a dark night, to send thirteen boats his brother and three hundred Norwarriors over to the island, when er instantly after his landing assaulted sina. In vain even the Arabic women children armed and mounted the towers walls, to throw spears and arrows n upon the Normans. The Christian intants opened the gates, and soon bloodand plundering prevailed throughout he houses in Messina, that had not iously been marked with the sign of The Saracens, wherever found, slain; their wives and children were ross. divided among the victors as slaves, and but few succeeded in making their escape to the neighboring woods. Jeffrey Malaterra relates, with many particulars, how a young Arab of one of the prominent families in the city, attempted to carry off with him his beautiful and delicate sister; how the young beauty fainting, fell to the ground, unable to continue the flight; and how the brother, in his despair, stabbed her to the heart in order to save her from Norman captivity." When the Saracens, who were cruising off Reggio, discovered that they had been deceived, and that Messina was taken, they instantly set sail for Palermo, having now no other harbor where they could find a refuge against the autumnal storms. The victor immediately sent the keys of Messina to Robert Wiscard, who was thus enabled to meet him in the conquered city. Here the duke spent twelve days in reviewing the towers, walls, buildings and beautiful gardens of the city, and organizing the army, which, on the arrival of all the Norman knights, with their small bands of feudal retainers, did not exceed the number of two thousand horse and foot. A Norman garrison was then left in Messina, and the two brothers, occupying Rameta beyond the ridge, marched south to Mount Etna, where they encamped for some days. Following the banks of the river Jiaretta, (Symathus,) which flows through the valley of Etna, they arrived at Centorbi, whose inhabitants bravely withstood all their assaults. At last they were obliged to relinquish the hope of conquering this town in its strong situation, and breaking up the camp, Robert marched south-west into the interior of the island, where all the inhabitants fled before the Normans, as Aimé says, "like the wax melting away before the fire." In many towns he did not find a living being. Yet expecting the attack of the Arab forces, Robert prudently fell back upon Palermo, which he found vacant and uninhabited. The town lay on the slope of Mount Etna, and finding the surrounding plain convenient for an equestrian combat with the Arabs, he remained there eight days, waiting in vain for the enemy. He then marched forward upon San Felipe, and after a short stay, arrived at the small river which, through the deep 70 Arabs, it became quite natural that the Italians should more and more unite with them, and gradually get accustomed to their foreign manners and language." This change had an immediate effect upon the war, which now began to be conducted on a larger scale, and gradually to deviate from that bold and chivalrous manner, so highly characteristic of the northern descent of the conquerors, by which, in the beginning, it distinguished itself. 78 It will, therefore, be sufficient for us here briefly to mention its conclusion. During its prosecution, Robert Wiscard fought especially against the Greeks on the Italian continent, and Roger against the Saracens in Sicily; yet both brothers participated in the honor of the reduction of Bari, the last possession of the Greeks in Italy. The investment of this city was carried on by regular works," and after a protracted siege, it surrendered on the 16th of April, 1071. The war with the Saracens in Sicily had, in the meantime, been continued since the beginning of the year 1071. In that year, Roger, with his young countess and a small band of Norman knights, was surrounded by the Saracens and the dissatisfied Greek inhabitants in Trainæ, a town on the western slope of Mount Etna, where he for a long time struggled with the greatest dangers and hardships." In the following year, 1072, he gained a brilliant victory on the banks of the river Cerami against the Arabs, and broad valley, runs north of Castro- | powerful arms against the unbelieving giovanni.' Here the Normans at last met Ali-ben-Naamh at the head of fifteen thousand" Arabs, and here they triumphed in a battle which may be considered as the greatest and most important they gained in open field during their war in Sicily. The day after the action, they hastened to Calata-Chibotta, where they found excellent fountains. Here they reposed, and Robert here divided the booty which was partly gathered from the ten thousand Arab corpses left on the battle-field, and partly consisted in a number of Arabian steeds, of which ten at least fell to the share of every Norman. While the indefatigable Roger continued pressing on, scouring the country from Calata-Chibotta as far down as Girgenti, Robert returned to Messina, from which he had now been absent for three months. On the road Alcaldes came from all parts, and kneeling down, bowing their heads and crossing the hands on their breasts," they submitted their districts and towns to his sway, while others presented him with precious gifts, presents of gold and silver, mules splendidly caparisoned with gilt saddles and bridles, purple cloaks, richly embroidered and superb silk-stuffs." The Christian inhabitants of Val Demona likewise sent ambassadors and submitted to the Norman dominion. For their protection Robert Wiscard erected a castle, which, like his first fortress in Calabria, was named San Marco, and a garrison of Normans was placed there under the command of Will-"who dispersed," says the Chronicler. iam of Malo." Winter was coming on, when the two brothers met in Messina. The army was disbanded, and all returned to Calabria with the exception of Ebn-alThemanh, who remained in Catania, and the Norman garrisons in Messina and the castle of San Marco. Robert Wiscard immediately returned to Apulia, but the indefatigable Roger being soon tired of inactivity, made still another visit to Sicily during the winter, 1061-62. Yet on his learning the departure of Yutta of Grentemesnil from Normandy, and her arrival in Italy, he returned to the continent, where, in spring, bride and bride-attacks "by day and night, in sunshine and groom met each other in the valley of Salinarum, and celebrated their nuptials at the castle of Mileto in Calabria." IV. The Normans having turned their "like the dense clouds before the stormy blast, or like the flight of birds before the shooting hawks," and abandoned on the battle-field an immense booty. Four of the captured camels were sent to the pope, Alexander the Second, as a present. From this time the Normans rode triumphantly over Sicily in all directions, and forced the inhabitants of the plains to submission, while the flower of the Mshommedan population either emigrated to Africa or shut themselves up in the fort fied places of the mountains. Yet not even here were they secure against the bold during the thunder-storm," of the restless and daring invaders. From their strongholds, the Arabs sometimes attempted to make sallies into the valleys, but they suf d'Arc. Paris. 1830. 8vo. fered one overthrow after the other, by on this subject: L'Histoire des Conquêtes des Northeir vigilant antagonists. Thus the Al-mands en Italie, en Sicile, et en Grèce, par Gautier calde of Palermo, having made a sally against Roger, was defeated at Misilmir, in the plain of Palermo, and the victor sent intelligence of the battle to the Arabic inhabitants of the city, by fastening letters to some of the pigeons which were used as messengers by the Arabs, and formed part of the booty. Roger had taken an active part in the siege of Bari, in spring, 1071. He was now assisted by his brother at the succeeding siege of Palermo. The Norman army was transported in fifty ships, from which songs and warlike music resounded over the waves of the Mediterranean. Thus surrounded by heroes from Normandy, and even from England, Robert Wiscard and Roger at last encompassed by land and by water this strongly fortified city, and the Normans, storming the walls on the morning of the 10th of July, 1071, Palermo, el Khalassa, the favorite city of the Arabs, surrendered to the vicCorious brothers. Robert directing, during the following years, the full force of his arms against he Greek empire, only a few Norman wariors remained in Sicily with Roger, who ad been invested with the island as vasal of his brother, with the title of Great ount, while Robert proclaimed himself Duke of Apulia, Calabria and Sicily; and is division of the Norman power caused he war in Sicily to be protracted for many dears. By the alliance of the Arabs with eir allies of the same religion in Barbary, ho undertook different expeditions from e coast of Africa to their support, they fended themselves in the southern parts Sicily as late as the year 1090, when ey were expelled from Butera (Abuthur) d Noto, (Natis,) the last possessions they ld in the island." NOTES. A. L. K. If I make him stay at Rouen and live there for ng time, he will not be able to speak Danish, for ody speaks that language there, if I want him be at a school where Danish is taught. They w only the Romance, (French language ;) but at ux there are many who speak only Danish, and efore, Count Boton, I wish you will take him you and instruct him in all knowledge. This is partly the case, too, with a modern work 3 L'Ystoire de li Normant, et la Chronique de Robert Viscard, par Aimé, Moine du Mons Cassin. Publiés pour la première fois par M. Champollion Figeac. Paris. 1835. Svo. This Chronicle, written in the Romanic language, and published by Champollion Figeac, is a translation of the original of Father Aimé, which is supposed to be lost. 4 Sismondi, Histoire des Républiques Italiennes, i. 233. Leo, Geschichte des Italienischen Staaten, i. 360. 5 Scrofani, della dominazione degli Stranieri in Si cilia, Parigi, 1824, p. 107, seq.. Martorana, Noticie Storiche dei Saraceni Siciliani, Palermo, 1832, i. 27, seq. Stürve, Handelzüge der Araber, s. 79. v. Hammer, Lauderverwaltung unter dem Chaligate, s. 67. The Norwegian hero Harald Haardraade, who participated in the first expedition of the Normans to the island, found "that Sicily was a very rich country, defended by large and strong castles." Fornmanna Sögur, vi. 148. 6 This year is adopted by Lupus Protospata, apud Maratori, Ser. Rev. Italie, v. 41, and the anonymous chronicler of Bari, ap. Murat. v. 148. Pagi, (Critica, iv. 90,) considers it exact, and his opinion is followed by the modern authors. It is nevertheless very uncertain, like all the chronological dates of the early Norman wars in Italy. Chron. Cassin. ap. Murat. v 55, places the expedition in the year 1000; the exact Leo Ostiensis, ap. Murat, iv. 362, in the year 1002; and the Chron. Saxon. ap. Bouquet, x. 330, in the year 1014. According to Depping the first Normans made their appearance in Italy toward the close of the tenth century, but he may mistake them for the Väringer, (Barajgoi,) the Northmen serving as a body-guard to the Greek Emperors at staufen, vol. i. 566. Constantinople; Raumer, History of the Hohen 7 Leo Osten, ap. Murat, iv. 363. Aimé, l'Ystoire de li Normant, publ. par Champollion Figeac, p. 15. Odericus Vit. ap. Duchesne, p. 472. 8 With these Normans, or with the Salernitan embassy, arrived in Normandy John the Little, an Italian by birth, and a famous physician. The acquaintance of the Normans with the learned men of Salerno essentially benefited the study of medicine in Normandy. Depping, p. 463. Malaterra, apud Murat. v. 549. Falconry not being Accipitrium exercitio aptissima, says Jeffrey mentioned in Sicily before the arrival of the Northat exercise on the island, as the Longobards formerly had done in northern Italy; vide Hager, Gemälde von Palermo. Berlin. 1799. S. 44 10 Aimé, l'Ystoire de li Normant, p. 9. Fazello, Storia di Sicilia, ii. 525. mans, we may suppose them to have introduced 11 Drengotus. Danish, den gode Dreng, i. e. the good boy. 12 Several places in Normandy are named after Mount Gargano; vide Amélie Bosquet, La Normandie Romanesque et Merveilleuse, Paris and Rouen, 1845, 8vo, p. 194. 13 Guil. Apul. ap. Murat. v. 254. 2f V. Raumer says, that William, Drogo and Humfrey were the first who sailed to Apulia. History of the Hohenstaufen, i. 566. 14 Already De Thou praises the inhabitants of Dieppe, "penes quos præcipua rei nautica gloriæ semper fuit," and Louis XIV. in a letter-patent calls them "les plus expérimentés pilotes et les plus habiles et hardis navigateurs de l'Europe." In more modern times it has often been commented on, that the most distinguished Admirals of France have always been of Norman descent; vide les Français peints par Eux-mêmes, Province, Paris, 1841, ii. 124. It has been asserted that Norman navigators had established a colony on the coast of Africa as early as 1364, and discovered America in 1488; vide Estanselin, Recherches sur les voyages et découvertes des Navigateurs Normands, Paris, 1832, 8vo, and Vitet, Histoire des anciennes Villes de France, Paris, 1833, 8vo, vol. ii. Certain it is at least, that only Normans can have introduced the earliest foreign (Scandinavian) naval expressions into the French language, such as for instance, esquif, boulines, raalinges, gardinges, haler, sigler, sterman, and the like; vide Jal, Archæologie Navale, i. 172-189. Vareblanc, La France aux temps des Croisades, Paris, 1844, i. 108. 15 Aimé, l'Ystoire de li Normant, p. 17. 16 Cum equis tantum ac armis aufugiant. Leo Ostiensis ap. Murat. iv. 313. 17 Oderic. Vit. ap. Duchesne, p. 472 18 Guil. Gemmet. ap. Duchesne, p. 283. 19 Rodulph. Glaber, ap. Bouquet, x. 25. Guil. Apul. ap. Murat. v. 254. These inhospitable mountaineers of St. Bernard and the valley of Aosta may perhaps have been Saracens; vide Reinaud, Histoire des Invasions des Sarrazins en France, Paris, 1836, p. 195. The passage of St. Bernard is to this day closed by a gate and walls at St. Remi, between the Hospice of the Augustine monks and the city of Aoste, and the present Piedmontese gens-d'armes are nearly as rude and covetous as were the ancient Saracens. 20 Aimé, l'Ystoire de li Normant, pp. 17-31. cfr Luden Geschichte des Teutschen Volkes, vii. 468478. 21 Guil. Gemmet, ap. Duchesne, p. 284. Alberic. Monach. ap. Bouquet, xi. 393. The traditions of the North make Harald Haardraade, a few years later, slay a dragon in Constantinople, (Myklegard,) and Albericus Monachus makes him smothera lion within his naked arms; vid. Cronhalm Väringarne, pp 95-98. 22 Vibert. ap Murat. iii. 297. Arnulph, Mediolan. ap. Murat. iv 13, 21, characterizes them as atrociores Græcis, Saracenis ferociores, impiissimi;" and Leo Ostiensis, (apud Murat. iv. 363,) relating a dispute between a Norman warrior and the fishermen of the convent of Monte Casino, says, ut sunt ad rapinam avidi, ad invadenda aliena bona inexplebiliter anxii. 23 The environs of Cotentin are among those regions of Normandy where the Danish language was longest preserved. Estrap in the writings of the Scand. Society. 24 Diversarum regionum et principum curias perlustrans. Gaufr. Malaterra, p. 559. 25 Aprum miræ enormitatis, quem singlare dicunt. Gaufr. Malat. id. loc. 26 In curia principis decem milites sub se habens. Gaufr. Malat. id. loc. 27 Besides his twelve sons Tancred had three daughters, who afterwards, with their mother Fredesenda, went to Italy. Gaufr. Malat. p. 550. 28 Tazello, Storia di Sicilia, ii. 532. 29 Quasi nova gentis militiam abhorrentes. Gaufr. Malat. p. 251. 30 Zonar, ed. Paris, ii. 237. Cedren, ed. Paris, ii. 741. 31 The chronicles being misled by the Arabic word Alcade," (al Kadé,) call this Arabic leader Arcadius, and modern historians have taken up this erroneous name; vide Raumer, History of the Hohenstaufen, i. 562. Aimé seems to have understood the meaning of the word, Archadie," c'est prince et docteur de la loi. Chronique de Robert Viscard, p. 268. 66 32 Gaufr. Malater. p. 251, has Sexaginta millia. Aimé, Chronique, p. 268. 33 Ardoin is called "Servicial de St. Ambroise," by Aimé, l'Ystoire de li Normant, p. 41. De famulis S. Ambrosii, Leo Ost. p. 388. 34 In the details Cedrenus ii. 755, and Guil. Apul p. 255, do not coincide with Leo Ost. p. 338, and Aimé, p. 41. According to the chronicle of Robert Wiscard, Maniakes not only ordered Ardoin to be whipped, but "pour vergoigne de li Normant lui péla la barbe a l'ongle soc."" 35 A notario Maniacis, cujus amicitia fruebatur, chyrographum, quo liberius transeant Pharum. Gaufr. Malat p. 551. 36 Cedren, ii. id. loc. 37 Omnes conveniunt et bis sex nobiliores, quos genus et gravitas morum decorabat et ætas, elegere duces. Guil. Apul. p. 255. 38 Die festivitatis St. Benedicti. Leo Ost. p. 359. 39 Aimé, p. 45. Capefigue (Essai sur les Invasions marit. des Normands, p. 299,) cites an old Milanese chronicle, according to which the Normans rode throughout all Italy, chanting the ballads of Roland and Olivier. The oldest national airs of Sicily with rhymed measures, have likewise been ascribed to them; vide Münter, Travels in the Two Sicilies, vol. ii. 313. 40 The "Torre di Maniace," which he built at Syracuse, still remains to this day as a memorial of his Sicilian campaign. 41 Cedren, ii. 155. 42 Nudo pugno. Gauf. Malat. p. 552. 43 According to Jeffrey Malaterra, p. 552, the Greeks were commanded by a general having the barbarous name Annus; but Cedrenus calling him Mixanλ d Aoxeravós, it appears to be without any doubt, that the text in Muratori, Duce Anno, duce exercitus, ought to be corrected to Duceano, duce exercitus. 44 Quartano febris typo laborabat. Gaufr. Malat. p. 552. 45 Et appella la nome de Dieu. Chronique de Rob. Visc p. 272. Dex aïe, (Gud hjolpe, i. e.God help,) was the battle cry of the Normans. Wace, Roman de Rou, pub. par Pluquet, i. 133, ii. 327. 46 Among these troops were northern mercena50, and Manichæans, whose religious opinions are ries, (Väringer, Barajgoi,) mentioned by Aimé, p. described by Guil. Apul. p. 256. 47 Thus Guil. Apul. p. 257, is generally understood, although his expressions, sublimant protinus illum omnes animi, might signify that the Nor mans lifted Argyros on a stone in the middle of the assembly. According to Gautier d'Arc, William Bras-de-Fer, and after Gibbon, Robert Wiscard were likewise elected, being lifted high on a buckler; but no evidence is found in the sources. 48 The son of Ascelin, Richard, with a large retinue, joined his father soon after acquiring these territories. Aimé describes Richard as a brave and tall knight, and says that when he mounted en horseback,petit s'en faillois, que li pié ne fere ent à terre. L'Ystoire, p. 67. 49 Castella ex villis ædificare cœperunt, quibas ex locorum vocabulis nomen indiderunt. CaronVulturn. ap. Murat. ii. 2, 371. 50 Pro numero comitum bis sex statuere plateas. atque domus comitum totidem fabricantur in urbe Guil. Apul. p. 256. Afterwards the nobles often heid assemblies in Malfi. Galanti, Nuova Descrizioar delle due Sicilie, i. 122. 51 Against this opinion has been adduced Ga! Apul. p. 261, where he says that Humfrey, at nå death, made Robert Wiscard "Rector terrarum suarum et genita_tutor puerilis, quem vetat ælas rectorem fieri." But this only refers to the coUST proper of Humfrey, his sons afterwards wagicz war against Robert solely with the hope of obtaicing the restitution of their father's territory. 52 Pugnat utraque manu, nec lancea cassa, nec ERSI Cassus erat, quocunque manu deducere vellet Ter dejectus equo, ter viribus ipse resumptis Major in arma redit: stimulos furor ipse minist William Apulus, 11. p. 53 Anna Comnena i. 10. Ed. Bonn, i. 50. The Is lian Normans for a long time afterwards preserve. |