[Footnote50:Muratoricarriestheirantiquityabovetheyear1066ofthedeathofEdwardtheConfessor，therexAnglorumtowhomtheyareaddressed。Noristhisdateaffectedbytheopinion，orrathermistake，ofPasquierRecherchesdelaFrance，l。vii。c。2andDucange，Glossar。Latin。Thepracticeofrhyming，asearlyastheviithcentury，wasborrowedfromthelanguagesoftheNorthandEast，Muratori，Antiquitat。tom。iii。
dissert。xl。p。686—708。]
[Footnote51:ThedescriptionofAmalphi，byWilliamtheApulian，l。iii。p。267，containsmuchtruthandsomepoetry，andthethirdlinemaybeappliedtothesailor'scompass:—
Nullamagislocuplesargento，vestibus，auroPartibusinnumeris:hacplurimusurbemoraturNautamarisCaeliqueviasaperireperitus。
HucetAlexandridiversaferunturaburbeRegis，etAntiochi。Genshaecfretaplurimatransit。
HisArabes，Indi，SiculinascunturetAfri。
Haecgensesttotumproorenobilitataperorbem，Etmercandoforens，etamansmercatareferre。]
[Footnote*:Amalfihadonlyonethousandinhabitantsatthecommencementofthe18thcentury，whenitwasvisitedbyBrenckmann，BrenckmanndeRep。Amalph。Diss。i。c。23。AtpresentithassixoreightthousandHist。desRep。tom。i。p。
304。—G。]
ChapterLVI:TheSaracens，TheFranksAndTheNormans。
PartIII。
Roger，thetwelfthandlastofthesonsofTancred，hadbeenlongdetainedinNormandybyhisownandhisfather'age。Heacceptedthewelcomesummons；hastenedtotheApuliancamp；anddeservedatfirsttheesteem，andafterwardstheenvy，ofhiselderbrother。Theirvalorandambitionwereequal；buttheyouth，thebeauty，theelegantmanners，ofRogerengagedthedisinterestedloveofthesoldiersandpeople。Soscantywashisallowanceforhimselfandfortyfollowers，thathedescendedfromconquesttorobbery，andfromrobberytodomestictheft；andsoloosewerethenotionsofproperty，that，byhisownhistorian，athisspecialcommand，heisaccusedofstealinghorsesfromastableatMelphi。^52Hisspiritemergedfrompovertyanddisgrace:fromthesebasepracticesherosetothemeritandgloryofaholywar；andtheinvasionofSicilywassecondedbythezealandpolicyofhisbrotherGuiscard。AftertheretreatoftheGreeks，theidolaters，amostaudaciousreproachoftheCatholics，hadretrievedtheirlossesandpossessions；butthedeliveranceoftheisland，sovainlyundertakenbytheforcesoftheEasternempire，wasachievedbyasmallandprivatebandofadventurers。^53Inthefirstattempt，Rogerbraved，inanopenboat，therealandfabulousdangersofScyllaandCharybdis；
landedwithonlysixtysoldiersonahostileshore；drovetheSaracenstothegatesofMessinaandsafelyreturnedwiththespoilsoftheadjacentcountry。InthefortressofTrani，hisactiveandpatientcouragewereequallyconspicuous。Inhisoldageherelatedwithpleasure，that，bythedistressofthesiege，himself，andthecountesshiswife，hadbeenreducedtoasinglecloakormantle，whichtheyworealternately；thatinasallyhishorsehadbeenslain，andhewasdraggedawaybytheSaracens；
butthatheowedhisrescuetohisgoodsword，andhadretreatedwithhissaddleonhisback，lestthemeanesttrophymightbeleftinthehandsofthemiscreants。InthesiegeofTrani，threehundredNormanswithstoodandrepulsedtheforcesoftheisland。InthefieldofCeramio，fiftythousandhorseandfootwereoverthrownbyonehundredandthirty—sixChristiansoldiers，withoutreckoningSt。George，whofoughtonhorsebackintheforemostranks。Thecaptivebanners，withfourcamels，werereservedforthesuccessorofSt。Peter；andhadthesebarbaricspoilsbeenexposed，notintheVatican，butintheCapitol，theymighthaverevivedthememoryofthePunictriumphs。TheseinsufficientnumbersoftheNormansmostprobablydenotetheirknights，thesoldiersofhonorableandequestrianrank，eachofwhomwasattendedbyfiveorsixfollowersinthefield；^54yet，withtheaidofthisinterpretation，andaftereveryfairallowanceonthesideofvalor，arms，andreputation，thediscomfitureofsomanymyriadswillreducetheprudentreadertothealternativeofamiracleorafable。TheArabsofSicilyderivedafrequentandpowerfulsuccorfromtheircountrymenofAfrica:inthesiegeofPalermo，theNormancavalrywasassistedbythegalleysofPisa；and，inthehourofaction，theenvyofthetwobrotherswassublimedtoagenerousandinvincibleemulation。Afterawarofthirtyyears，^55Roger，withthetitleofgreatcount，obtainedthesovereigntyofthelargestandmostfruitfulislandoftheMediterranean；andhisadministrationdisplaysaliberalandenlightenedmind，abovethelimitsofhisageandeducation。TheMoslemsweremaintainedinthefreeenjoymentoftheirreligionandproperty:^56aphilosopherandphysicianofMazara，oftheraceofMahomet，haranguedtheconqueror，andwasinvitedtocourt；hisgeographyofthesevenclimateswastranslatedintoLatin；andRoger，afteradiligentperusal，preferredtheworkoftheArabiantothewritingsoftheGrecianPtolemy。^57AremnantofChristiannativeshadpromotedthesuccessoftheNormans:theywererewardedbythetriumphofthecross。TheislandwasrestoredtothejurisdictionoftheRomanpontiff；newbishopswereplantedintheprincipalcities；
andtheclergywassatisfiedbyaliberalendowmentofchurchesandmonasteries。YettheCatholicheroassertedtherightsofthecivilmagistrate。Insteadofresigningtheinvestitureofbenefices，hedexterouslyappliedtohisownprofitthepapalclaims:thesupremacyofthecrownwassecuredandenlarged，bythesingularbull，whichdeclarestheprincesofSicilyhereditaryandperpetuallegatesoftheHolySee。^58
[Footnote52:Latrocinioarmigerorumsuoruminmultissustentabatur，quodquidemadejusignominiamnondicimus；sedipsoitapraecipienteadhucvilioraetreprehensibilioradicturisumusutpluribuspatescat，quamlaborioseetcumquantaangustiaaprofundapaupertateadsummumculmendivitiarumvelhonorisattigerit。SuchistheprefaceofMalaterral。i。c。25tothehorse—stealing。Fromthemomentl。i。c。19thathehasmentionedhispatronRoger，theelderbrothersinksintothesecondcharacter。SomethingsimilarinVelleiusPaterculusmaybeobservedofAugustusandTiberius。]
[Footnote53:Duosibiproficuadeputansanimaescilicetetcorporissiterran:Idolisdeditamadcultumdivinumrevocaret，GalfridMalaterra，l。ii。c。1。TheconquestofSicilyisrelatedinthethreelastbooks，andhehimselfhasgivenanaccuratesummaryofthechapters，p。544—546。]
[Footnote54:SeethewordMilitesintheLatinGlossaryofDucange。]
[Footnote55:Ofoddparticulars，IlearnfromMalaterra，thattheArabshadintroducedintoSicilytheuseofcamelsl。i。c。
33andofcarrier—pigeons，c。42；andthatthebiteofthetarantulaprovokesawindydisposition，quaeperanuminhonestecrepitandoemergit；asymptommostridiculouslyfeltbythewholeNormanarmyintheircampnearPalermo，c。36。Ishalladdanetymologynotunworthyofthexithcentury:MessanaisdividedfromMessis，theplacefromwhencetheharvestsoftheisleweresentintributetoRome，l。ii。c。1。]
[Footnote56:SeethecapitulationofPalermoinMalaterra，l。
ii。c。45，andGiannone，whoremarksthegeneraltolerationoftheSaracens，tomii。p。72。]
[Footnote57:JohnLeoAfer，deMedicisetPhilosophusArabibus，c。14，apudFabric。Bibliot。Graec。tom。xiii。p。278，279。ThisphilosopherisnamedEsseriphEssachalli，andhediedinAfrica，A。H。516，A。D。1122。YetthisstorybearsastrangeresemblancetotheSherifalEdrissi，whopresentedhisbookGeographiaNubiensis，seeprefacep。88，90，170toRoger，kingofSicily，A。H。541，A。D。1153，D'Herbelot，BibliothequeOrientale，p。
786。Prideaux'sLifeofMahomet，p。188。PetitdelaCroix，Hist。deGengiscan，p。535，536。Casiri，Bibliot。Arab。Hispan。
tom。ii。p。9—13；andIamafraidofsomemistake。]
[Footnote58:Malaterraremarksthefoundationofthebishoprics，l。iv。c。7，andproducestheoriginalofthebull，l。iv。c。
29。Giannonegivesarationalideaofthisprivilege，andthetribunalofthemonarchyofSicily，tom。ii。p。95—102；andSt。MarcAbrege，tom。iii。p。217—301，1stcolumnlaborsthecasewiththediligenceofaSicilianlawyer。]
ToRobertGuiscard，theconquestofSicilywasmoregloriousthanbeneficial:thepossessionofApuliaandCalabriawasinadequatetohisambition；andheresolvedtoembraceorcreatethefirstoccasionofinvading，perhapsofsubduing，theRomanempireoftheEast。^59Fromhisfirstwife，thepartnerofhishumblefortune，hehadbeendivorcedunderthepretenceofconsanguinity；andhersonBohemondwasdestinedtoimitate，ratherthantosucceed，hisillustriousfather。ThesecondwifeofGuiscardwasthedaughteroftheprincesofSalerno；theLombardsacquiescedinthelinealsuccessionoftheirsonRoger；
theirfivedaughtersweregiveninhonorablenuptials，^60andoneofthemwasbetrothed，inatenderage，toConstantine，abeautifulyouth，thesonandheiroftheemperorMichael。^61ButthethroneofConstantinoplewasshakenbyarevolution:theImperialfamilyofDucaswasconfinedtothepalaceorthecloister；andRobertdeplored，andresented，thedisgraceofhisdaughterandtheexpulsionofhisally。AGreek，whostyledhimselfthefatherofConstantine，soonappearedatSalerno，andrelatedtheadventuresofhisfallandflight。Thatunfortunatefriendwasacknowledgedbytheduke，andadornedwiththepompandtitlesofImperialdignity:inhistriumphalprogressthroughApuliaandCalabria，Michael^62wassalutedwiththetearsandacclamationsofthepeople；andPopeGregorytheSeventhexhortedthebishopstopreach，andtheCatholicstofight，inthepiousworkofhisrestoration。HisconversationswithRobertwerefrequentandfamiliar；andtheirmutualpromiseswerejustifiedbythevaloroftheNormansandthetreasuresoftheEast。YetthisMichael，bytheconfessionoftheGreeksandLatins，wasapageantandanimpostor；amonkwhohadfledfromhisconvent，oradomesticwhohadservedinthepalace。ThefraudhadbeencontrivedbythesubtleGuiscard；andhetrusted，thatafterthispretenderhadgivenadecentcolortohisarms，hewouldsink，atthenodoftheconqueror，intohisprimitiveobscurity。ButvictorywastheonlyargumentthatcoulddeterminethebeliefoftheGreeks；andtheardoroftheLatinswasmuchinferiortotheircredulity:theNormanveteranswishedtoenjoytheharvestoftheirtoils，andtheunwarlikeItalianstrembledattheknownandunknowndangersofatransmarineexpedition。Inhisnewlevies，Robertexertedtheinfluenceofgiftsandpromises，theterrorsofcivilandecclesiasticalauthority；andsomeactsofviolencemightjustifythereproach，thatageandinfancywerepressedwithoutdistinctionintotheserviceoftheirunrelentingprince。Aftertwoyears'incessantpreparationsthelandandnavalforceswereassembledatOtranto，attheheel，orextremepromontory，ofItaly；andRobertwasaccompaniedbyhiswife，whofoughtbyhisside，hissonBohemond，andtherepresentativeoftheemperorMichael。Thirteenhundredknights^63ofNormanraceordiscipline，formedthesinewsofthearmy，whichmightbeswelledtothirtythousand^64followersofeverydenomination。
Themen，thehorses，thearms，theengines，thewoodentowers，coveredwithrawhides，wereembarkedonboardonehundredandfiftyvessels:thetransportshadbeenbuiltintheportsofItaly，andthegalleysweresuppliedbytheallianceoftherepublicofRagusa。
[Footnote59:InthefirstexpeditionofRobertagainsttheGreeks，IfollowAnnaComnena，theist，iiid，ivth，andvthbooksoftheAlexiad，WilliamAppulus，l。ivthandvth，p。
270—275，andJeffreyMalaterra，l。iii。c。13，14，24—29，39。Theirinformationiscontemporaryandauthentic，butnoneofthemwereeye—witnessesofthewar。]
[Footnote60:OneofthemwasmarriedtoHugh，thesonofAzzo，orAxo，amarquisofLombardy，rich，powerful，andnoble，Gulielm。Appul。l。iii。p。267，inthexithcentury，andwhoseancestorsinthexthandixthareexploredbythecriticalindustryofLeibnitzandMuratori。FromthetwoeldersonsofthemarquisAzzoarederivedtheillustriouslinesofBrunswickandEste。SeeMuratori，AntichitaEstense。]
[Footnote61:AnnaComnena，somewhattoowantonly，praisesandbewailsthathandsomeboy，who，aftertheruptureofhisbarbaricnuptials，l。i。p。23，wasbetrothedasherhusband。p。27。
Elsewhereshedescribestheredandwhiteofhisskin，hishawk'seyes，&c。，l。iii。p。71。]
[Footnote62:AnnaComnena，l。i。p。28，29。Gulielm。Appul。l。
ivp。271。GalfridMalaterra，l。iii。c。13，p。579，580。
Malaterraismorecautiousinhisstyle；buttheApulianisboldandpositive。—MentitusseMichaelemVenerataDanaisquidamseductoradillum。
AsGregoryVIIhadbelieved，Baroniusalmostalone，recognizestheemperorMichael。A。D。No。44。]
[Footnote63:IpsearmataemilitiaenonplusquamMCCCmilitessecumhabuisse，abeisquieidemnegotiointerfueruntattestatur，Malaterra，l。iii。c。24，p。583。ThesearethesamewhomtheApulianl。iv。p。273stylestheequestrisgensducis，equitesdegenteducis。]
[Footnote64:AnnaComnenaAlexias，l。i。p。37；andheraccounttallieswiththenumberandladingoftheships。IvitinDyrrachiumcumxv。millibushominum，saystheChroniconBreveNormannicum，Muratori，Scriptores，tom。v。p。278。Ihaveendeavoredtoreconcilethesereckonings。]
AtthemouthoftheAdriaticGulf，theshoresofItalyandEpirusinclinetowardseachother。ThespacebetweenBrundusiumandDurazzo，theRomanpassage，isnomorethanonehundredmiles；^65atthelaststationofOtranto，itiscontractedtofifty；^66andthisnarrowdistancehadsuggestedtoPyrrhusandPompeythesublimeorextravagantideaofabridge。Beforethegeneralembarkation，theNormandukedespatchedBohemondwithfifteengalleystoseizeorthreatentheIsleofCorfu，tosurveytheoppositecoast，andtosecureaharborintheneighborhoodofVallonaforthelandingofthetroops。Theypassedandlandedwithoutperceivinganenemy；andthissuccessfulexperimentdisplayedtheneglectanddecayofthenavalpoweroftheGreeks。
TheislandsofEpirusandthemaritimetownsweresubduedbythearmsorthenameofRobert，wholedhisfleetandarmyfromCorfuIusethemodernappellationtothesiegeofDurazzo。Thatcity，thewesternkeyoftheempire，wasguardedbyancientrenown，andrecentfortifications，byGeorgePalaeologus，apatrician，victoriousintheOrientalwars，andanumerousgarrisonofAlbaniansandMacedonians，who，ineveryage，havemaintainedthecharacterofsoldiers。Intheprosecutionofhisenterprise，thecourageofGuiscardwasassailedbyeveryformofdangerandmischance。Inthemostpropitiousseasonoftheyear，ashisfleetpassedalongthecoast，astormofwindandsnowunexpectedlyarose:theAdriaticwasswelledbytheragingblastofthesouth，andanewshipwreckconfirmedtheoldinfamyoftheAcroceraunianrocks。^67Thesails，themasts，andtheoars，wereshatteredortornaway；theseaandshorewerecoveredwiththefragmentsofvessels，witharmsanddeadbodies；andthegreatestpartoftheprovisionswereeitherdrownedordamaged。Theducalgalleywaslaboriouslyrescuedfromthewaves，andRoberthaltedsevendaysontheadjacentcape，tocollecttherelicsofhisloss，andrevivethedroopingspiritsofhissoldiers。TheNormanswerenolongertheboldandexperiencedmarinerswhohadexploredtheoceanfromGreenlandtoMountAtlas，andwhosmiledatthepettydangersoftheMediterranean。Theyhadweptduringthetempest；theywerealarmedbythehostileapproachoftheVenetians，whohadbeensolicitedbytheprayersandpromisesoftheByzantinecourt。Thefirstday'sactionwasnotdisadvantageoustoBohemond，abeardlessyouth，^68wholedthenavalpowersofhisfather。Allnightthegalleysoftherepubliclayontheiranchorsintheformofacrescent；andthevictoryoftheseconddaywasdecidedbythedexterityoftheirevolutions，thestationoftheirarchers，theweightoftheirjavelins，andtheborrowedaidoftheGreekfire。TheApulianandRagusianvesselsfledtotheshore，severalwerecutfromtheircables，anddraggedawaybytheconqueror；andasallyfromthetowncarriedslaughteranddismaytothetentsoftheNormanduke。AseasonablereliefwaspouredintoDurazzo，andassoonasthebesiegershadlostthecommandofthesea，theislandsandmaritimetownswithdrewfromthecampthesupplyoftributeandprovision。Thatcampwassoonafflictedwithapestilentialdisease；fivehundredknightsperishedbyaningloriousdeath；
andthelistofburialsifallcouldobtainadecentburial
amountedtotenthousandpersons。Underthesecalamities，themindofGuiscardalonewasfirmandinvincible；andwhilehecollectednewforcesfromApuliaandSicily，hebattered，orscaled，orsapped，thewallsofDurazzo。Buthisindustryandvalorwereencounteredbyequalvalorandmoreperfectindustry。
Amovableturret，ofasizeandcapacitytocontainfivehundredsoldiers，hadbeenrolledforwardstothefootoftherampart:
butthedescentofthedoorordrawbridgewascheckedbyanenormousbeam，andthewoodenstructurewasconstantlyconsumedbyartificialflames。
[Footnote65:TheItineraryofJerusalemp。609，edit。
WesselinggivesatrueandreasonablespaceofathousandstadiaoronehundredmileswhichisstrangelydoubledbyStrabol。vi。
p。433andPliny，Hist。Natur。iii。16。]
[Footnote66:PlinyHist。Nat。iii。6，16allowsquinquagintamilliaforthisbrevissimuscursus，andagreeswiththerealdistancefromOtrantotoLaVallona，orAulon，D'Anville，AnalysedesaCartedesCotesdelaGrece，&c。，p。3—6。
HermolausBarbarus，whosubstitutescentum。Harduin，Not。lxvi。
inPlin。l。iii。，mighthavebeencorrectedbyeveryVenetianpilotwhohadsailedoutofthegulf。]
[Footnote67:InfamesscopulosAcroceraunia，Horat。carm。i。3。
ThepraecipitemAfricumdecertantemAquilonibus，etrabiemNotiandthemonstranatantiaoftheAdriatic，aresomewhatenlarged；
butHoracetremblingforthelifeofVirgil，isaninterestingmomentinthehistoryofpoetryandfriendship。]
[Footnote68:Alexias，l。iv。p。106。YettheNormansshaved，andtheVenetianswore，theirbeards:theymusthavederidedthenobeardofBohemond；aharshinterpretation。DuncangaadAlexiad。p。283。]