Breve Chronicon Northmannicum: BREVE CHRONICON NORTHMANNICUM

1042. Mense martio Northmanni committunt proelium in Apulia cum Michaele Protospatario imperiali, qui vocabatur Dulchianus, et vincunt eum. Mense madio iterum ab iis factum est proelium, et iterum victi sunt Graeci, et Protospatarius.

1042. In the month of March the Northmen engage battle in Apulia with Michael, the imperial Protospatarius, who was called Dulchianus, and they defeat him. In the month of May again a battle is fought by them, and again the Greeks and the Protospatarius are defeated.

Et in Apulia captae sunt multae civitates, et loca quae, erant Graecorum, et imperatoris Michelis, cui hoc anno successit Costantinus.

And in Apulia many towns were captured, and places which belonged to the Greeks and to Emperor Michael, to whom this year Constantine succeeded.

1043. Meniachus magister cum exercitu Graecorum fecit proelium contra Northmannos circa Materam, et fuit magna plaga in utroque exercitu.

1043. Meniachus the magister, with the army of the Greeks, fought a battle against the Normans near Matera, and there was a great slaughter in both armies.

1045. Argyrus Bariensis imperialis catapanus, et dux Graecorum, vadit in Tarentum contra Northmannos, et vincit eos; et deinde vadit in Tranum, et vincitur ab eis, duce Guillielmo Ferrebrachio, qui intitulatus est primus Comes Apuliae.

1045. Argyrus of Bari, imperial catapan, and leader of the Greeks, goes to Tarentum against the Normans, and defeats them; and then goes to Trani, and is defeated by them under the leadership of William Ferrebraccio, who was styled the first Count of Apulia.

1046. Factum est iterum proelium in Apulia inter Graecos, et Northmannos. Et isti fugaverunt, et dissipaverunt exercitum Graecorum; et fuit Drogo dux eorum, qui fuit secundus Comes Apuliae.

1046. There was again a battle in Apulia between the Greeks and the Normans. And these routed and scattered the army of the Greeks; and Drogo was their leader, who was the second Count of Apulia.

1048. Northmanni iverunt contra Graecos in Calabriam, et invaserunt eam, et victi sunt Graeci circa Tricaricum. Humphredus capit Trojam, et facit castrum in Bachareza.

1048. The Northmen went against the Greeks into Calabria, and invaded it, and the Greeks were defeated near Tricaricum. Humphredus captures Troja, and makes a castle at Bachareza.

1051. Drogo interficitur in Apulia, et succedit Humphredus.

1051. Drogo is killed in Apulia, and Humphredus succeeds.

1052. Fit proelium cum Argyro catapano Graecorum, et a Northmannis iterum fugatur exercitus eius circa Tarentum. Et item factum est proelium circa Crotonem in Calabria, et victus est Sico Protospata.

1052. A battle is fought with Argyros, catapan of the Greeks, and his army is again put to flight by the Northmen around Tarentum. And likewise a battle took place near Croton in Calabria, and Sico Protospata was defeated.

Et dominium Northmannum factum est magnum in Calabria, et Apulia; et crevit potentia, et timor eorum in omni terra.

Et the Norman dominion became great in Calabria and Apulia; and their power grew, and their terror was throughout every land.

1053. Northmanni bellum gerunt cum Leone Papa, et Principe Beneventano, et Catapano imperiali in Principatu Beneventi; et fugatur Rodulphus princeps, et Leo Papa capitur ab Humphredo, et Northmannis; et fit magna strages in mense iunio.

1053. The Northmen wage war against Pope Leo, and the Prince of Benevento, and the imperial Catapan in the Principality of Benevento; and Prince Rodulf is put to flight, and Pope Leo is captured by Humphrey and the Northmen; and a great slaughter takes place in the month of June.

1054. Moritur Constantius imperator, qui cognominatus est Monomachus; et post eum imperat Theodora, quae fuit Constantini, et soror Zois imperatricis augustae.

1054. Emperor Constantius dies, who was surnamed Monomachus; and after him Theodora rules, who had been Constantine’s wife, and sister of Zoë the empress augusta.

1055. Humphredus fecit proelium cum Graecis circa Oriam, et vicit eos. Gaufredus comes comprehendit Neritonum, et Litium.

1055. Humphredus made battle with the Greeks near Oria, and defeated them. Gaufredus the count seized Neritonum and Litium.

Robertus comes ivit super Callipolim, et fugatus est iterum exercitus Graecorum in terra Tarentina, et captum at Hydrontum, et castrum Minervae.

Robert the count went against Callipolis, and the army of the Greeks in the land of Tarentum was routed again, and Hydrontum was captured, and the castle of Minerva.

1056. Mortuus est Humphredus, et intravit comes Apuliae Robertus, qui dictus est Guiscardus. Factum est proelium mense septembri circa Tarentum, et Graeci victi sunt, et facta est magna strages hominum a Tarento usque ad Hydrontum, et omnes urbes et terrae factae sunt de dominio (vel hominio) Northmannorum.

1056. Humphred died, and Robert, Count of Apulia, who was called Guiscard, entered. A battle was fought in the month of September near Tarentum, and the Greeks were defeated, and a great slaughter of men was made from Tarentum as far as Hydruntum, and all towns and lands were made into the dominion (or lordship) of the Northmen.

Moritur Theodora Augusta, et succedit Michael, qui dictus est Stratonicus.

Theodora Augusta dies, and Michael, who is called Stratonicus, succeeds her.

1057. Michael deponit Imperium, et intrat Imperator Isacius.

1057. Michael abdicates the Empire, and Emperor Isaac enters.

1058. Fuit magna fames in terra Tarentina, et Calabria; et postea venit pestis, et mortui sunt homines cum animalibus in numero maximo in mense madio.

1058. There was a great famine in the land of Tarentum, and Calabria; and afterwards a pestilence came, and men died with animals in very great numbers in the month of May.

1059. Robertus comes Apuliae factus est dux Apuliae, Calabriae, et Siciliae a papa Nicolao in civitate Melphis; et fecit ei hominium de omni terra. Imperator Isaci renuntiat Imperium, et fit Imperator Constantinus Ducas.

1059. Robert, count of Apulia, was made duke of Apulia, Calabria, and Sicily by Pope Nicholas in the city of Melphis; and he received the homage of all the land. Emperor Isaac renounced the empire, and Constantinus Ducas became emperor.

1060. Mense madio comprehensa est civitas Tarenti per Ducem Robertum: et postea ivit super Brundusium, et cepit eam. Malgerus comes ivit super Oriam, et fugavit Graecos ab ea. Mense octobri venit Miriarcha cum exercitu imperiali et fecit proelium magnum contra Robertum, et Malgerum, et fugavit Northmannos, et iterum recuperavit eas cum aliis terris et Hydrunte.

1060. In the month of May the city of Tarentum was seized by Duke Robert: and afterward he went against Brundusium, and took it. Count Malger went against Oria, and drove the Greeks from it. In the month of October the Miriarcha came with the imperial army and fought a great battle against Robert and Malger, and routed the Normans, and again recovered those places with other lands and Hydruntum.

1061. Mense ianuario Rogerius comes intravit Mandurium, et Robertus Dux comprehendit Acherontiam, et ivit contra Graecos obsidentes Melphim, et fugavit eos.

1061. In the month of January Count Roger entered Manduria, and Duke Robert seized Acherontia, and went against the Greeks besieging Melphi, and put them to flight.

1062. Robertus Dux cepit iterum Brundusium et fugavit Graecos, et comprehendit Miriarcham in proelio, et postea ivit super Oriam, et iterum cepit eam, et fecit castrum in Mejana.

1062. Duke Robert took Brundusium again and routed the Greeks, and captured Miriarchus in battle, and afterwards marched against Oria, and took it again, and made a camp at Mejana.

1063. Mense aprili mortuus est Gauffredus comes, et Goffridus filius eius cepit Tarentum, deinde ivit super castrum Motulae, et comprehendit eam, et castellum eius.

1063. In the month of April Count Gauffredus died, and Goffridus his son took Tarentum, then went against the castle of Motula, and captured it and its castle.

1064. Robertus comes cepit Materam in mense aprili; et mense iunio Goffridus comes comprehendit Castanetum. Et mense septembri mortuus est Malgerus comes, et deinde mortuus est in Tarento Guilielmus comes eius.

1064. Count Robert captured Matera in the month of April; and in the month of June Count Goffridus captured Castanetum. And in the month of September Count Malgerus died, and then in Tarentum his Count William died.

1067. Mabrica cum exercitu magno Graecorum fugavit Northmannos et iterum intravit Brundusium, et Tarentum. Postea ascendit super Castanetum et recepit eam.

1067. Mabrica, with a great army of the Greeks, put the Northmen to flight and again entered Brundusium and Tarentum. Afterwards he advanced upon Castanetum and captured it.

Moritur Constantinus Ducas, et reliquit imperium Eudociae uxori, et filiis eius; quae iterum fecit nuptias cum Romano, qui dictus est Diogenes, et ipse factus Imperator.

Constantine Ducas died, and left the empire to Eudocia his wife and to her sons; she again married Romanus, who was called Diogenes, and he himself was made Emperor.

1068. Goffridus comes obsedit Montem Pillosum, et comprehendit eum in mense iunio. Mense octobri captum est iterum Hydrontum, et fugati sunt Graeci ab ea.

1068. Count Goffridus besieged Mount Pillosus, and captured him in the month of June. In the month of October Hydrontum was captured again, and the Greeks were driven from it.

1069. Factum est proelium in campo Litii, et fugati sunt Graeci; et Robertus Dux cepit Gavinum, Obbianum, et Barim.

1069. A battle was fought on the Field of Litius, and the Greeks were routed; and Robert the Duke captured Gavinum, Obbianum, and Bari.

1070. Robertus Dux descendit super Brundusium, et Goffridus Comes venit cum exercitu magno et forti in navibus, et facta est inter eos, et Mabrica crudelis dimicatio, et occisio hominum in obsitione eius.

1070. Robert the Duke advanced against Brundusium, and Geoffrey the Count came with a great and strong army in ships, and between them there was, at Mabrica, a cruel battle, and the slaughter of men in its siege.

1071. Idem Robertus Dux cepit Brundusium. Moritur Humbertus frater eius.

1071. The same Robert Duke captured Brundusium. Humbertus, his brother, died.

Romanus Imperator deponitur, et excoecatur, et succedit Michael Ducas filius Constantini.

Roman Emperor is deposed, and blinded, and Michael Ducas, son of Constantine, succeeds.

1072. Idem Robertus Dux cum exercitu navali vadit ad capiendam Siciliam insulam, et Goffridus Comes obsedit Panormum, et cepit eam. Et mense iunio intravit Robertus gloriosus in Panormum, et fugavit Saracenos ab ea, et fecit triumphum magnum.

1072. The same Robert the Duke, with a naval army, goes to seize the island of Sicily, and Goffridus the Count besieged Panormum, and took it. And in the month of June Robert, glorious, entered Panormum, and drove the Saracens from it, and made a great triumph.

1073. Northmanni, et Petronius comes mense ianuario ceperunt civitatem Traniensem. Et Robertus Dux gloriosus reversus de Sicilia fugavit Petronium comitem circa Barim, et iterum comprehendit eam, et inimicatus est Petronius Comes cum Rogerio.

1073. The Northmen and Count Petronius in the month of January seized the city of Trani. And Robert, the glorious Duke, having returned from Sicily, routed Count Petronius near Bari, and again seized it, and Count Petronius became hostile to Roger.

1074. Idem Robertus Dux ivit in Campaniam, et cepit multas civitates cum civitate Salerni, et inimicatus est cum Papa Gregorio.

1074. The same Duke Robert went into Campania, and captured many cities, including the city of Salerno, and fell into hostility with Pope Gregory.

1078. Petronius comes cepit Tranium. Michael Ducas privatur imperio a Nicephoro, qui dictus est Botoniates, et ipse factus est Imperator.

1078. Petronius, the count, captured Trani. Michael Doukas was deprived of the empire by Nicephorus, who was called Botoniates, and he himself was made Emperor.

1079. Petronius comes intravit iterum Barim. Abiligardus comes ivit super Trojam, et fugavit Boamundum filium Roberti Ducis, et obsedit, et cepit Asculum, et iterum Robertus Dux recuperavit eam.

1079. Count Petronius entered Bari again. Count Abiligardus marched against Troy, and put to flight Boamund, son of Duke Robert, and besieged and took Asculum, which Duke Robert again recovered.

Postea factum est proelium ibidem, et fugatus est Abiligardus cum militibus suis, et fugit in Constantinopolim, et ibi mortuus est inimicus Duci Roberto.

Afterwards a battle was fought there, and Abiligardus with his soldiers was put to flight, and he fled to Constantinople, and there died an enemy of Duke Robert.

1080. Robertus Dux intravit iterum Tarentum, et Castanetum. Postea ivit cum exercitu super Barim, et fugavit Petronium, et iterum comprehendit eam cum civitate Trani.

1080. Duke Robert entered Tarentum and Castanetum again, and afterwards went with an army against Bari, routed Petronius, and again seized it along with the city of Trani.

Et amicatus est cum Gregorio Papa in mense iunio, et confirmata fuit ab illo omnis terra, quam habebat Robertus Dux in Apulia, Calabria, et Sicilia. Nichephorus Imperator deponitur, et fit Imperator Alexius.

And he made terms with Pope Gregory in the month of June, and by him all the land which Robert the Duke held in Apulia, Calabria, and Sicily was confirmed. Emperor Nichephorus was deposed, and Alexius became Emperor.

1081. Michael Ducas, qui fuerat expulsus a Nichephoro venit in Brundusium, et petiit auxilia contra Alexium a Duce Roberto; et Dux Robertus ivit cum eo ad Hydrontem, et ordinavit pro eo exercitum navalem multarum navium, et deinde cum eodem ivit ad insulam Corcyram, et cepit eam. Deinde ivit contra Dyrrachium cum quindecim millibus hominum; et factum est praelium in Dyrrachio, et a Roberto fugatus est Alexius.

1081. Michael Ducas, who had been expelled by Nicephorus, came to Brundusium and sought aid against Alexius from Duke Robert; and Duke Robert went with him to Hydrontem, and provided for him a naval force of many ships, and then with the same he went to the island of Corcyra and captured it. Then he marched against Dyrrachium with fifteen thousand men; and a battle took place at Dyrrachium, and Alexius was put to flight by Robert.

Et Robertus Dux cepit Dyrrachium, et obtinuit victoriam magnam contra Graecos super eum.

And Duke Robert seized Dyrrachium, and won a great victory against the Greeks there.

1084. Gregorius Papa obsidetur Romae ab Henrico Rege, qui constituerat Papam Guibertum archiepiscopum Ravennatensem, et fecit schisma in Ecclesia, et fuit ibidem coronatus ab eo. Gregorius vero vocavit ad auxilium suum Robertum Ducem cum multitudine maxima Northmannorum in mense madio, et liberatur ab eo, et adductus fuit in Salernum, et Henricus Rex fugatus est de civitate Romae, et rediit in Teutoniam.

1084. Pope Gregory is besieged in Rome by King Henry, who had appointed as Pope Guibert, archbishop of Ravenna, and made a schism in the Church, and was there crowned by him. Gregory, however, summoned to his aid Duke Robert with a very great multitude of Normans in the month of May, and is freed by him, and is brought to Salerno, and King Henry is driven from the city of Rome, and returns into Germany.

1085. Robertus Dux venit Brundusium cum exercitu Northmannorum magno et forti, et misit se in navibus in mari in mense aprili, et ivit contra Venetos ad expugnandam Cassiopim. Et factum fuit proelium in mari, et victi sunt Veneti a Duce Roberto.

1085. Duke Robert came to Brundusium with a great and strong army of Northmen, and in the month of April put to sea with ships, and went against the Venetians to capture Cassiopim. And a battle was fought at sea, and the Venetians were defeated by Duke Robert.

Moritur Salerni mense madio Gregorius Papa, et ipse Dux moritur in Cassiopi mense iulio. Corpus eius reportatum est in Brundusium in mense septembri, et fuit sepultum in ecclesia Sancti Sabini in civitate Venusii, sicut ipse ante mortem praeceperat. Cor autem et interiora eius sepulta sunt in Hydronte.

Gregory the Pope dies at Salerno in the month of May, and the same Duke dies at Cassiopi in the month of July. His body was carried back to Brundusium in the month of September, and was buried in the church of Saint Sabinus in the city of Venusia, as he himself had ordered before his death. But his heart and entrails were buried in Hydronte.

Succedit Roberto Rogerius filius eius Pater Willelmi III Ducis Apuliae, qui nunc feliciter ducatur.

Rogerius, his son, succeeds Robert as father of William 3, Duke of Apulia, who is now happily governed.