When we think about the Vikings, northern Europe and Scandinavia are up there on the list, but what about Italy? When the Roujarl Rollo, the Count of Rouen carved out Normandy" land of the North-men in north western France in 911 AD his descendants went on the conquer the Kingdom of England in 1066 AD, but nearly half a century before the Normans were travelling south to the land of "milk and honey" Italy. The story of the De Hautville family is a tale from rags to riches and the Battle of Civitate cimented their hold on southern Italy, a legacy that can still found in the language, culture and history

THE BATTLE OF CIVITATE 1053 AD (PART 2)

Extract from THE FIRST MAFIA "The Norman Conquest of Southern Italy and Sicily"

Richard De Aversa on the Norman right smashed into the Italians. So fierce was his charge that the Italians broke rank and fled. In the centre the fighting was difficult, the Swabians with their gigantic two handed swords held the line with ferocious fighting spirit, cutting men and horse in two. Robert Guiscard brought his Norman knights into the centre to try and finish off the Germans. Three times he had a horse cut down from under him, and three times he mounted another and returned into the fray. Only when Richard De Aversa returned from routing the Italians was the battle decided. Surrounded on all sides, the Swabian Germans fought desperately to the last man, no quarter was asked and no quarter was given. The Normans against all odds and against an army probably twice their size had triumphed.

The citizens of Civitate at first defiant, promptly handed over the Pope to the Normans in fear of retribution. Almost embarrassed by the capture of the Holy Father, the Normans treated Pope Leo IX with respect, asking for his pardon and forgiveness. The hapless Pope was carted off to Benevento and kept prisoner for nine months. The campaign to ouest the Normans out of Italy had failed and the Normans were there to stay.