William of Apulia
William of Apulia was a southern Italian historian, who lived in Apulia between the second half of the 11th century and the first half of the 12th century. Biographical details are not known, his knowledge of the topography of Apulia suggests that he was born there. Whether he was cleric or layman, also can not be determined. The theory that he was born in Giovinazzo is not yet been proven unfounded. Unclear is whether Wilhelm came from a Norman or a native Lombard family.
The Epic
His Gesta Roberti Wiscardi belong next to Amatus of Montecassino and Gaufredus Malaterra to the main historiographical sources that tell of the creation of the Norman domination of southern Italy. His protagonist is Robert Guiscard, but he also reported on the beginnings of the Normans, about their contacts with Meles of Bari. He started it at the suggestion Urban II 1088-1098 and completed before 1111. This epic in five books based on Amatus except on the local historiographical texts ( Annales Barenses, Anonymus Barensis, lupus Protospathaire ), in addition to oral tradition. In classical antiquity hexameters Book I and II describe the train of the Normans to Italy, the first branch and the Beginnings of State, Book III to V treat the conquests Guiscard in Italy and Dalmatia, and end with his death 1085th In addition to the glorification of the house of Hauteville is Wilhelm also praised local leaders like Count Amicus of Giovinazzo. To legitimize the conquest he repeatedly emphasizes the marriage connection between the Norman duke and the Lombard prince's daughter Sikelgaita. Despite the Norman-Byzantine hostility is Alexios I Komnenos for him the rightful Emperor ( rector imperii ), Henry IV, however, only rex Alemannicus ( German king).
The only surviving medieval manuscript from the end of the 12th century ( Bibliothèque Municipale d' Avranches, ms. 162 ) comes from the library of Mont Saint Michel. The manuscript, which was used for the editio princeps of 1582, came from the Abbey of Le Bec, but is lost.
Edition
- Guillaume de Pouille, La gesture de Robert Guiscard hrsg.v., Marguerite Mathieu, Palermo, 1961 ( Instituto di Studi Siciliano Bizantini e Neoellenici. Testi e monumenti 4).