Richard of Salerno

Richard of Salerno and Richard from the Principate (* 1045, † November 29, 1129 ) was a Norman nobleman from the House Hauteville. He was Count of Mottola, Castellaneta and Oria, Seneschal of Puglia and Calabria, and governor of Edessa.

Life

He was the son of Count Drogo of Puglia, one of the older sons of Tancred of Hauteville, and the Altrude of Salerno. When his father ( 1051 ) died he was underage, so that the government of a few years earlier conquered territories in southern Italy at the younger brothers Humfred ( 1051-1057 ), Robert Guiscard ( 1057-1085 ) and Roger I ( 1085-1101 ) went over and was eventually inherited by the descendants of the latter.

Careers in the South

In contrast to the sons Humfreds behaved Richard loyal to Robert and Roger and fought on the side against the Saracens in Sicily and southern Italy against the Byzantines and rebellions against the sons Humfreds. In gratitude for his service, he was confirmed by his uncle in 1180 as Count of Mottola, Castellaneta and Oria. Robert's son and successor, Roger Borsa also appointed him in 1101 to the seneschal of Apulia and Calabria.

First crusade

In 1097 he was one of the participants in the First Crusade, on which his cousin Bohemond of Taranto led the contingent of the Normans of southern Italy. Richard belonged to the few crusaders who could speak Arabic, a skill which he had probably acquired during the campaigns against the Saracens in Sicily. Anna Comnena reported that Richard, as he crossed the Adriatic Sea with a ship, was captured and taken prisoner by the Byzantine fleets, because they thought he was mistaken for a pirate. He was soon released and rejoined the main army of the Crusaders at. Most of the time of the crusade, he traveled about with the sub-quota of Bohemund's nephew Tancred of Taranto. He participated in the Battle of Eskisehir, Tancred expedition through Cilicia and the siege of Antioch in part. After the conquest of Antioch Bohemond built there, the Principality of Antioch.

Career in the Holy Land

Richard was as Bohemund was captured at the Battle of Melitene 1100 from the Danishmends. From there he was sent to the Byzantine Emperor Alexius I, who before 1103 had him in Constantinople Opel imprisoning him again. 1104 broke Bohemond to Europe on to recruit new troops, and appointed Tancred to his regent. Tancred was at this time already regent of the County of Edessa, the Count Baldwin was advised by Bourcq in Muslim captivity. Since Tancred had to deal now with the government of Antioch, he appointed Richard governor of Edessa. Richards government in the city is referred to as hard, among the Armenian population of the city he was hated because of his ruthlessness and greed. He was - called back by Tancred of Edessa as Baldwin of Bourcq, 1107 was returned from captivity of Muslim Tancred and forced to return the County of Edessa - to facilitate the citizens.

Diplomatic services and retirement

Richard was also active as a diplomat, traveled to France and Italy and mediated the marriage of Bohemond with the French king's daughter Constance of France. He participated in the unsuccessful campaign of Bohemond in Greece and was a witness in the 1108 Treaty of Devol, an agreement between the Emperor Alexius I and Bohemond of Taranto. Maybe he conspired with the Byzantine side.

After Bohemund's death in 1111, he settled in Marash in Cilicia, then part of the Principality of Antioch, down. He died during the great earthquake on 29 November 1114.

Marriage and issue

Richard was married to Altrude of Conversano, daughter of Count Geoffrey of Conversano, Brindisi etc. With Altrude he had a son, Roger from the Principate († 1119 ), which was founded in 1112 Regent of Antioch, and a daughter, Mary, Joscelin of Courtenay, Count of Edessa, married.