William Iron Arm
William Iron Arm († 1046 ) was a Norman rulers and one of the sons of Tancred of Hauteville. Together with his brother Drogo of Hauteville, he left one of the first Normandy and moved to southern Italy, where he was to become the forerunner of his younger half- brother, later succeeding Robert Guiscard.
William and Drogo fought as mercenaries under the leadership of Norman Count of Aversa Rainulf on the side of the Byzantines in their last attempt to free Sicily from the Arabs. During the siege of Syracuse in 1038 Wilhelm was then probably its nickname fereabrachia, German: " Iron Arm ". After the suppression of a revolt of Apulia in 1040, the two brothers of Rainulf were eventually promoted to commander in 1042 smaller units of 25 men. Twelve of these companies left Rainulf some Arduin, who commanded the troops city of Melfi, for quick removal of new uprisings. Later, after an exposure of two traitors, the army Wilhelm seems to have even made it a leader.
The squad of twelve captains was completed quickly after the betrayal and every one of the twelve leaders should be charged a short time later by an alliance with Waimar IV of this the title of count. The equipment had the condottieri give itself: It was every as with the fief, which he would conquer. Joint Centre should be Melfi. About this time also appeared the first time the third Hauteville, Humfred, in southern Italy on, so that the brother trio could dominate the Melfi in the northeast town of Ascoli Satriano upstream, Lavello and Venosa, together with the intervening area. For further supply was sacked in the surrounding areas.
When William Iron Arm then died in 1046, Drogo was his successor. In the spring of 1047 confirmed the end because in Italy the Emperor Henry III. both Drogo and Rainulfs successor in the second major, asclittinischen Norman clan, Rainulf Trincanocte, all conquered territories. Drogo called dux et magister Italiae comesque Normannorum Totius Apuliae et Calabriae, even if it can be assumed IV of a persisting dependence of Waimar. At the same time enfeoffed Henry III. ( Had is after 1038 Conrad II this Waimar ) Pandulf IV rebuilt with Capua.