Robert Guiscard

Notes:

"Robert Guiscard (c.?1015 - 17 July 1085) was a Norman adventurer conspicuous in the conquest of southern Italy and Sicily. Robert was born into the Hauteville family in Normandy, went on to become Count of Apulia and Calabria (1057-1059), and then Duke of Apulia and Calabria and Duke of Sicily (1059-1085). His sobriquet, in contemporary Latin Viscardus and Old French Viscart, is often rendered 'the Resourceful', 'the Cunning', 'the Wily', 'the Fox', or 'the Weasel'. In Italian sources he is often Roberto il Guiscardo or Roberto d'Altavilla (from Robert de Hauteville)." [Wikipedia]

The Byzantine historian Anna Comnena described Robert Guiscard:

"This Robert was Norman by birth, of obscure origins, with an overbearing character and a thoroughly villainous mind; he was a brave fighter, very cunning in his assaults on the wealth and power of great men; in achieving his aims absolutely inexorable, diverting criticism by incontrovertible argument. He was a man of immense stature, surpassing even the biggest men; he had a ruddy complexion, fair hair, broad shoulders, eyes that all but shot out sparks of fire. In a well-built man one looks for breadth here and slimness there; in him all was admirably well-proportioned and elegant...Homer remarked of Achilles that when he shouted his hearers had the impression of a multitude in uproar, but Robert's bellow, so they say, put tens of thousands to flight." [The Alexiad of Anna Comnena, trans. E. R. A. Sewter (London: Penguin, 1969), p. 54.]

Family/Spouse: Alberade di Buonalberga. Alberade died in Mar 1111. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Bohemund I, Prince of Antioch; Prince of Tarente was born in 1058; died on 3 Mar 1111.

Robert married Sigelgaita di Salerno in 1058. Sigelgaita (daughter of Gaimar IV of Salerno and Gemma) was born about 1040; died in 1090. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Sibylle de Hauteville
2. Mahalta of Apulia was born about 1059; died on 19 Sep 1108.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Alternate birth: 980

Notes:

"Tancred of Hauteville (980-1041) was an 11th-century Norman petty lord about whom little is known. His historical importance comes entirely from the accomplishments of his sons and later descendants. He was a minor noble near Coutances in the Cotentin. Various legends arose about Tancred which have no supporting contemporary evidence that has survived the ages." [Wikipedia]

Tancred married Fressenda. Fressenda died in 1057. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]