Andrew of Rupecanina
Andrew (
Mezzogiorno
. He was a longtime adversary of the royal power.
On 22 July 1138,
Emperor Lothair II and bring all Italy to heel. By the time he was ready to cross the Alps
, Richard had died and was succeeded, formally, by his son Andrew, raised since childhood in Germany, at the imperial court.
After Barbarossa's imperial coronation on 18 June 1155, the Germans returned to their homes and the three Normans, still in rebellion, Robert of Capua, Andrew, and
Richard of Aquila. William then moved on Benevento, where Pope Adrian IV was sheltered by Robert of Militello
and Andrew.
In June 1156, an agreement was reached between king and pope—the so-called
Abruzzi, Andrew rejoined Robert in returning to Apulia. He invaded Capua and Fondi in 1157. The Byzantine army left, but the pope sent reinforcements. At San Germano, now renamed Cassino
, in January 1158, Andrew defeated the royal troops.
Andrew abandoned his newfound hold over
Reginald of Dassel and Otto of Wittelsbach, generals of Barbarossa besieging the city. Peace was made before Spring was out and Andrew accompanied Reginald and Otto north to Milan
and joined the ongoing siege under Barbarossa's command. He continued there until 7 September, when the city fell.
In 1161, Andrew rejoined Robert of Loritello again in rebellion against King William. The rebels burnt Butera but were forced to abandon their cause by the king's personal intervention. Andrew fled to
Christian of Buch with imperial troops to repossess his fiefs, including Ancona. He failed. He was present at the Battle of Monte Porzio according to Romuald of Salerno
.
Sources
- Matthew, Donald. The Norman Kingdom of Sicily. Cambridge University Press: 1992.
