Battle of Cannae (1018)
Battle of Cannae | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Part of the Norman conquest of southern Italy | |||||||
| |||||||
Belligerents | |||||||
Byzantine Empire |
| ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Basil Boioannes |
Melus of Bari Gilbert Buatère † |
The Battle of Cannae took place in 1018 between the
mercenaries[2] under their leader Gilbert Buatère, while Boioannes had a detachment of elite Varangian Guard sent to him at his request to combat the Normans.[1]
The engagement was one of the first clashes between the Romans of southern Italy and the Normans.
The battle was disastrous for the Lombards, who were routed.[1] Melus of Bari managed to escape to the Papal States and eventually to the court of Holy Roman Emperor Henry II at Bamberg. The Normans lost their leader, Gilbert Buatère, and most of their group. However, what remained of this group of Normans was the first of many to go to southern Italy.
Within a year, a Norman garrison would be stationed at Troia in the pay of the Byzantine Empire.[3]
See also
- Italy Runestones
References
- ^ ISBN 9780801491207
- ISBN 978-1843839217
- ISBN 978-1843839217
Further reading
- Norwich, John Julius. The Normans in the South 1016–1130.