Guaimar I of Salerno

Guaimar I (also Waimar, Gaimar, or Guaimario) (c. 855 – 901) was the

Benevento had fallen under Byzantine control by that time and Guaimar married Itta, daughter of Guy II of Spoleto, and sister of Guy IV of Spoleto. Guy, with the prince's aid, reconquered Benevento in 895, increasing the prestige of Guaimar, whom he offered to make regent of Benevento. It is not certain whether Guaimar accepted, but he tried to assassinate the gastald of Avellino, Adelferio, and was taken prisoner with his wife whatever the case. Guy had to come down and besiege the town to rescue him. He returned to Salerno disgraced.

In 893, Guaimar had made his son, also Guaimar, co-prince, and it was he who ruled Salerno in the elder Guaimar's absence. Upon the elder prince's return, a Neapolitan faction in the city, supported by Athanasius, revolted, but the two Guaimars put it down and the elder, like his father before him, retired (or was forced by his son) to a monastery, San Massimo, Guaifer's foundation, in 900 or 901, dying soon after. The chronicles of his reign describe him in despotic terms and he does not seem to have been popular, despite the later popularity of his name within the dynasty his father founded.

References

• Caravale, Mario (ed). Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani: LX Grosso – Guglielmo da Forlì. Rome, 2003.
• Lexikon des Mittelalters VIII.1932